There’s no denying that California is a fantastic place to live in, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides, especially on the roads. Practically every year, California has the most fatal truck accidents out of all of the States (113 fatalities per year). As well as this, there are around 3,000 truck accidents that lead to injuries. Being involved in a truck accident is terrifying, and it can leave people out of work or have to change their lifestyle. For this reason, US law allows people to claim compensation to help them recover.
Californian Laws Surrounding Truck Accidents
We’ve already established that California ranks the highest in terms of fatal truck accidents. For that reason, the state has imposed fairly strict laws to govern trucks on the road, which include:
- Hours of Service. Drivers are banned from operating after 80 hours of service in any 8 days. The break must be for 10 hours at least after 16 hours of work.
- Driver Logging. All drivers must keep electronic logs, which include routes, breaks, and any maintenance.
- Inspections. Californian and Federal laws require all truck drivers to regularly inspect their vehicles for issues.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California
Truck accidents are often caused by a lack of attention to traffic and reckless maneuvers. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), these are the most common reasons for truck collisions:
- Fatigued drivers.
- OTC medications.
- Needing to stop before a crash – crosswalks or traffic controls.
- Dysfunctional brakes.
- Speeding.
- Influence of drink or drugs.
- Unfamiliar roads.
The Different Types of Truck Accidents
Just as there are many different causes of truck accidents, there are countless different types that all road users should be aware of. The most common types in California are:
- Head-on. When two vehicles collide head-on – caused by dangerous driving by either party.
- Jackknife. Sprawling several lanes, the cap and trailer collide – looking like a jackknife.
- Undercarriage. When a small car crashes into the underside of a truck – often at night or in foggy conditions.
- T-bone. When a truck smashes into the side of another vehicle – often at intersections.
- Truck rollover. A truck can turnover due to speeding, poor corner handling, bumps in the road, and last-minute swerving.
All of these accidents have to potential to be devastating to drivers. If you team up with a truck accident lawyer and ensure everything outlined below is followed to the letter, you will likely have a successful claim on your hands.
What to Do After a Truck Accident?
Remaining at the Scene
Just as you would with any other collision, you must remain at the scene to avoid facing hit-and-run charges. However, it’s important to get to safety to avoid causing any other accidents. Depending on the severity of the crash, you should try to remove your vehicle from lines of traffic. Alternatively, you should get yourself to safety and wait for emergency services to arrive.
Calling the Police and Seeking Medical Attention
Calling the police and waiting for them to arrive is essential, regardless of how severe the crash is. Not only does it allow a report to be written and an incident number to be generated, but it also removes any opportunity for lines to be crossed by either party. As well as this, your insurance company and vehicle accident lawyer will need access to the incident report.
You will also need to receive medical attention, even if you’re not in any immediate pain – symptoms may have a delayed onset. Additionally, if you choose to claim compensation for physical or emotional stress, you’ll need to prove your medical journey.
Gathering Photographic Evidence
If you’re able to move around comfortably, you should take pictures of the crash from a number of different angles. As well as the immediate crash, you can snap a few shots of the scene, which may include witness number plates. If you are too severely injured, you will need to rely on pictures taken by emergency services.
Driver and Witness Contact Details
Before you leave the scene of the crash, make sure you gather contact details from any drivers involved. Additionally, you should seek out any potential witness details. You will need these to file insurance claims and allow road traffic accident lawyers to do their jobs. Again, if you’re too severely injured, contact the police and see if you can obtain the information from them.
Contact Insurance
Just as you would with any other road collision, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to let them know and start the claims process. Fortunately, if the truck driver is found to be at fault, Federal law requires them to have extensive insurance policies.
Partner with a Truck Accident Injury Lawyer
If you were injured or your car was damaged during a truck collision, and negligent driving was involved, you may be entitled to claim compensation. In this case, you will need an expert on your side, like Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys. You don’t need to worry about paying an upfront cost.
Your road accident lawyer will help you to determine liability, which you will need to prove to win your compensation case. They will launch investigations into how many hours the driver was operating, what the load was, whether they had sufficient training, and whether the vehicle was maintained.
Filing For Compensation
In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file for compensation, which should be plenty of time to recover, gather evidence, find a truck accident lawyer near me, and put a strong case together. However, this is a long time to go and memories fade, which is why it’s recommended to keep a journal to record all medical injuries, feelings, and any hardships caused by the accident.
Being involved in a truck accident can leave those involved with life-changing injuries. If negligence played a part in the accident, victims are entitled to gather evidence, team up with a road accident lawyer in California, and file a claim for compensation. Contact Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys today.
