Have You Been Injured in a 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 normal passenger cars, it is not tough to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a normal car when they get in a crash 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 automobile accident cases. Specifically, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more rigorously than standard vehicles and drivers.
Because of the inherent risk that these big vehicles pose to other drivers, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to make sure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws consist of:
California commercial truck regulations consist of:
There are added regulations concerning the transport of dangerous materials. All of these guidelines and regulations are constantly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Glendale Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is important that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, much like any other automobile crash reason, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the odds of a semi-truck crash.
Common causes of truck accidents involve:
Prevalent Injuries from a Glendale Truck Accident
Semi-truck accidents tend to cause more serious injuries than a crash 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 result in 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 major injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They commonly have massive medical expenses as well.
What Compensation Can I Obtain from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical expenses, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. You may be stressed concerning how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. They can handle your injury claim carefully, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident results in injuries, you might be eligible to recover 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 recuperate for non-economic damages differs. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed because of the crash. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer 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 Glendale Truck Accident Attorneys at Tim D. Wright Can Help
At Tim D. Wright, 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 follow the rules and regulations that are there to keep the roads 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 decisions is an accident.
A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in the Glendale area knows all of the unique considerations that might be relevant in truck accident cases. At Tim D. Wright, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and motorists, and we are thorough in assessing the potential causes and concerns that may affect 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, etc, at Tim D. Wright, we have the resources and knowledge 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 injured in a collision 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.
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