The horrific crash in April 2014 that killed a bus driver, five students and three chaperones as well as a FedEx truck driver became the focus of renewed interest recently when the family of the bus driver filed suit against the freight carrier, according to recent reports. The fiery crash near Orland was blamed on the FedEx truck that crossed the median and hit the bus head-on, causing an explosion that led to a huge fire.
Talalelei Lealao-Taiao, 53, of Roseville, was driving the bus for Silverado Stages, a tour company, when the bus was struck head-on. The vehicle was full of high school students on their way for a weekend tour of Humboldt State University. Timothy Paul Evans, 32, was driving the FedEx tractor trialer south when, for unknown reasons, he veered across the median and struck a sedan before hitting the bus.
The lawsuit was filed in Alameda Superior Court and seeks damages in excess of $25,000 against FedEx for allegedly allowing the truck to be driven and operated negligently, resulting in the crash. Several other lawsuits have already been filed as a result of the crash. Attorneys for the various families of the victims believe that the cases may, at some point, be consolidated in Los Angeles Superior Court for pre-trial purposes.
Large Truck Accidents and Fatalities
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,921 people killed and another 104,000 injured in crashes in 2012 that involved large trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds. At least 333,000 large trucks were involved in some type of accident during that same year.
Fatalities involving large truck crashes increased four percent from 2011 to 2012. About three-quarters of all fatality victims in large truck crashes were occupants of another vehicle, while ten percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or other non-occupants. Only 18 percent of all large truck fatality victims are riding in the large truck at the time of the crash.
What Can I Do If I Am The Victim of a Large Truck Crash?
Large truck accidents are, unfortunately, very common and often result in serious injuries. If you have been injured by an accident with a large truck, contact Ashley Injury Lawyers in Roseville for help. We have years of experience in dealing with large truck accident claims and may be able to help you collect the compensation you deserve.
