Commercial Truck Accident Claim
Commercial Truck Accident Claim – A commercial truck accident claim often includes severe injuries when the collision involves smaller vehicles. In a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2016, 4,213 people died in crashes with large trucks, an increase of 3 percent over the previous year. Although measures have been put in place to try to reduce the number of accidents and resulting injuries and fatalities, it is still a problem along the nation’s roadways.
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents
Handling a big truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds can be difficult and requires training and constant vigilance on the part of the driver. Although there are numerous reasons why a commercial truck accident claim is made, the following are the more common causes:
- Distracted driving: Commercial drivers spend long hours on the road, which can get tedious and tiring. Although distractions may help them stay alert such as texting or talking on a phone, checking out social media or grabbing a meal while driving, it can result in truck accidents.
- Lack of training: Behind-the-wheel training for new truck drivers is not required in California currently. However, the California Assembly is in the process of approving a bill that would require training before obtaining a CDL license in the state.
- Fatigued driving: Long hours behind the wheel, strict deadlines for pickup and delivery and short breaks can contribute to fatigued driving. In some cases, a driver may be pressured by the company to take unsafe risks to get goods delivered. The result can be a commercial truck accident claim.
- Truck maintenance: Truckers are required to perform a safety check each time a vehicle heads out. However, some may ignore maintenance issues that might lead to a collision because repairs could be time-consuming.
- Drunk or drugged driving: Although drunk driving is one of the less likely problems with truck drivers, using drugs to stay alert and awake isn’t unusual. Since certain medications affect an individual’s judgment, ability to react quickly and affect one’s attention span, they can lead to a commercial truck accident claim.
- Speeding: Trying to reach a destination in a certain amount of time, weather conditions and other factors can cause a big rig driver to speed. However, just as with smaller vehicles, increased speed makes it more difficult for a driver to control the truck and slow or stop in an emergency. Besides increasing the potential for a rollover or jackknife accident, it raises the risk of a commercial truck accident claim.
Outside Influences in Commercial Truck Accidents
Most collisions with big trucks are caused by smaller vehicles that tailgate, drive in the trucker’s blind spot and for other reasons. Additional causes of truck accident collisions are as follows:
- Rainy, foggy or snowy weather can increase the risk of a crash in all types of vehicles as they lose traction or hydroplane or roads flood. Adjusting the speed down to maintain traction can help.
- Parts defects can be found in big trucks, as well as smaller vehicles, that can cause a collision. This may include defective brakes, accelerator, steering wheel or tires.
- Road defects, poor design or lack of maintenance can result in a commercial truck accident claim.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer. When you or a loved one has been hurt in a collision with a commercial truck, an experienced injury lawyer can help. Call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice.
I have assisted many residents around Sacramento and other Northern Californians in obtaining the compensation they need and deserve for all types of car accidents, pedestrian and motorcycle injuries, and wrongful deaths.
Million Dollar Advocates was established as a forum to recognize the top trial lawyers around the country who have won more than $1 million for a client. I belong to this group as a California member.
When you are looking for legal representation, finding out about a law firm before phoning is a good idea. At the following links, you will find client reviews and a list of some of our cases:
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