Commercial Vehicles

A roll-off trash bin truck was owner operated. The driver lost control of the truck while descending a long steep street as he was driving from the Valley into the City. The truck managed to stay upright until just before the bottom of this street which provided a truck runaway ramp. In the effort to maneuver into the runaway ramp, the truck rolled onto its side, over an LAPD vehicle that just happened to be driving up the road, killed the driver and caused traumatic distress to the trainee passenger.

A cement truck was one of 17 trucks providing a single “monumental” cement pour for the foundation to a large home being remodeled. Because this home was located on a side street to a steep street, the employer set out a specific route for the drivers to avoid the steep hill. One such truck driver, however, decided to take the mountain roads and when descending the steep street with a full load of cement, his brakes gave out. He jumped out of his truck, sustaining injuries. The truck then ran into a parked vehicle with an off-duty LAPD officer who was about to provide private security services at the home of a celebrity. The off-duty officer was killed.

A cement truck was on its way to a single-family dwelling up a very steep street. While on the ascent, the truck developed a malfunction. The driver called for a mechanic to inspect and repair what turned out to be an air hose problem. By the time the mechanic had completed the repair, the cement was no longer usable. The driver had to return down the hill with a full load of cement. On his descent, the driver failed to lower the 4th axle, which has an additional set of brakes. This truck lost its brakes, and the driver jumped. After sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, while under anesthesia for a routine procedure, the driver suffered a stroke and became comatose for life.

A common carrier bus stalled on the freeway and was then rear-ended by another vehicle. On impact, the vehicle exploded into a fire with the driver burning to death. There was nothing left of the driver for identification due to the body being burned to charred remains. The bus’s alternator failed primarily due to the carrier’s maintenance department alleged negligent installation of defective batteries. The electrical system then failed with the bus stalling in the high-speed HOV lane at dusk. The decedent left a common law wife and four minor children.