Have You Been Hurt in a Studio City 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 traditional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and normal passenger cars, it is not tough to imagine how dangerous it is for the passengers of a regular car when they get in an accident 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 vehicle accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more rigorously than standard automobiles and drivers.
Due to the inherent danger that these big 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 consist of:
There are added regulations concerning the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these rules and regulations are regularly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Studio City Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. However, similar to any other automobile accident cause, there are some factors that tend to increase the odds of a semi-truck accident.
Common reasons for truck accidents include:
Prevalent Injuries from a Studio City Truck Accident
Semi-truck collisions tend to result in more serious injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck crashes have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and more.
In some cases people leave truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain serious injuries and might 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 likely going to have medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. You may be worried concerning how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury case thoroughly, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in injuries, you might 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 types of damages include:
The amount one can recover for non-economic damages varies. 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 attorney will utilize their previous experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Studio City 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 accidents and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to follow the rules and regulations that are there to keep the roadways 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 bad decisions is a wreck.
A knowledgeable truck accident attorney in the Studio City area knows all of the special 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 regarding vehicles and motorists, and we are diligent in investigating 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, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and knowledge to get results. The unfortunate reality 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 crash 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 comprehensive and timely inquiries into the facts and variables that apply in commercial trucking cases.