Many of the commercial vehicle and/or trucking accidents I see in California are caused by speeding. Some truck drivers have a propensity for driving too fast, for various reasons. They also tend to make lane changes without ensuring that there is proper clearance to make that lane change. I also see many commercial vehicle and trucking accidents in California caused by inattention, texting, and being on a cellphone.
Some of these accidents are caused by failures in equipment. In some cases, the wheels or tires or brakes or some other part of a commercial vehicle or truck malfunctions. This can lead to larger vehicle malfunctioning and potentially to car crashes.
Those are the most common causes of commercial vehicle and trucking accidents.
What Are Some Of The Most Common Severe Injuries That Are Caused By Semi Truck Or Large Commercial Vehicle Accidents In California?
I have seen many types of severe injuries come out of semi-truck or large commercial vehicle accidents in California. These include severe spine injuries (including both cervical spine and lumbar spine injuries) as well as traumatic brain injuries. The injuries caused by these trucks tend to be more severe because of the relative size of the trucks. The larger the vehicle, the more force it will have on impact in relation to the vehicle you’re in. Therefore, if you’re in a passenger vehicle like a sedan and you’re hit by a 20,000-pound vehicle like a semi-truck, you are more apt to have significant and severe injuries than you would if you were struck by a smaller vehicle.
As an example to illustrate this point, imagine a 5-year-old child running as fast as they can, and bumping into you from behind. The impact would not be all that severe. Now imagine a 300-pound linebacker hits you at the same speed. The impact made by the 5-year-old and the impact made by the 300-pound football player would be significantly different, as would the potential injuries caused by those respective impacts.
I Was Injured In An Accident Involving A Commercial Vehicle Or A Truck In Los Angeles. Who Could Potentially Be Held Liable For My Injuries?
There are several parties that might be held liable for injuries stemming from a commercial vehicle or trucking accident in Los Angeles and San Diego. The liability of each party depends on the circumstances of the accident in question, and what exactly caused the accident to occur. Potentially liable parties include:
- The driver of the truck or commercial vehicle
- The trucking company that hired the driver
- The broker that hired the trucking company to move the goods
- The insurers of the trailers themselves (in some cases)
- The company that loaded the goods onto the truck (if improper loading caused the accident)
- The company that manufactured or sold the truck or commercial vehicle, or that manufactured or sold specific malfunctioning parts like tires (in cases of product liability)
- The company that was responsible for maintaining and servicing the truck or commercial vehicle
If I Was Injured In A Trucking Accident In Los Angeles, Why Do I Need To Hire A Los Angeles Trucking Accident Attorney To Help Me Get A Fair Settlement In My Personal Injury Case?
As I mentioned earlier, it will always be in your best interest to hire an attorney when dealing with personal injury matters against insurance companies. When it comes to trucking and commercial vehicle issues specifically, accidents involving these vehicles can cause much more significant and complex injuries. They can also become incredibly convoluted in terms of who should be held liable and sued. It is usually not readily apparent who the responsible parties are. Ascertaining who can be held liable and who to sue (as well as how to sue them) will almost certainly require the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney.
In the average trucking accident, for instance, you could have a few people being presented as potentially liable. You may have the truck driver that has minimal coverage himself, but has been hired by a larger company that has far more insurance coverage. A trucking accident attorney can give crucially important direction to your case by investigating to determine the responsible parties. Ultimately, what you want to do is get fair compensation. A savvy personal injury attorney will be able to facilitate that process for you as much as possible.
Is There Any Other Crucial Information The Average Injured Person Needs To Know About Trucking And Commercial Vehicle Accidents? Besides For The Steps Taken In A Standard Car Accident, Are There Any Additional Steps That Should Be Taken After A Trucking Or Commercial Vehicle Accident?
One of the most important things you can do with these types of accidents is to preserve evidence. You should photograph the truck itself, any identifying numbers on the trailers, and the license plate. You should also take a picture of the Department of Transportation number (or “DoT number”). Each truck has a DoT number which is usually affixed to the cab of the truck.
Taking these photographs at the scene of the accident is the best way to determine who owns the truck and who is legally responsible for any injuries resulting from the accident. For more information on Personal Injury Law in California, a free initial consultation is your next best step.
