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 regular passenger vehicles, it is not difficult to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a normal car when they get in an accident with a truck-- 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 automobile accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more rigorously than standard vehicles and drivers.
Because of the inherent threat that these huge vehicles pose to other motorists, there are multiple laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to make sure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws include:
California commercial truck regulations include:
There are added regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these rules and regulations are regularly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of San Gabriel Truck Accidents
Truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, just like any other automobile accident cause, there are some things that tend to increase the odds of a truck collision.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
Prevalent Injuries from a San Gabriel Truck Accident
Truck crashes have a tendency to result in more severe injuries than a crash involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a truck is a lot greater. truck crashes have been known to result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and much more.
Sometimes individuals walk away from truck accidents uninjured or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer severe injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have enormous medical costs as well.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical costs, lost income, as well as pain and suffering. You might be stressed about how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. They can handle your injury case carefully, and guarantee you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in 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 an exact 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 extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed as a result of the crash. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer and the insurance provider, 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 Hurt in a Truck Accident, the San Gabriel Truck Accident Lawyers at Tim D. Wright Can Help
At Tim D. Wright, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing accidents and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to comply with the guidelines and regulations that exist 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 generally, the outcome of these bad choices is an accident.
An experienced truck accident attorney in the San Gabriel area knows all of the special factors that may be relevant in truck accident claims. At Tim D. Wright, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations regarding vehicles and drivers, and we are thorough in assessing the potential causes and concerns that may affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case might involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and knowledge to get results. The sad reality is that large truck accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, and even death. If you are injured in a wreck involving a large truck, it is vital 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 variables that apply in commercial trucking claims.
Get a free consultation with our legal experts
