A woman who was injured in an Orange County truck accident on January 13, 2010, on the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, has been identified as 26-year-old Jane Lagman. According to a news article in The Orange County Register, Lagman's Toyota Celica became lodged under a big rig on the southbound 5 Freeway near Magnolia Avenue. Lagman was taken to an area hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. California Highway Patrol officials are looking into what caused this accident.

I sympathize with the victim in this case and hope she had a speedy and full recovery. I'm glad that she did not sustain major injuries. This could have been a lot worse. She will be in my prayers.

Traffic Accidents

There were 30 fatalities and 2,006 injuries involving car accidents in Anaheim, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 178 people died and 14,185 were injured as a result of traffic accidents during the same year.

What are Truck "Underride" Crashes?

This crash is an example of a truck "underride" crash, where a vehicle strikes a higher chassis truck and gets wedged under it. Such accidents can cause significant injuries to the occupants of the passenger vehicle including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries or even death.

There are federal laws in place to help prevent these dangerous and possibly lethal accidents. Big rigs are required to have bumpers about 40 cm (20 inches) above the ground in order to prevent such "underriding." The Department of Transportation safety standards and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require these rear impact guards on full trailers and semi-trailers over 10,000 pounds. This applies to vehicles manufactured on or after January 26, 1998.

Claim for Compensation

In this particular case, we do not know exactly what caused this big rig underride accident. We do not know who was at fault. If the truck driver is found to be at fault, then he and his employer could be held liable. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled truck underride accidents can advise victims about their legal rights and options.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.