A large commercial big rig, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, may be 20 times the size of a traditional passenger car when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial big rigs and regular passenger cars, it is not tough to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a regular vehicle when they get in an accident 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 vehicle accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more rigorously than regular cars and drivers.
Due to the inherent danger that these big vehicles present to other motorists, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that big rig drivers are safe.
These laws consist of:
California commercial big rig regulations include:
There are additional regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these guidelines and regulations are regularly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of San Gabriel Big Rig Accidents
Big rig accidents are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial big rig and a passenger vehicle, it is important that big rig drivers are safe. However, much like any other car accident reason, there are some factors that have a tendency to increase the odds of a big rig accident.
Common causes of big rig accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a San Gabriel Big Rig Accident
Big rig crashes tend to result in more severe injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized cars. 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 more.
In some cases individuals leave big rig accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain major injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical bills also.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Big Rig Accident?
After a big rig accident, you're probably going to have medical costs, lost income, as well as pain and suffering. You might be worried regarding 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 results in 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 consist of:
The amount one can recover for non-economic damages differs. It depends on the severity 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 company, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will use his or her prior experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Big Rig Accident, the Attorneys 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 wrecks and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some big rig companies and drivers fail to abide by the guidelines and regulations that exist to maintain the roads 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 typically, the result of these poor decisions is a wreck.
An experienced big rig accident lawyer in the San Gabriel 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 concerning vehicles and drivers, and we are diligent in examining the potential 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 may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and experience to get results. The unfortunate fact is that large big rig accidents frequently 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 insurance providers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make comprehensive and timely inquiries into the facts and elements that apply in commercial big rig claims.
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