Commercial trucks and semi tractor-trailer, such as Freightliners and Peterbuilts pose a significant threat on our highways and byways. As California trucking accident attorneys and injury lawyers, our firm understands the seriousness of a traffic accident caused by negligent operation of over-the-road haulers, or big rigs. Motorists and passengers riding in relatively small passenger cars and minivans have a slim chance of escaping injury when hit by one of these heavy trucks.
Even in busy downtown areas, truck accidents can happen with little or no warning. Motorcycle riders and bicyclists, pedestrians and other commuters can all be injured or killed by a poorly driven delivery vehicle or other commercial motor carrier. The amount of local commerce can be an indicator of the potential frequency of trucking accidents in a particular area.
In Los Angeles and other busy metropolitan centers, motorists must use extreme caution in and around industrial areas where truck traffic is usually the highest. These huge vehicles and their trailers can weigh a total of 80,000 pounds, the rough equivalent of 30 economy cars. Even large sport utility vehicles (SUVs) or light-duty pickup trucks are no match for a fully-laden tractor-trailer rig. In a crash, a fully-loaded semi can literally accordion a smaller passenger vehicle, injuring or killing the occupants.
As a California injury attorney, our members have seen the aftermath of these kids of heavy truck-passenger car accidents. Our Attorneys know how every year hundreds of individuals are cars caught up in traffic accidents involving big rigs — some wrecks are fatal to the occupants of these passenger cars. This is one of the sad and sobering facts of trucking accidents.
Statistics show that injuries resulting from truck accidents can be much more serious than car-to-car crashes. Common injuries include spinal cord damage, brain trauma, broken bones and other serious and permanent bodily harm.
One last unfortunate fact that comes up time and time again; many trucking-related accidents can be avoided. While many trucking companies take the time and effort to ensure that their trucks and drivers are safe, still others do not. An overloaded trailer is one of the most frequent causes of truck wrecks.
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A trucking accident occurs when large trailers (10,000+ lbs.) collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. Around 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year in the United States. Of these, approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves a trucking collision.
Most of the deaths and injuries involve the passengers of vehicles while the drivers of the tractor-trailers usually escape truck-vehicle collisions with little or no personal injury. Due to the large size of trucks, an accident can greatly endanger the lives of other smaller vehicles unnecessarily when tractor-trailer operators fail to consider proper accident prevention measures.
Due to the large size of trucks, an accident can greatly endanger the lives of other smaller vehicles unnecessarily when tractor-trailer operators fail to consider proper accident prevention measures.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents:
- Unlicensed Driver
- Speeding
- Disobeying Safety Procedure
- Motor Vehicle Inspection Failure
- Repair & Maintenance Failure
- Failure to Yield The Right of Way
- 18 Wheeler Crash
- DUI / DWI
- Driver Fatigue
- Truck Rollover
- Backing Up/Moving In Reverse
- Vehicle Collisions
- Mechanical or Brake Failure
- Tires Blow Up
- Transporting Equipment with Trailers
- Overloaded Trucks or Trailers
- Loads That Shift Weight
Truck driver fatigue is defined as the exhausted, sleepy, or tired feeling a driver experiences while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Truck drivers work very long hours, face unrealistic deadlines, and have to meet tight rigorous schedules. Because of this fact, truck driver fatigue is one of the main reasons why truck accidents occur in the United States. Truck driver fatigue can severely impair the judgment of an individual who is behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle. It is particularly dangerous because one symptom includes the decreased ability to evaluate their own level of fatigue.
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