Have You Been Hurt in a Riverside Trailer Accident?
A large commercial trailer, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, may be 20 times the size of a conventional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial trailers and normal passenger cars, it is not difficult to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a standard car when they get in a crash with a big rig-- not to mention the effects on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Trailer Regulations
Large trailer accident cases are quite a bit different from other vehicle accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more rigorously than standard cars and drivers.
Because of the inherent risk that these huge vehicles present to other drivers, there are multiple laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that trailer drivers are safe.
These laws include:
California commercial trailer regulations consist of:
There are added regulations concerning the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these policies and regulations are constantly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Riverside Trailer Accidents
Trailer accidents are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial trailer and a passenger vehicle, it is important that trailer drivers are safe. However, just like any other car accident cause, there are some factors that tend to increase the odds of a trailer accident.
Common reasons for trailer accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Riverside Trailer Accident
Trailer collisions tend to cause more serious injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized cars. This is because the force behind a trailer is much greater. Trailer collisions have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and more.
Occasionally individuals walk away from trailer accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain major injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have massive medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Trailer Accident?
After a trailer accident, you're probably going to have medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. You may be stressed about how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where a knowledgeable trailer accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury case thoroughly, and ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a trailer accident results in injuries, you might be qualified to recuperate 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 recuperate for non-economic damages differs. It depends on the severity of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed as a result of the crash. The amount is negotiated by your attorney and the insurance provider, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will utilize his or her prior experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Trailer Accident, the Riverside Trailer Accident Lawyers 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 accidents and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to abide by the guidelines and regulations that exist to keep the roads safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make poor decisions that affect 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 result of these bad decisions is a wreck.
An expert trailer accident attorney in the Riverside location knows all of the unique factors that may be relevant in trailer 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 motorists, and we are thorough in investigating the possible causes and issues that might impact issues of liability for commercial trailers.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case might 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 sad reality is that large trailer accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, or even death. If you are hurt in an accident involving a large trailer, it is essential 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 comprehensive and timely inquiries into the facts and variables that apply in commercial trucking cases.
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