Have You Been Hurt in a San Fernando Valley 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 standard passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and normal passenger cars, it is not tough to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a regular vehicle when they get in a collision 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 car accident cases. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more stringently than standard automobiles and drivers.
Due to the inherent threat that these big vehicles present 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 consist of:
There are additional regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these rules and regulations are constantly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons For San Fernando Valley Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is essential that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, much like any other motor vehicle crash cause, there are some things that tend to increase the odds of a semi-truck crash.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
Common Injuries from a San Fernando Valley Truck Accident
Semi-truck collisions have a tendency to result in more severe injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is much greater. Semi-truck collisions have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and much more.
In some cases individuals leave truck accidents uninjured or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain serious injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have enormous medical bills as well.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You might be worried regarding how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. They can handle your injury claim carefully, and guarantee you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in injuries, you may be eligible to recuperate 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 include:
The amount one can recover for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the severity of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the crash. 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 previous experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Truck Accident, the San Fernando Valley Attorneys 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 collisions and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to comply with the guidelines and regulations that exist to keep the roadways safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make bad choices that affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar offenses. And more often than not, the result of these bad choices is an accident.
A qualified truck accident attorney in the San Fernando Valley area knows all of the special considerations that might 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 motorists, and we are thorough in assessing the possible 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 claim might involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and experience to get results. The sad fact is that large truck accidents frequently involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, or even death. If you are hurt in a wreck involving a large truck, it is important for you to work with a law firm that has the capability to fight large companies, large insurance providers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make detailed and timely inquiries into the facts and variables that apply in commercial trucking cases.