A 47-year-old Marina man died in a weekend crash with a semi-truck-trailer on Highway 101 south of Chualar, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday.

The name of the victim was not released pending notification of next of kin, the CHP said.

The victim was driving south about 10 a.m. Sunday in a Buick Electra when a truck-trailer combination behind him collided with the car and caused it to go out of control and overturn, the CHP said.

The car didn’t have seatbelts, and the victim was pinned underneath the vehicle, the CHP said.

The accident occurred about two miles south of Chualar in the right-hand lane.

The CHP said the truck driver, Jose Ortiz, 42, of Mountain View failed to see the slow-moving car for an unknown reason.

Drugs or alcohol did not appear to be involved, the CHP said. The collision remains under investigation.

The truck, owned by AAVI Transport of Fresno, was hauling a load of produce from Castroville, the CHP said. The truck driver wasn’t hurt.

Cause of the the big-rig crash

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the Buick was traveling with a line of classic cars on the slow lane of Southbound Highway 101. It was followed by a  motor home and a big-rig truck.

The motor home passed the Buick, but the big-rig driver did not notice the Electra’s slower speed and hit it from behind.

The impact caused the Electra to overturn on the center divide, ejecting and killing the driver.

Fault and Wrongful Death Liability

Accidents involving big-rigs  have unique and complex legal issues. If it is determined that the driver of the big-rig was  at fault for this collision, the family of the victim would be well-advised to speak to a California truck accident attorney. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney will be able to review the cause of the accident, and if warranted, arrange for an independent investigator to reconstruct the collision to determine exactly what happened and who was responsible. A skilled lawyer can also provide an explanation to the victim’s family on their legal rights in a wrongful death claim against the driver or any other parties at fault. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Demand accountability from the trucking company.  We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have handled complex trucking accident cases for twenty years.  We have the litigation experience to handle complex trucking liability cases.  We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.  Remember, the trucking industry are a formidable foe and must be fought against aggressively.

The laws regarding wrongful death/”trucking accident” cases are complex and include many facets of the law.  It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death/”trucking accident” lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your legal rights and those of your loved ones.

California trucking accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one.  The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its “trucking accident” cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your “trucking accident” case.

The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case.  As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf.  Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery.  If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.

If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a tractor-trailer rig you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your rights and preserve the evidence.  The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.