I-15 Semi-Truck Crash Near Barstow: Fault, Negligence, and Your Wrongful Death Claim

A dash-camera captured a harrowing scene on southbound Interstate 15 outside Barstow: a sedan stalled in the travel lane, its driver apparently trying to restart, when a fully loaded semi-truck barreled into the motionless car at freeway speed. The impact claimed the driver’s life before paramedics arrived. Even though the collision happened more than one hundred miles from Los Angeles, families in the city face identical nightmares whenever loved ones travel along the same corridor. Need Justice Now, APC wants you to understand how fault is determined, how negligence is proven, and how a wrongful death claim can secure the support a grieving household needs.

How Investigators Decide Who Caused the Crash

Determining fault begins at the crash scene, and every detail matters.

• Physical evidence tells a story. Skid marks, debris patterns, and final vehicle positions reveal speed, braking, and angles of impact. Tire-mark measurements often show whether the truck driver reacted or drove straight through the stalled car.
• Electronic data fills gaps. The truck’s event data recorder lists throttle, brake pressure, and speed in the final seconds, while cell-phone logs expose distraction. Surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras can confirm lighting and visibility.
  Each piece gives accident-reconstruction specialists and a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney the tools to explain exactly what happened and who failed to act reasonably.

What Counts as Negligence in a Truck–Car Collision

Negligence means a driver breached a legal duty to act safely and, as a result, caused harm. Four elements must be proved, and every one requires solid evidence.

1. Duty of care. All motorists must operate safely; commercial truckers owe a higher duty because their rigs can cause catastrophic harm.
2. Breach of duty. Common breaches include ignoring hours-of-service limits, following too closely, or failing to light emergency flashers when stalled.
3. Causation. The careless act must be a substantial factor in producing the fatal injuries.
4. Damages. Death, funeral costs, and lost future income establish this final element.
   When these points line up, a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer can present a compelling negligence case that insurance carriers find difficult to dispute.

Understanding a California Wrongful Death Claim

A wrongful death claim allows close relatives to recover financial and emotional losses caused by another person’s negligence. Under California law, spouses, domestic partners, children, and certain dependents may file the action. Courts commonly award compensation for:

• Funeral and burial expenses. Families should never shoulder these costs alone.
• Lost financial support. Wages and benefits the deceased would have provided often form the largest category.
• Household services and guidance. Courts recognize the day-to-day help, advice, and companionship a loved one supplied.
  These categories combine to show the true weight of a life cut short. A skilled Los Angeles wrongful death attorney gathers vocational, medical, and economic experts to calculate each figure accurately and persuasively.

Immediate Steps to Protect Your Claim

Taking early action preserves evidence and strengthens negotiation power with insurers that want to pay as little as possible.

• Secure official records. Obtain the full California Highway Patrol collision report and request copies of any 911 recordings while they are still archived.
• Preserve digital proof. Download dash-camera footage before it overwrites, copy traffic-camera video, and demand the semi-truck’s electronic control module be imaged.
• Document expenses. Keep every funeral receipt, counseling bill, and pay stub that shows lost household income.
  Completing these tasks allows your attorney to begin building the claim while you focus on family and healing.

Call Need Justice Now Before Evidence Disappears

Trucking companies launch defense teams within hours, and critical electronic data can vanish in days. You deserve an advocate who moves just as quickly and fights just as hard. Speak with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer at Need Justice Now, APC today. Call 888-998-4000 for a free, confidential consultation and learn how our firm will collect evidence, prove negligence, and pursue every dollar your family needs to rebuild.