The main artery between Las Vegas and Los Angeles was closed for almost 24 hours after a tractor-trailer, which was carrying lithium batteries, overturned and caught fire on July 26th, 2024.
The crash and resulting fire happened near the Afton Road exit just off the 15 Freeway between Barstow and Baker. One witness said she sat on the freeway for nine hours and breathed toxic fumes the entire time.
Car Crashes and Long-Term Diseases
Most car crash injuries are trauma injuries, like brain injuries and broken bones. Toxic fume injuries, on the other hand, develop slowly over time. These injuries include:
- Nervous system issues,
- Respiratory problems,
- Cancer,
- Reproductive issues, and
- Organ damage.
Frequently, these diseases have extremely long latency periods. Many of these victims are sick for decades before they show any physical illness symptoms. Then, when these symptoms appear, doctors often misdiagnose the condition, so more precious time is lost.
Environmental cancer is a good example. Many forms of cancer have at least a fifty-year latency period. Then, when victims have symptoms like trouble breathing or dramatic weight loss, doctors quickly blame another condition since the victim has no lifestyle or genetic cancer red flags.
No matter how much time elapsed between onset and diagnosis, a San Diego personal injury lawyer can still obtain maximum compensation, at least in most cases.
Liability Issues
Usually, a person’s negligence causes the release of toxic fumes. This person could be a truck driver who fails to properly control the vehicle.
Truck crashes usually involve third-party liability. According to the respondeat superior doctrine, employers are financially responsible for damages if their employees are negligent during the course and scope of employment.
This rule applies to truck drivers. Independent contractors, owner-operators, and even unpaid volunteers are all employees for negligence purposes. As for the second prong, any act that benefits the employer in any way is within the course and scope of employment.
Ozols Law Firm
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego, contact the Ozols Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.