San Diego is home to one of the most significant ports in the United States – the Port of San Diego. This massive port sees a constant stream of cargo ships, cruise liners, shipping vessels, and heavy-duty 18-wheelers transporting goods in and out of the city.
With so much activity concentrated in a small area, accidents are bound to happen. 18-wheeler truck accidents in particular can cause catastrophic injuries due to their enormous size and weight. If you or a loved one has been injured by an 18-wheeler near the Port of San Diego, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents at the Port
There are many factors that contribute to accidents involving 18-wheelers around San Diego’s busy port. Some of the most common causes include:
- Driver fatigue – Truckers often face intense pressure to meet tight delivery schedules, leading to driver fatigue. Drowsy driving dramatically increases accident risk. Fatigue slows reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs judgment. Driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as driving drunk.
- Speeding – Truckers may speed to make up for lost time, not realizing their truck’s slower stopping abilities when fully loaded. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react and stop quickly in an emergency. It also increases impact force in a crash.
- Impaired driving – Drugs, alcohol, and distraction all impair truck drivers’ abilities to react in time to avoid a crash. Even small amounts of intoxicants greatly reduce coordination and focus. Distracted driving diverts attention from the road.
- Equipment failure – Worn tires, defective brakes, or mechanical breakdowns can cause the trucker to lose control. Poor maintenance leads to critical safety equipment failing when it’s needed most.
- Improper loading – Improperly secured cargo can shift in transit and cause the 18-wheeler to overturn. Forklift operators must properly distribute weight and secure loads to prevent load shift accidents.
- Hazardous weather – High winds, rain, and fog around San Diego’s coastal ports can make driving conditions dangerous. Truckers must reduce speeds and increase their following distance during inclement weather.
- Jackknife accidents – Long trailers can bend and swerve out of control, causing devastating jackknife crashes. These accidents often block multiple lanes of traffic.
- Congested traffic – With endless trucks jostling for position in crowded ports, accidents are inevitable. Truckers must drive defensively and watch for sudden stops.
The Dangers of 18-Wheeler Accidents
18-wheelers pose immense dangers when involved in an accident due to their sheer size and weight. Loaded 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When hit by a vehicle of this size, smaller passenger vehicles don’t stand a chance. The enormous weight causes catastrophic crush injuries upon impact.
Common injuries sustained in 18-wheeler accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries – vertebrae fractures, paralysis. The spinal cord can be severed or pinched after crush trauma. Paralysis and loss of sensation often result.
- Traumatic brain injuries – concussions, memory loss, impaired cognition. The violent motions inside the vehicle can cause the brain to impact the skull. Even mild TBIs cause lasting neurological deficits.
- Crush injuries – broken bones, organ damage, amputations. The body simply cannot withstand an 80,000 lb truck crushing it. Broken bones, severed limbs, and trauma to internal organs are common.
- Burn injuries – from post-crash fires. Overturned tanker trucks or sparks igniting leaking fuel can cause fiery explosions. Victims can suffer disfiguring third-degree burns.
- Wrongful death – Sadly, many accident victims suffer fatal injuries at the scene due to the extreme physical trauma. When negligence leads to a wrongful death, families can pursue compensation through a claim.
- Psychological trauma – Major crashes cause immense emotional suffering, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Therapy and medications add to the victim’s costs.
Sadly, many accident victims suffer permanent disabilities that forever change their lives. Their medical bills, lost income, and other expenses quickly add up. An experienced San Diego personal injury attorney can help the victims and families recover the compensation they desperately need.
Seeking Maximum Compensation
In the aftermath of an 18-wheeler accident, the trucking company and their insurance providers will work diligently to minimize payouts. They may try to place blame on the victim or downplay the true extent of injuries.
An attorney levels the playing field by thoroughly investigating the accident, preserving evidence, calculating damages, and negotiating for maximum compensation. Compensation can include:
- Past and future medical expenses – Bills from hospitalization, surgery, therapy, medication, assistive devices, and in-home care add up quickly. Lifetime medical needs must be estimated.
- Loss of income – If injuries prevent returning to work, past and future lost wages must be calculated based on the victim’s earnings.
- Loss of future earning capacity – Permanent disabilities reduce what a victim could have earned over their career. Expert economists can project earnings potential.
- Pain and suffering – There is an emotional price tag for suffering through severe injuries. Juries award damages for mental anguish.
- Property damage – Repairs or replacement of vehicles and personal property destroyed in the crash.
- Wrongful death damages – Families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship and income support the deceased would have provided.
Holding Negligent Parties Accountable
Trucking companies and their drivers must uphold stringent safety regulations designed to protect others on the road. When their negligence leads to catastrophic injuries, they must be held fully accountable.
An attorney can pursue compensation through:
- Truck driver liability – for speeding, distraction, impairment, etc. Drivers who choose to drive recklessly must compensate their victims. Cameras and ELD logs help prove driver negligence.
- Trucking company liability – for poor maintenance, inadequate driver training, or overloading. Trucking companies must maintain equipment, train drivers, and adhere to weight limits. Violations make them liable.
- Product liability – for vehicle manufacturers or parts makers. If defective truck parts directly cause an accident, the makers can be sued for defective products.
- Government liability – for unsafe road design. Poorly designed onramps, medians, and tight turns contribute to crashes. Governments can be sued for creating a dangerous condition.
With an intricate web of potential responsible parties, an attorney’s expertise is crucial for success. Thorough investigations determine all those who contributed to the crash through their carelessness or negligence.
Compassionate Legal Representation
The attorneys at Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys have experience assisting injured victims and bereaved families in San Diego. We know the pain and hardship these families face after a devastating truck accident. Our goal is to lift those burdens by securing the maximum compensation the law allows. We are committed to a compassionate one-on-one service for every client.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by an 18-wheeler near San Diego’s busy ports, please reach out to our office for a free case review. Call us today at 833-545-1644. Our experienced attorneys are standing by to help get your life back on track after this tragedy.
