Have You Been Hurt in a Panorama City Truck Accident?
A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, may be 20 times the size of a standard 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 passengers of a regular car when they get in a collision 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 automobile accident cases. Specifically, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than regular automobiles and drivers.
Because of the inherent threat that these huge vehicles pose to other motorists, 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 concerning the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these policies and regulations are constantly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Panorama City Truck Accidents
Semi-truck crashes are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is important that truck drivers are safe. However, much like any other car crash reason, there are some things that tend to increase the possibilities of a semi-truck accident.
Common reasons for truck accidents include:
Prevalent Injuries from a Panorama City Truck Accident
Semi-truck crashes tend to result in more serious injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck collisions 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.
Sometimes individuals walk away from truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer severe injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have massive medical bills as well.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical costs, lost income, as well as pain and suffering. You might be worried regarding how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in injuries, you may 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 a precise 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 differs. It depends on the extent 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 attorney will use his or her prior experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Panorama City Truck Accident Attorneys at Drake Law Firm Can Help
At Drake Law Firm, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing wrecks and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to follow the guidelines and regulations that exist to maintain the roads safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make poor decisions that impact the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar offenses. And typically, the outcome of these poor decisions is a wreck.
An experienced truck accident attorney in the Panorama City location understands all of the special 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 regarding vehicles and drivers, and we are thorough in assessing the potential causes and concerns that might impact issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case might involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and knowledge to get results. The sad reality is that large truck accidents frequently 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 essential 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 thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and elements that apply in commercial trucking claims.