You're Safe with Drake - California's Premier Personal Injury Attorneys
Have You Been Hurt in a Van Nuys 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 difference between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and normal passenger cars, it is not difficult to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a regular vehicle when they get in an accident with a big rig-- 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 car accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more stringently than regular cars and drivers.
Because of the inherent danger that these big vehicles present to other motorists, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws consist of:
California commercial truck regulations consist of:
There are additional regulations regarding the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these rules and regulations are regularly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons For Van Nuys Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, similar to any other car crash cause, there are some factors that tend to increase the chances of a semi-truck accident.
Common causes of truck accidents consist of:
Common Injuries from a Van Nuys Truck Accident
Semi-truck crashes have a tendency to result in more serious injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized cars. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck crashes 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 people walk away from truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain serious injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical bills also.
What Compensation Can I Obtain 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 manage these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury claim carefully, and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you may be qualified 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 an exact monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These types 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 as a result of 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 prior 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 must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing wrecks and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to follow 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 poor choices that affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And generally, the result of these bad choices is a wreck.
An expert truck accident attorney in the Van Nuys location understands all of the unique factors that may 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 drivers, and we are thorough in assessing the potential causes and issues that may impact 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 expertise 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, and even death. If you are hurt in an accident involving a large truck, it is essential for you to work with a law firm that has the capability 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 cases.
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