Have You Been Hurt in an Ontario Big Rig Accident?
A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, might be 20 times the size of a conventional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and standard passenger cars, it is not hard to imagine how risky it is for the passengers of a normal vehicle when they get in a collision with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the impacts on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Truck Regulations
Large truck accident cases are quite a bit different from other car accident cases. Specifically, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than regular cars and drivers.
Due to the inherent danger that these big vehicles pose to other drivers, there are numerous laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws include:
California commercial truck regulations include:
There are added regulations regarding the transport of dangerous materials. All of these rules and regulations are regularly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Ontario Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is essential that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, just like any other motor vehicle accident cause, there are some factors that tend to increase the possibilities of a semi-truck crash.
Common reasons for truck accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Ontario Truck Accident
Semi-truck crashes tend to result in more severe injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized cars. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck 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.
Occasionally people walk away from truck accidents uninjured or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer serious injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have massive medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical expenses, lost wages, and also pain and suffering. You might be stressed concerning how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you may be qualified 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 an exact 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 severity of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed as a result of the accident. The amount is negotiated by your attorney and the insurance company, or a judge and jury in court. Your attorney will utilize his or her previous experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Truck Accident, the Ontario Attorneys at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright Can Help
At the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies need to be held accountable when they are responsible for causing collisions and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to abide by the guidelines and regulations that exist to maintain the roadways safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make bad choices that affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar offenses. And typically, the result of these bad decisions is a crash.
A knowledgeable truck accident attorney in the Ontario location knows all of the unique factors that might be relevant in truck accident claims. At the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations regarding vehicles and drivers, and we are diligent in assessing the potential causes and issues that might affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the claim may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and experience to get results. The unfortunate reality is that large truck accidents frequently involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, or even death. If you are injured in a crash involving a large truck, it is essential for you to partner with a law firm that has the capability to fight large companies, large insurance providers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and factors that apply in commercial trucking cases.
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