MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (September 18, 2018) – A two-year-old toddler identified as Nazarey Flores Arizmendi was tragically killed in a truck accident by Fir Avenue.
Moreno Valley police are saying that the boy originally from Escondido was hit by a commercial truck around 10:18 a.m.
The young boy’s mother came racing to the scene in a state of shock and distress.
Authorities taped off the area as they continued to investigate. The driver of the tractor trailer truck stayed on the scene and was interviewed, but no arrests have been made.
Emergency medical workers rushed to the scene in order to help the toddler, but he was later pronounced dead.
Family members have created a Go Fund Me page to help pay for the young boy’s funeral expenses.
Police are still unsure how Nazarey Arizmendi was able to get underneath the wheels of the semi truck.
Trucks can weigh anywhere between 12,000 to 80,000 lbs when they are fully loaded. Cars and pedestrians are simply no match for a truck in an accident. Every year there are around 4,000 fatalities as a result of truck crashes in the United States. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has stated that multi-vehicle accidents are much more common with trucks than single vehicle collisions. For the most part alcohol has played a relatively small role in most fatal truck crashes. It has been estimated that intoxicated truck drivers were responsible for roughly 2% of fatal crashes compared to approximately 25% for passenger cars, light trucks and motorcycles.
Fatigue, however, continues to play a large role for truck drivers. Congress has pushed for regulations allowing truck drivers to work up to 82 hours per week, which is higher than the 70 hour limit over an 8 day period. Members of the house have also pushed to repeal the mandatory 34-hour rest period truck drivers must have to begin a new work week. All of these factors have propelled a 17% increase in fatal truck collisions from 2009 to 2013. The technology to help prevent many of these accidents is currently available. Forward collision avoidance systems, for example, are offered by every major car and truck manufacturer. But only 3% of class 8 trucks carry these safety measures. Safety protocols are essential to help keep truck drivers and other motorists free from harm. When the proper safety protocols are not followed and there is an accident, truck drivers may face civil liability if anyone is injured.
Negligent Operation Operating a truck does not simply mean driving it along the road. Trucks have load limits and when those limits are surpassed this can dramatically impact the time it takes for a truck to stop. Similarly, loads should be properly secured.
Negligent Maintenance and Inspection Like all other vehicles, trucks should undergo regular maintenance. Improper brake calibrations, worn tire treads or defective engines can all lead to accidents.
Negligent Hiring, Retention and Entrustment Truck companies (and the third party vendors that retain drivers) have a responsibility to make sure drivers are given a thorough background check. Drivers should be pulled off the road after they’ve had repeat violations. Failure to follow laws regarding background checks can leave businesses open to civil liability for an accident.
Dangerous Conditions on Public Property City and state entities in California have a responsibility to keep public areas and roads safe. If there is a defect in the roadway or a lack of proper signs the city could face civil liability in the event of an accident. When there is a history of accidents at a particular location, that puts the city on notice that there are potential safety issues that need to be addressed.
Commercial truck companies will fight hard to deny liability in the event of an accident. A personal injury lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation of your case and look to see if any safety regulations were broken. Accident victims or their family will typically have the ability to file a personal injury claim for damages.
We at West Coast Trial Lawyers extend our condolences to the family of Nazarey Arizmendi as they are going through such a difficult time. We encourage everyone to donate to the Go Fund Me page that has been set up for them so that the victim can have a proper funeral. Likewise, anyone that may have seen what happened should come forward and talk to police for the sake of the victim’s family.
Have you or someone that you love been injured or killed due to the negligence of a truck driver? There is help available. The attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers are here to help protect your rights after an accident and help you get the justice that you deserve. We focus exclusively on personal injury law and will fight hard on your behalf. Whether you have questions after an accident or are seeking legal counsel we’re here to help (888) 888-9285.