Pedestrian Injured by Truck South of Bakersfield

Pedestrian Struck by Semi-Truck South of Bakersfield; CHP Says DUI Not SuspectedBakersfield, CA — A pedestrian was injured Tuesday morning, October 7, 2025, after being struck by a red Freightliner semi-truck on southbound Costajo Road, just north of Bear Mountain Boulevard. According to preliminary information from the California Highway Patrol’s Traffic Information page, the collision occurred around 11:00 a.m. The pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Kern Medical for evaluation and treatment. The truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. CHP indicated that impairment is not believed to be a factor at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.While authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events, this incident underscores the heightened risks pedestrians face near heavy commercial traffic corridors. When a pedestrian and a commercial truck are involved in a collision, the consequences can be significant due to the size and weight of the vehicle, even when injuries are initially described as non-life-threatening.What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident in BakersfieldIf you or a loved one is involved in a pedestrian collision, the steps you take in the minutes, hours, and days afterward can help protect your health and your legal rights:- Call 911 and get medical care: Even if symptoms seem mild, seek prompt medical attention. Some injuries—such as concussions or internal trauma—may not be immediately apparent.- Document the scene: If it’s safe, take photos and videos of the roadway, traffic controls, vehicle positions, skid marks, debris, lighting, and weather conditions, as well as any visible injuries and damage to personal items.- Collect information: Obtain names, driver’s license numbers, insurance details, license plates, and the trucking company’s name and DOT number. Get contact information for witnesses.- Avoid speculative statements: Provide factual information to police but avoid guessing about fault or injury severity. Do not give recorded statements to insurers before consulting an attorney.- Preserve evidence: Keep clothing, footwear, and any damaged personal property. Save medical records, discharge summaries, and receipts.- Consult a lawyer early: Time-sensitive evidence—such as surveillance footage or truck telematics—can disappear quickly. An attorney can send preservation letters and guide next steps.Understanding Liability in California Pedestrian and Truck CollisionsLiability in a pedestrian-truck crash can involve multiple parties:- Truck driver: Speeding, inattention, unsafe turns, or failure to yield can create liability.- Motor carrier/employer: Under California’s respondeat superior doctrine, a trucking company may be responsible for the negligence of its driver while in the course and scope of employment.- Vehicle and component manufacturers: If brake failure, tire defects, or other mechanical issues contributed, product liability may arise.- Government entities: Poor roadway design, inadequate signage, malfunctioning signals, or dangerous sightlines can lead to claims against public entities, which have shorter filing deadlines.California follows comparative negligence, meaning an injured pedestrian can still recover damages even if they are found partially at fault; any award is reduced by their percentage of responsibility.Key Commercial Trucking ConsiderationsCrashes involving big rigs often require specialized investigation:- Hours-of-Service compliance: Driver logs and electronic logging device (ELD) data can show whether fatigue played a role.- Vehicle inspection and maintenance: Records can reveal failures to maintain brakes, lights, or tires as required by federal and state regulations.- Telematics and event data: GPS, onboard cameras, collision-avoidance systems, and engine control module data can help reconstruct speed, braking, and driver inputs.- Cargo securement: Improperly loaded or shifting cargo can affect stopping distance and handling.Prompt legal action can help ensure these data sources are preserved before routine overwrites occur.Insurance and Compensation: What Injured Pedestrians Should KnowPedestrian injury claims may involve multiple insurance layers:- Trucking company liability insurance: Commercial policies typically carry higher limits than personal auto policies and may have separate coverage for the motor carrier and driver.- Umbrella/excess policies: Additional coverage may be available beyond the primary policy.- Your own auto policy: Even as a pedestrian, your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply if the at-fault driver is uninsured or inadequately insured. Medical payments (MedPay) coverage may also help with immediate bills, regardless of fault.- Health insurance: Health insurers may pay initially but could assert reimbursement rights from a settlement or judgment; a lawyer can help negotiate liens.Recoverable damages may include medical expenses, future care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage (phone, glasses, clothing), and, in serious cases, life-care needs and home modifications. Spouses may also have loss of consortium claims.Deadlines and Special Filing Requirements in California- Statute of limitations: In most California personal injury cases, you have two years from