Raul Chagollan Killed in Truck Overturn Accident on NV-160 in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV — June 10, 2022, 33-year-old Raul Chagollan was killed when a tractor-trailer overturned on State Route 160 in Las Vegas.
According to reports the incident happened around 10:30 a.m. along Route 160 near mile marker 13. Preliminary investigation suggests a Western Star 18-wheeler was headed east on the highway and entered a curve at too high a speed. The truck overturned on its right side in the curve.
Chagollan suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The truck driver, Armando Lazaro Jr. Fonte, was arrested on suspicion of impairment.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Raul Chagollan Accident on Rt 160 in Las Vegas
Considering police arrested the driver in Las Vegas on suspicion of impairment, the crash may have been largely due to operator error. Before settling on that as the explanation, though, it's important to look into less-common possibilities as well. Things like mechanical problems or defects in the truck, poor road conditions or hazards, and medical emergencies can't be ruled out without a proper investigation.
Part of the accident investigation should also include figuring out what comes next. For the driver that seems to be facing the justice system, but what about the passenger's family? Who will help them after their loss? That may depend on why he was in the truck in the first place.
If the man who lost his life was also a trucking employee and was working at the time, his family may be eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits. However, if he was just along for the ride and not employed by the company, then his loved ones may have grounds for a wrongful death claim against the company.
In some situations workers' comp might not apply even if the passenger was an employee--for instance, if he was doing something else in his off-time. If he wasn't technically "on the clock" at the time of the accident, workers' comp may not apply. In that event his family may still have recourse against the trucking company.
My goal here isn't to prod anyone into starting a lawsuit--just to explain that commercial truck accidents are rarely as simple as people believe. Even if things seem plain on paper, there are usually hidden issues to address to ensure the people who need help actually get it. If they don't know their rights or what they need to do, a trucking company is unlikely to do the right thing from the goodness of its heart.
That's why any and all lingering questions about what happened and what comes next must be answered through careful investigation. Will the authorities in charge of this crash give it the necessary attention and time, or should someone else look more closely on the victim's behalf?
