Have You Been Hurt in a Santa Ana Truck 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 car when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and normal passenger vehicles, it is not tough to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a regular vehicle when they get in a crash 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. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more stringently than standard vehicles and drivers.
Because of the inherent danger that these big vehicles present to other drivers, there are several 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 additional regulations regarding the transport of hazardous materials. All of these guidelines and regulations are constantly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons for Santa Ana Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is essential that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, just like any other automobile accident reason, there are some things that tend to increase the chances of a semi-truck collision.
Common reasons for truck accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Santa Ana Truck Accident
Semi-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 semi-truck is much greater. Semi-truck crashes have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and more.
Sometimes individuals leave truck accidents uninjured or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain severe injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have massive medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical expenses, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. You may be worried regarding how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury case thoroughly, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you might be eligible to recuperate 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 types of damages consist of:
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 accident. 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 previous experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Santa Ana 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 must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing accidents and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to adhere to the guidelines and regulations that are there to keep the roads 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 infractions. And generally, the outcome of these poor decisions is an accident.
A qualified truck accident attorney in the Santa Ana location understands all of the unique factors that may be relevant in truck accident cases. 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 thorough in investigating the possible causes and issues that might impact issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and experience 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 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 comprehensive and timely inquiries into the facts and factors that apply in commercial trucking cases.
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