Have You Been Injured in a Glendale 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 standard passenger vehicles, it is not hard to imagine how dangerous it is for the passengers of a normal vehicle when they get in an accident with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the effects 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 regular cars and drivers.
Because of the inherent threat that these big vehicles pose to other motorists, there are numerous 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 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.
Causes of Glendale Truck Accidents
Semi-truck crashes are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is essential that truck drivers are safe. However, similar to any other automobile accident reason, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the odds of a semi-truck accident.
Common reasons for truck accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Glendale Truck Accident
Semi-truck accidents tend to result in more serious injuries than a crash involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is much greater. Semi-truck accidents 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.
In some cases people leave truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain severe injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have enormous medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Obtain from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. You might be stressed about how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident attorney can help. They can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes 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 includes:
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 recover for non-economic damages differs. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the accident. The amount is negotiated by your attorney and the insurance company, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will use their prior experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Glendale Truck Accident Lawyers at Drake Law Firm Can Help
At Drake Law Firm, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies need to be held accountable when they are responsible for causing accidents and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to follow the rules and regulations that are there to maintain the roadways 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 offenses. And generally, the outcome of these poor decisions is a crash.
An expert truck accident lawyer in the Glendale area understands all of the unique factors that may be relevant in truck accident claims. At Drake Law Firm, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and drivers, and we are diligent in examining the potential 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 claim may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and expertise to get results. The unfortunate fact is that large truck accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disability, and even death. If you are injured in a collision involving a large truck, it is vital 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 thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and aspects that apply in commercial trucking claims.