Big Rig Crash in East LA Closes All Lanes on Northbound 5 Freeway
A big rig crash closed all lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway late on Sunday, May 19. The lanes remained closed into early Monday morning. The truck was laying on its side near Indiana Street. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, although a center divider was demolished and was among the material that had to be cleared from the freeway lanes.
Several cars were also involved. California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated that the causes and extent of the crash was still under investigation. It was not known initially if there were any injuries.
Trucks a Danger on Freeways
It was the second in several months that a truck accident closed a major Southern California freeway. A tanker-truck carrying 9,400 gallons of liquid propane also hit a divider and overturned on the 405 Freeway in early March. Fortunately, none of the liquid spilled and the driver sustained minor injuries.
Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident?
Accidents involving big rigs and other large trucks are common on California’s freeways and other roads. In both these accidents, the causes have not yet been determined. But some words on liability for a truck accident generally can be offered.
Liability for truck accidents is extremely complex, because many elements and factors can cause a major truck accident. A single factor or several different factors could be responsible. A truck that is improperly loaded with cargo, for example, can become unbalanced and turn over as a result. Many trucking firms hire outside contractors to load. Driving speed that is too fast can also cause truck crashes, because braking too sharply can overturn a large vehicle.
Improper servicing of safety equipment such as brakes can also be a cause, and servicing is also often subcontracted out. In short, trucking accidents need to be investigated to determine what or who was responsible for the crash.
Our Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys Work for Justice
If you or a loved one has been injured in a big rig accident, a Southern California truck accident lawyer at Ellis Law Corporation can help.
Our lawyers have been successfully handling cases involving serious truck accident injuries for more than 20 years. For a complimentary review of your case, please call today. We will fight to see that justice is done.
Additional Resources:
- Olson, Marc. “Big-rig crash on 5 Freeway closes lanes in East L.A. for more than 3 hours.” Los Angeles Times. May 19, 2019. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-big-rig-crash-east-la-20190519-story.html.
- The Latest: LA Interstate Reopens After Crash Scene Cleared. US News and World Report. May 10, 2019. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2019-03-10/the-latest-la-interstate-reopens-after-crash-scene-cleared.