What Happened When An 18 Wheeler Sideswiped My Client Then Fled The Scene
My client was involved in a serious freeway collision on October 26, 2021, near Patterson, California. The incident occurred at approximately 12:26 a.m. while he was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 at highway speed. He was driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse, properly restrained with a lap and shoulder harness. The airbag deployed upon impact. The driver of an 18-wheeler sideswiped my client’s vehicle and fled the scene. Fortunately, the entire event was captured on video by another truck driver who was following behind.
The clearest account of the incident comes from the independent witness who was driving a hazardous materials tractor-trailer southbound on I-5. He was traveling at approximately 55–60 mph behind another tractor-trailer when he observed the at-fault driver—operating a separate 18-wheeler—pass him in the #1 lane at a speed of 65–70 mph. After overtaking, the at-fault driver pulled in front of the lead tractor-trailer.
The Tractor Trailer Began To Merge Over
According to the witness, the at-fault driver then began moving from the #2 lane into the #1 lane. At that moment, my client’s vehicle was already positioned near the rear axle (tandem) of the at-fault tractor-trailer. The witness observed my client swerve to the left to avoid being struck, but due to the narrow shoulder, he lost control of his vehicle. My client’s car veered across all lanes of traffic from left to right, directly in front of the at-fault tractor-trailer, before striking the right shoulder and flipping violently three to four times in the air before coming to rest.
The witness immediately pulled his truck over. He saw the at-fault tractor-trailer flee the scene and believes the other tractor-trailer flashed its headlights in an apparent attempt to signal or alert the fleeing driver.
After stopping, the witness approached my client’s overturned vehicle. He observed the roof had collapsed inward and saw blood on the interior ceiling. Looking inside, he noted a large, baseball-sized hematoma on my client’s head. Recognizing the severity of the injuries, the witness—who comes from a family with a medical background—called 911 and urgently requested a LifeFlight helicopter, stating he was convinced my client would not survive a standard ambulance transport.
The witness later provided a statement to the responding CHP officer that reiterated the above facts in detail. His account, video footage, and prompt action were instrumental in both preserving evidence and ensuring my client received critical medical care without delay.
![The Dashcam Footage From The Accident]()
We Were Able to Secure The Policy Limits For Our Client
We Were Able to Secure The Policy Limits For Our ClientDash Cam Video still shot (the two small headlights on the right is my client’s vehicle rolling off the freeway facing the vehicle with the dash cam).
Ultimately, we successfully resolved this preventable tractor-trailer sideswipe hit-and-run case through a favorable settlement (policy limits), just months before it was set to proceed to jury trial.
If you or someone you know needs an experienced personal injury trial lawyer, please feel free to contact me, Mark C. Blane, at (619) 813-7955. You may also download one of my free Injury Guide eBooks directly from my website at www.blanelaw.com.
