Have You Been Injured in a Glendale Big Rig Accident?
A large commercial big rig, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, might be 20 times the size of a traditional passenger car when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial big rigs and standard passenger vehicles, it is not hard to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a standard vehicle when they get in an accident with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the effects on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Big Rig Regulations
Large big rig accident cases are quite a bit different from other car accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than regular automobiles and drivers.
Due to the inherent threat that these huge vehicles pose to other drivers, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to make sure that big rig drivers are safe.
These laws consist of:
California commercial big rig regulations consist of:
There are added regulations regarding the transport of dangerous materials. All of these policies and regulations are constantly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Glendale Big Rig Accidents
Semi-big rig accidents are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial big rig and a passenger vehicle, it is crucial that big rig drivers are safe. Nevertheless, similar to any other motor vehicle accident cause, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the chances of a semi-big rig collision.
Common reasons for big rig accidents consist of:
Prevalent Injuries from a Glendale Big Rig Accident
Semi-big rig crashes tend to result in more serious injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-big rig is a lot greater. Semi-big rig accidents have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and much more.
In some cases individuals leave big rig accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain serious injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have enormous medical bills as well.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Big Rig Accident?
After a big rig accident, you're probably going to have medical bills, lost wages, and also pain and suffering. You may be stressed regarding how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where a knowledgeable big rig accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and make sure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a big rig accident causes injuries, you might be eligible to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This consists of:
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have a precise monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These types of damages include:
The amount one can recover for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed because of the accident. The amount is negotiated by your attorney and the insurance provider, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will use his or her previous experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Big Rig Accident, the Glendale Big Rig Accident Lawyer at Tim D. Wright Can Help
At Tim D. Wright, we believe commercial drivers and big rig companies must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing collisions and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some big rig companies and drivers fail to abide by the guidelines and regulations that are there to keep the roadways safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make bad decisions that impact the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And more often than not, the outcome of these bad decisions is an accident.
A qualified big rig accident lawyer in the Glendale area knows all of the special considerations that might be relevant in big rig accident cases. At Tim D. Wright, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations regarding vehicles and motorists, and we are thorough in assessing the potential causes and concerns that might impact issues of liability for commercial big rigs.
Even if the big rig company involved is based out of state, or the case might involve independent drivers, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and expertise to get results. The sad reality is that large big rig accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disablement, or even death. If you are injured in a collision involving a large big rig, it is vital for you to work with a law firm that has the capability to fight large companies, large insurers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and elements that apply in commercial big rig claims.
Get a free consultation with our legal experts