You Have Found a Truck Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You Get the Justice You Deserve
After a truck accident, an attorney can help you choose if filing a personal injury lawsuit is the best course of action for you. When negotiating a reasonable insurance claim payment is impossible, you may need to take legal action against the truck driver and his or her trucking firm.
An experienced truck accident lawyer will know what it takes to win your case, including obtaining the appropriate evidence, working with expert witnesses from the commercial trucking sector, and proving that the truck driver is legally to blame. That experienced truck accident lawyer is DLC Law. Call us now at (626) 285-8815 so we can assess your claim.
Many factors can play a role in a truck accident
Many elements may come into play when a semi-truck or other big commercial truck is involved in an accident. These are just a few of California’s most prevalent causes of truck accidents.
- Driver fatigue. Despite the fact that state and federal rules mandate drivers to rest for a specific period of time throughout each lengthy shift, some unscrupulous trucking businesses pressure their drivers to drive even if they are tired. Drowsiness causes delayed response times and poor decision-making, and is a leading cause of trucking accidents in California.
- Speeding. Truck drivers are frequently forced to travel at a slower speed than passenger car drivers. The repercussions of truck drivers breaking legal speed limits or driving too fast for the conditions can be disastrous.
- Equipment failure. Modern commercial vehicles are complex machines with cutting-edge technology. Despite technical advancements in the trucking business, equipment breakdowns continue to be a key role in truck accidents.
- Overloading. Commercial trucking firms are required by state and federal laws to conform to specific load sizes. When a vehicle carries too much weight, braking time is compromised, which can result in catastrophic accidents.
- Use of drugs or alcohol. Federal law requires commercial truck drivers and their employers to undergo rigorous alcohol and drug testing guidelines. Despite this, drug and alcohol misuse among truck drivers continues to be a big issue, and it is frequently a contributing factor in catastrophic truck accidents.
- Aggressive driving. Anyone who has traveled on the roads of California has likely encountered aggressive driving. When a commercial truck driver drives aggressively or recklessly, the consequences can be disastrous.
Almost all of these main causes of truck accidents may be avoided or managed with adequate safety precautions. If you feel one of these variables contributed to your truck accident, you should speak with a truck accident lawyer immediately soon to explore your case.
The real reasons truck accidents are so dangerous
Even when the trailer is not loaded to capacity, commercial vehicles weigh significantly more than a passenger automobile. A typical city delivery vehicle or box truck weighs between 10,000 and 19,500 pounds. Between 26,000 and 33,000 pounds is the weight of a furniture truck, city trash collection vehicle, or truck tractor. Cement trucks and sleeper cab trucks must weigh at least 33,001 pounds. A pickup truck, SUV, or minivan that weighs less than 6,000 pounds is considered a light vehicle. Commercial trucks, on the other hand, weigh two to five times as much as the heaviest passenger cars.
Overworked truck drivers are common. Their lengthy hours on the road may cause them to become tired. A drowsy motorist is a dangerous driver. Some trucking companies may be sloppy with vehicle maintenance and upkeep. Maintaining a fleet of commercial trucks is expensive, and cost-cutting measures may result in vehicles that are unsafe to drive.
Commercial trucks are also less safe than other vehicles due to their size. To come to a complete halt, they will require additional time and space. If the trailer is fully loaded, the truck will take longer to stop. Commercial vehicles also require extra turning room. They don’t have the same maneuverability as passenger cars. The trailer’s length generates a wide blind zone surrounding the vehicle, which poses a safety hazard.
Hazardous materials may be transported by commercial trucks. Hazardous items were carried by around 4% of commercial vehicles involved in fatal accidents and 2% of those engaged in non-fatal accidents in 2016. Hazardous chemicals were discharged from the truck in 16 percent of all commercial truck collisions that resulted in an injury or death.
The hazardous substance discharged in more than 60% of the incidents was combustible, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or oil. The release of combustible and toxic chemicals endangers the lives of other drivers, first responders, and members of the community.
You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries
If your truck accident case is successful, you may be entitled to compensation for the following categories of damages:
- Medical care. If the truck driver was completely at fault, you should be entitled to full reimbursement for your medical expenses. Expenditures for time spent in a hospital, copayments for medical appointments, prescription medicine costs, and any ongoing physical therapy or other treatment you needed as a result of the accident are all included.
- Compensation for pain and suffering. You may be eligible for compensation if your injuries were serious and caused you to suffer from excruciating agony and emotional distress.
- Lost wages. If you were forced to miss work due to the injuries you received in the accident, you may be entitled to compensation equivalent to what you would have earned during that period. Some truck accident victims are permanently disabled or have a decreased ability to work in the future as a result of their injuries. You may be entitled to monetary damages for lost future profits in this situation.
- Property damage. You may be entitled to compensation for the fair market value of your car or other property at the time of the truck accident if it was damaged in the accident.
To learn what your options are, contact DLC Law at (626) 285-8815 for a consultation with a truck accident attorney.