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Given the large size of the trucks, the lengthy hours that drivers are on the road, and truck drivers’ willingness to disregard speed limits in order to meet deadlines, it is no wonder that every 16 minutes, a truck crash or collision occurs. Trucking accidents, namely those involving big rigs, buses, and commercial vehicles, are often far more complicated than non-commercial car accidents. Injuries are often more severe, the question of fault may not be easily answered, and there are usually more parties involved than what you would find in an ordinary car accident.
For example, in addition to the truck driver having a fault, sometimes the government or vehicle manufacturer shares liability for the accident. The Los Angeles truck accident lawyers at BD&J are used to taking on the largest corporations involved in these cases and have the resources necessary to obtain justice for their clients. If you or your loved one were to find themselves in a semi-truck accident, BD&J is ready to jump into action on your behalf.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can be some of the most devastating types of vehicle accidents. In part, this is due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, but it’s also due to the complexities of bringing a case in court against a driver, a trucking company, and an insurance company all at once. That’s why you need a skilled truck accident attorney to help you navigate your case and get the compensation you deserve.
Another complication in California truck accident lawsuits is the bewildering number of factors that often lead to these crashes, which can make assigning fault and winning a case difficult. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often face long hours on the road, and despite federal regulations limiting driving hours, fatigue remains a significant issue.
- Distracted driving: This includes anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road, such as using a mobile phone, eating, or adjusting the GPS.
- Speeding and/or reckless driving: Truck companies’ deadlines also contribute to truck accidents. The pressure to deliver goods on time causes some truck drivers to exceed speed limits or engage in aggressive driving behaviors.
- Mechanical failures: Commercial trucks need regular maintenance to be safe on the road. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and engine problems can lead to severe accidents. A good attorney can investigate whether negligence in vehicle maintenance played a role in your accident.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Unbalanced or loose loads can cause accidents when the load shifts or falls off the truck. These problems affect trucks’ stability and maneuverability, making them more prone to tipping over.
Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents come in a few often-repeated forms, and each has unique challenges and risks for people seeking legal solutions.
- Jackknife accidents: In these accidents, the trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab. This can happen when the driver brakes suddenly or loses control on a slippery surface.
- Rear-end collisions: These occur when a truck crashes into the vehicle in front of it. Due to the truck’s massive size and weight, even a low-speed rear-end collision can cause significant damage and injuries.
- Underride accidents: These accidents are frequently the most deadly, and they happen when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck. The top of the smaller vehicle can be sheared off, leading to catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
- T-bone collisions: Side-impact crashes happen when a truck hits the side of another vehicle, usually at an intersection. These can cause serious injuries.
- Rollover accidents: Rollovers happen when a truck flips over onto its side or roof. These can occur when trucks make sharp turns. Other causes include speeding and improper loading.
- Wide-turn accidents: Wide turns occur when a truck swings left to make a right turn, and this maneuver causes it to collide with vehicles in adjacent lanes.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents typically result in severe injuries due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. Victims of these accidents often suffer life-changing injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. A truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for your injuries in these cases.
- Traumatic brain injury: TBIs range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, memory loss, and lifelong cognitive impairments.
- Spinal cord injuries: Spine injuries are common in truck accidents. These can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the severity and location of the injury. You may need surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and expensive assistive devices to manage your condition.
- Broken bones: Fractures commonly occur due to the force of the impact. These injuries can be anything from simple fractures to complex breaks that require surgery and prolonged recovery periods.
- Internal injuries: Organ damage can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys, or spleen can cause internal bleeding and other serious complications.
- Burn injuries: Burns happen frequently in truck accidents, especially if the truck is full of fuel or is hauling flammable material. Treatment for burn injuries often involves multiple surgeries, including skin grafts, and long-term care.
Truck Accident Statistics
The occurrence of trucking accidents has been steadily increasing for the past 20 years. Trucking accidents now happen 20% more frequently than they did just 2 decades ago, resulting in roughly 4,000 fatalities in the United States each year. Although trucking accidents account for only 3% of all vehicular incidents in this country, commercial trucks are capable of causing much greater harm than the typical passenger car.
Furthermore, according to a study published by the United States Department of Transportation in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large semi-trucks were 23% more likely to be involved in fatal multiple-vehicle accidents than passenger cars. However, it is not always a simple task to identify the faulty party or parties.
Determining Responsibility
Unlike a more common accident involving 2 passenger cars, a trucking accident may find the liable party in a wide variety of places.
The following could all be partially responsible:
- The driver of the car
- The truck driver
- The trucking company for lack of training/regulations
- A mechanic who failed to properly inspect the truck
- The entity that leased the truck
Moreover, it is also possible that the truck malfunctioned due to faulty parts, in which case the manufacturer of those parts would be at fault. In accidents involving a cargo load that has become dislodged, or when improper loading contributed to the semi-truck accident, the loader or shipper may be found liable. When attempting to determine liability, there is often a great deal of contention between all potentially negligent parties, making for an all but easy process.
Laws Regarding Trucking Accidents
There are federal laws and regulations in place that regulate the trucking industry. These regulations set standards to which owners, drivers, and trucking companies must adhere to be eligible to operate on public roadways. The primary agencies governing trucking are the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These bodies work in tandem to ensure every truck in operation is road-worthy, and that every driver is well-prepared for the unique challenges of operating a commercial vehicle.
