Big Rig Truck Driver’s Family Sues S-Curve Fatality

October 30, 2010-According to reports the family of a truck driver killed in an s-curve crash. The family of Tahir Sheikh Fakhar age 56 has filed a wrongful death legal suit against Caltrans and several other parties.

Fakhar a resident of Hayward, was killed when his big rig fell over the Bay Bridge last year on the bridges s-curve, causing the truck to plunge 200 feet. The crash that occurred November 9th at 3:30 a.m. on the northern side of the s-curve. Investigators alleged Rakhar was driving 10 mph over the 40 mph speed limit at the time of the crash.

The suit filed by Fakhar’s family states the s-curve as a part of the rebuilding of the Bay Bridge was introduced to drivers on September 9, 2009 and did not have adequate warning signs or other measures to warn drivers to the change.
The family’s attorney Lewis Van Blois stated it the public was unaware how sharp the s-curve was until after the accident or how much speed needed to be reduced. Van Blois said that this concealed a trap surprising drivers and not giving them the ability to make it through the curve.

After Fakhar’s big rig that was carrying pears went over the side of the Bay Bridge Caltrans improved the warning signs and added rumble strips and flashing lights to warn drivers to slow down.The speed limit on other parts of the Bay Bridge are 50 mph. and Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney stated he could not comment on the wrongful death suit. He did state that there has been increased enforcement of the speed limit and public awareness has cut down on the amount of accidents on the s-curve.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Fakhar’s wife and two children names several companies that were involved in loading the big rig, the transporting and importing of the pears were negligent. The suite states the big rig had a legal limit of 80,000 pound limit and was loaded more than 7,000 pounds over the legal limit. The suit is seeking loss of income, future earnings and funeral expenses.

If you were involved in a trucking accident, contact the big rig truck accident attorneys at:
Ehline Law Firm 6700 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 275, Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 342-9092; and 50 Francisco Street, Suite 460, San Francisco, CA (415) 684-7688.


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