Stockton Truck Accident Settlement
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer. County Supervisors are reportedly approving a $116,000 settlement after a county equipment operator was involved in a drunk driving accident resulting in substantial damages.
What Happened?
In March of 2015, a county dump truck driver crashed the county truck he was operating into two high voltage power lines, causing a massive power surge that cut power to the area and resulted in property damage to resident’s homes and local businesses. One of the businesses that filed a claim to recover damages incurred in the subsequent outage was Kraft Heinz Food Co, the recipient of the recently approved settlement.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the county driver was traveling on Alpine Road just outside of the City of Stockton when he crashed his truck towing a backhoe on a trailer. The vehicle and trailer reportedly drifted from the roadway and struck two poles before stopping in an adjacent field. The accident caused a 60-thousand-volt transmission line to make contact with a 12-thousand-volt line, causing a surge that both caused residential electrical meters to explode and ignited the backhoe, wooden poles, and nearby grass causing several small fires. The driver was rescued from the cab of his truck unharmed and was arrested after he failed a field sobriety test conducted by officers. Court records show that he was charged with a misdemeanor for drunk driving and sentenced to three years of probation.
Damage to Businesses
The settlement with Kraft Heinz Food Co was agreed to after the company submitted written claims totaling $168,000 in damaged equipment and lost production. Another company, Advanced Polymer Technologies, LLC, also has a pending lawsuit alleging nearly $900,000 in damages; PG&E has already paid about $40,000 on that claim. The current settlement is purportedly being paid out of the county’s insurance fund and will not be drawn from the general fund used to finance critical services.
Related Articles by Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer, Ed Smith:
- Side Underride Accident in Stockton
- Tractor Trailer Accident Closes I-580
- Stockton Teenager Killed in Dump Truck Accident on Howard Road
- Dump Truck Involved in Elk Grove Tanker Truck Slurry Oil Spill
Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer. Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident? Please contact me right away at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice with no obligation. I can also be reached online via my website, AutoAccident.com.
I have been practicing law in California since 1982, helping people hurt in accidents and their families recover. Some of my valued client reviews can be found on: Avvo, Yelp and Google.
My work as an trial lawyer has been recognized by the Million Dollar Forum.
See some of my past Verdicts and Settlements.
