You're Safe with Drake - California's Premier Personal Injury Attorneys
Have You Been Hurt in a Northridge 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 regular passenger vehicles, it is not tough to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a normal car when they get in an accident with a big rig-- 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 vehicle accident cases. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than regular cars and drivers.
Due to the inherent threat that these huge 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 consist of:
There are additional regulations concerning the transport of hazardous materials. All of these guidelines and regulations are regularly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons for Northridge Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is essential that truck drivers are safe. However, similar to any other motor vehicle accident reason, there are some factors that tend to increase the possibilities of a semi-truck accident.
Common reasons for truck accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Northridge Truck Accident
Semi-truck collisions tend to result in more severe injuries than a crash involving two regular-sized cars. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot 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 individuals walk away from truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain major injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have enormous medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You might be worried concerning how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident attorney can help. They can handle your injury case carefully, and ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in injuries, you might be qualified 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 kinds of damages consist of:
The amount one can recuperate for non-economic damages varies. 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 company, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will use his or her previous experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Northridge 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 wrecks 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 impact the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar offenses. And generally, the result of these poor decisions is a crash.
A knowledgeable truck accident attorney in the Northridge location understands all of the unique factors that might be relevant in truck accident cases. At Drake Law Firm, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and drivers, and we are thorough in investigating the possible causes and issues that might affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case may involve independent drivers, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Drake Law Firm, 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, or even death. If you are hurt in an accident involving a large truck, it is vital for you to work with a law firm that has the ability 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.
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