Commercial Trucking Accident Leaves Pedestrian In Coma

This case involves a pedestrian who was struck by a delivery truck making a left turn into a warehouse. The truck driver did not realize he had hit the pedestrian and consequently, the truck dragged the pedestrian 20 yards before arriving at its destination. The pedestrian was left in a permanent coma as a result of the accident. An expert in commercial driving was sought to review the case and address lapses in the standard of practice that may have led to this incident.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. When driving a commercial vehicle, what precautions do you generally take to avoid hitting pedestrians?

2. Have you been involved in the training of drivers in accident prevention? If so, please describe.

Expert Witness Response E-125028

I have 10+ years of experience as a director of safety for commercial vehicle company and have reviewed 1,000+ collisions for preventability. Based upon what I've seen thus far, this appears to have been a preventable collision. Left turns offer unique challenges. Frequently, these collisions are attributed to a blind spot created by the "A" pillar of the vehicle. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the commercial driver to take action to reduce or eliminate "blind spots". Many if not all of these collisions also include inattentiveness and complacency. In the course of my professional career, I have reviewed 10+ accidents involving commercial vehicles turning left into a pedestrian or cyclist. I have successfully completed two courses in bus-specific accident investigation from a transportation safety institute.