You're Safe with Drake - California's Premier Personal Injury Attorneys
Have You Been Injured in a Topanga 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 conventional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and standard passenger vehicles, it is not difficult to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a regular vehicle when they get in a collision 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 vehicle accident cases. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more rigorously than standard automobiles and drivers.
Because of the inherent threat that these huge vehicles present to other motorists, there are multiple laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws include:
California commercial truck regulations include:
There are additional regulations concerning the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these guidelines and regulations are regularly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons for Topanga Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is important that truck drivers are safe. However, just like any other car accident cause, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the odds of a semi-truck crash.
Common causes of truck accidents consist of:
Prevalent Injuries from a Topanga Truck Accident
Semi-truck collisions have a tendency to cause more severe injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck accidents 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 unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer major injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical costs as well.
What Compensation Can I Obtain from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You might be worried about how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and ensure you get 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 consists of:
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 varies. It depends on the severity 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 use his or her previous experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Truck Accident, the Lawyers at Drake Law Firm Can Help
At Drake Law Firm, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies should be held accountable when they are responsible for causing collisions and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to abide by 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 bad decisions that affect 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 an accident.
A qualified truck accident attorney in the Topanga area knows all of the unique considerations 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 motorists, and we are diligent in investigating the potential causes and concerns that may 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, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and knowledge to get results. The unfortunate reality is that large truck accidents often involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, or even death. If you are hurt in a collision involving a large truck, it is essential for you to partner 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 detailed and timely inquiries into the facts and aspects that apply in commercial trucking claims.
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