Have You Been Hurt in a Pasadena 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 conventional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial big rigs and normal passenger cars, it is not difficult to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a standard car when they get in a collision with a big rig-- not to mention the impacts 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. Specifically, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more stringently than standard vehicles and drivers.
Due to the inherent danger that these huge vehicles present to other motorists, there are multiple laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to make sure that big rig drivers are safe.
These laws include:
California commercial big rig regulations include:
There are added regulations concerning the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these rules and regulations are constantly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons For Pasadena Big Rig Accidents
Big rig crashes are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial big rig and a passenger car, it is important that big rig drivers are safe. However, similar to any other motor vehicle accident reason, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the odds of a big rig crash.
Common reasons for big rig accidents involve:
Prevalent Injuries from a Pasadena Big Rig Accident
Big rig collisions have a tendency to cause more severe injuries than a crash involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a big rig is a lot greater. 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 severe injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have massive medical costs also.
What Compensation Can I Obtain from a Big Rig Accident?
After a big rig accident, you're likely going to have medical expenses, lost wages, and also pain and suffering. You may be worried about how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where an experienced big rig accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury case carefully, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a big rig accident causes injuries, you might be qualified to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This includes:
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have a precise monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These kinds of damages include:
The amount one can recuperate for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the crash. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer and the insurance provider, or a judge and jury in court. Your attorney will use their prior experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Big Rig Accident, the Pasadena Big Rig Accident Lawyers 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 accidents and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some big rig companies and drivers fail to comply with 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 affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And typically, the result of these bad choices is a crash.
A qualified big rig accident lawyer in the Pasadena area understands all of the unique factors that may 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 examining the possible causes and issues that might affect issues of liability for commercial big rigs.
Even if the big rig company involved is based out of state, or the claim might involve independent drivers, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and knowledge 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 permanent disablement, or even death. If you are injured in a crash involving a large big rig, it is important for you to work with a law firm that has the ability 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 aspects that apply in commercial big rig claims.
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