Four Injured by Loose Plywood Cargo from Semi-Truck off I-10 in Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge, LA — July 11, 2022, four people were injured when an out-of-control 18-wheeler lost its load of plywood off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge.
According to reports the incident happened Monday afternoon on a two-lane ramp near the interchange of I-10 and I-110. Preliminary investigation suggests a semi-truck was traveling along the ramp when the driver lost control for unknown reasons. The truck's load of plywood shifted, then flew off the flatbed trailer and crashed into two nearby cars.
The impact of the plywood crushed one car completely and dealt significant damage to the other. The truck also overturned in the roadway during the crash.
Four people from the cars were transported to area hospitals after the wreck. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening. The truck driver was cited for careless driving.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Truck Accident off I-10 in Baton Rouge
By all accounts it looks like the truck driver was a bit too careless while making a turn on the ramp. Police said it's not the first time they've seen a big rig lose its cargo in the same area when truckers take the curve too fast and their loads shift; while on the one hand that suggests maybe the curve isn't designed all that well, it also seems like an indictment of several professional drivers that they didn't slow down like they had to.
It seems like the victims should be able to approach the company behind that driver and ask for help dealing with the injuries he caused. However, truck accidents are rarely that simple. Trucking companies are pretty notorious for denying responsibility if they can point fingers elsewhere. For example, in Baton Rouge they could say the road's poor design is to blame. If they don't want to do that, they might instead say the victims took "faulty evasive maneuvers"--as though anyone's ready to dodge high-speed projectiles at a moment's notice.
The point is that just about every truck accident involves dealing with stubborn trucking companies afterward. I've worked on commercial accidents for decades and in all that time I've seen exactly one company accept fault and set about making things right without a fuss. All the others argued and blamed anything and everything else they could think of rather than do the right thing for the people their drivers hurt.
To make sure the right parties are held accountable, it's always best to find objective evidence that tells the real story. Will law enforcement take the necessary time and care to find that evidence, or would the victims be better served by independent investigations on their behalf?
