Chain-Reaction Car Accident in Ventura Causes Injuries

A car accident on Highway 101 the morning of May 10, 2010 was caused by a truck driver who rear-ended another vehicle that had stopped for heavy traffic. The Ventura County Star reports that the injury collision occurred near the State Beaches exit, when Mark Powell, 36, was stopped for traffic. A big rig operated by Lonnie Pendleton, 53, rear-ended Powell's SUV causing it to slam into another car as well as a tow truck. Powell, his wife, Stacie, and two children sustained injuries. The driver of another car and his passenger sustained neck and back injuries. All victims were taken to a nearby hospital. Pendleton and another driver were uninjured.

I hope no one sustained catastrophic injuries in this accident. I pray that all the injured victims have a speedy and full recovery.

Truck Accident Statistics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which monitors trucking companies, reports that there were there were 361 fatal truck accidents in California and 3,737 injury accidents involving large trucks in California in 2007. Although trucks make up less than 4 percent of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roads, they are involved in 12 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. Nationwide, more than 4,000 people die every year in truck accidents and more than 80,000 are seriously injured, according to FMCSA statistics.

Truck Accident Causes

Big rig accidents occur due to a variety of reasons. In this case, it is not clear whether Pendleton was impaired, distracted or asleep at the wheel when the big rig hit the back of Powell's SUV. The news report states traffic was backed up and quite heavy. So, what caused Pendleton to crash into the SUV? Was the truck traveling at a high rate of speed? Did the brakes fail? Was the rig overloaded? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here.

In such cases, a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled truck accident cases can help injured victims understand their legal rights and options. If the truck driver was at fault, then both, the driver and his or her employer can be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

What tips would you offer to drivers to drive safely around big rigs? What kind of precautions would you take around large commercial trucks?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.