Cattle Truck Accidents Threaten Serious Injury
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced Farming Accident Attorney. On September 23, 2016, a cattle truck carrying 160 cattle overturned in the middle of Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. The driver was not injured and no other vehicles were involved. Many bystanders, emergency personnel, and animal control workers became involved in the ensuing rush to wrangle the cattle. Investigators have not announced a cause of the accident.
Cattle Truck Accidents
The driver in the following accident escaped serious injury: many drivers in cattle truck accidents pass away when their rigs overturn. In January 2015, a cattle truck driver died and a school bus driver suffered moderate injuries when the truck collided with a school bus in Hilmar, California, south of Modesto. In this accident, the cattle truck driver swerved into the oncoming lane on a narrow farm road for unknown reasons. Although tragic, this is not uncommon for this type of accident.
Cattle and other livestock truck accidents overall are not uncommon. A 2006 study determined that cattle and livestock trucks are involved in an estimated 30 serious accidents and thousands of minor accidents each year. Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the two main organizations in charge of highway safety, however, collect data on livestock truck accidents. Additionally, neither provide specific recommendations or regulations for these types of trucks. This poor regulation is one of the leading causes of livestock and cattle truck accidents.
Causes of Cattle and Livestock Accidents and Potentially Liable Parties
In many cattle truck accidents, the driver of the truck was speeding. This speed is then compounded, sometimes, by the movement of the animals in the rear of the vehicle affecting the balance of the trailer. In other cases, the driver falls asleep at the wheel. This is a common cause of trucking accidents, regardless of cargo because of the demands of the industry. In both instances, the company that hired the driver may be liable for damages resulting from an injury.
Some of the accidents with cattle and livestock trucks are simply caused by the hazardous agricultural roads, especially in California. Many of these roads are narrow, with sharp turns. In these cases, the government may actually be liable for not properly marking the roadways.
Injuries Associated with Collisions with Cattle and Livestock Trucks
The most serious result of these accidents is, of course, death. Many of the accidents ranging from minor to serious, however, result in spinal injuries that may plague a person for the rest of their life. Facial abrasions and scarring may also result, even in minor accidents, from the deployment of the airbags.
Many drivers involved in accidents with cattle and livestock trucks also experience bone fractures, especially of the legs. The far more serious injuries, though, can result from accidents after the initial crash of a cattle truck. In many of these accidents, only a few of the animals are killed, leaving most to wander the roadway unattended. At high speeds or in areas and times of low visibility, unsuspecting drivers may end up hitting these large animals with their cars.
Devastating Effects of Livestock Truck Accidents
The effects of a collision with a large animal can be devastating, but so too can any accident involving a livestock truck. If you or a loved one is involved in one of these types of accidents, seek experienced legal help to make sure your rights are protected.
Merced Farming Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced Farming Accident Attorney. If you or someone in your family has been involved in a farming accident, please give me a call at (209) 227-1931 for free and friendly advice. I can also be reached toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice.
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