54-Year-Old Turlock Man Killed in San Leandro Big-Rig Jackknife Crash
The Oakland Tribune reports that 54-year-old John Jurevich of Turlock was killed in a San Leandro truck accident on the morning of Friday, March 18, 2011. The man apparently hit a tree around 9:20 a.m. while driving southbound on the Highway 238 connector to Interstate 580. After striking the tree, the big-rig jackknifed, causing the vehicle to overturn. As a consequence, the driver was killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The California Highway Patrol reports that the cause of the collision is being extensively investigated.
As this accident demonstrates, northern California big-rig jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous. Truck equipment failure, harsh road conditions, and incorrect braking can lead to a jackknife accident. This type of crash occurs when a truck skids, which causes the trailer to push the truck from behind until it faces backwards. When this happens, a big-rig is more susceptible to flipping onto its side. Even when truck drivers are properly wearing their seat belts, serious injury or even death can result when a big-rig overturns.
Trucking companies are responsible for fully training drivers and making sure that they abide by truck rules and regulations. These companies also have the important duty of ensuring that trucks receive frequent and thorough inspections as well as adequate repairs when necessary. If a truck crash occurs and the cause is determined to be the failure to properly maintain or repair a truck, a trucking company or the owner of the truck can be held liable.
Losing a loved one is never easy. This difficult time can be all the more challenging when a loved one's death is caused by an unexpected accident such as a truck crash in Oakland. If you believe that another person's negligence is to blame for your loss, an Oakland big-rig accident lawyer can evaluate the specifics surrounding the collision to determine the best possible course of action in devising a strong case.
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