The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that a total of 3,852 people died in accidents involving large trucks in 2015 and that fatal truck accidents have been on a steady rise over the last several years.
This independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization noted that accidents involving large trucks tend to be some of the most severe accident types on the road because of the overwhelming size and weight of a truck compared to a standard passenger vehicle.
Truck accidents often involve complex factual questions such as the events that lead to and caused an accident, determining who is responsible, and how to be compensated for your pain and suffering.
A California truck accident attorney will work with experts to reconstruct a truck accident and determine what caused a truck accident, whether a truck accident victim has a case, and will be able to help a victim recover the compensation they deserve. To get started on your injury claim, call an experienced accident lawyer today.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are a destructive combination of a truck’s massive size and speed compared to a considerably smaller car, van, and even bus. A fully loaded truck or tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, as compared to the average mid-size sedan, which typically weighs around 4,000 pounds.
This means that even when a truck is moving at a relatively low speed, any accident between a truck and another vehicle will likely result in massive damages. Driving a large truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or other large commercial vehicle, therefore, requires extra training and diligence.
Unfortunately, not every truck driver is as attentive as they should be and many truck accidents are caused by negligence or carelessness. However, there are numerous other causes of truck accidents including:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Substance abuse
- Improper loading
- Improper inspection and maintenance
Because of the size and weight of these vehicles, when an accident occurs it often results in substantial property damage and severe injuries. A California truck accident lawyer can help determine the cause of a truck accident by working with experts to determine what caused the accident and if it could have been avoided.
A California truck accident lawyer will also help determine if a person can file a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver, the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, and other involved parties, as well as help determine the amount of compensation a person may be entitled to.
Responsible Parties
Truck accidents are often traumatic and complex accidents that generally involve multiple people and vehicles. After an accident, it is important to know that there may be other parties who may be responsible for the accident and therefore responsible for paying for your injuries and damages. Some of the parties who may be responsible or who may have contributed to a truck accident include:
- Truck drivers
- Defective product manufacturers
- Truck retailers
- Truck owners
- Repair facilities
- Government bodies responsible for road maintenance
Truck accidents often cause significant property damage to cars, motorcycles, and smaller trucks, but also often result in one or more accident victims sustaining significant injuries. However, the truck driver on the road may not be the only one responsible for an accident, and it is important that everyone who is responsible is held accountable for his or her actions.
An experienced California truck accident lawyer is familiar with how to identify all the responsible parties in a truck accident and can help ensure that these responsible parties contribute to paying for injuries and damages.
Compensation for Truck Accidents in California
It is an unfortunate reality that truck accidents happen every day. However, unlike many other accidents on the road, a truck accident is more likely to result in a serious and life-threatening injury. People who have been injured in a truck accident often find themselves struggling not just physically after an accident, but economically as well.
If a truck driver, company, or trucking manufacturer is found liable for a person’s injuries, then that person may be entitled to any of the following forms of compensation:
- Present medical bills
- Future costs of treatment
- Ongoing medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future wages
- Impairment of earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lifestyle changes
A major truck accident can happen in just a few seconds, however, the impact of a truck accident can leave a person and their family facing significant financial burdens for years after an accident.
A California truck accident lawyer can help determine if a truck driver is either partially or fully responsible for a person’s injuries and whether or not a person is able to recover financial compensation.
Contact a California Truck Accident Attorney Today
Truck accidents complicated events that happen in an instant, however prosecuting a truck accident case can be just as complicated. However, a California truck accident lawyer who is familiar with the types of truck accidents, the responsible parties, as well as the demanding litigation process can help an accident victim recover the amount of money and compensation they deserve.
