Two people were hospitalized following an Oklahoma accident involving a collision between an SUV and a sanitation truck. According to a News 9 report, the crash occurred near the intersection of Berry Road and Nebraska Street in Norman. Officials say the sanitation truck veered toward the left before colliding with a Chevrolet Tahoe. The 41-year-old driver of the truck and the 49-year-old driver of the SUV both suffered injuries that are not considered life threatening. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the truck-car collision, but it appears possible that the truck driver suffered a medical event before veering into oncoming traffic.
All commercial drivers must be properly trained and in adequate health to prevent tractor trailer accidents from occurring. When a driver is ill or experiencing a medical condition, he or she should not be behind the wheel of a large vehicle or any type of vehicle. Trucks are larger and heavier than other vehicles on the roadway and can cause devastating injuries if the driver loses focus, falls asleep, or suffers suddenly from a medical emergency.
To prevent these types of accidents from occurring, employers of truck drivers must carefully monitor the health and sleep habits of their drivers. When someone is suffering from sleep apnea, for example, he or she must receive treatment right away. If a driver, for example, has been diagnosed with a heart condition, it must be determined if he or she can safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Anyone who has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence would be well advised to contact an experienced big rig crash injury lawyer in Oklahoma to obtain more information about his or her legal rights.
