Any commercial truck accident has the potential to be devastating. Severe injuries and death are possible consequences. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, get in touch with a truck accident lawyer near me and see whether you qualify for compensation. Such cases are taken to court and sometimes settled out of court. You can claim for loss of income, medical bills, car repairs, and pain and suffering. If a loved one died tragically during the accident, you may also qualify for a wrongful death case. Sometimes, secondary injuries like burns and respiratory problems may occur. A claim for compensation will look at all aspects of damage and injuries that were experienced by the victim.
The Danger of Commercial Truck Accidents
It can take only one moment of distraction, such as answering a mobile phone call, for an accident to happen. Eighteen-wheelers and other trucks have aspects to them that make them more likely to cause lethal damage to victims. Being on the road places potential victims at risk due to these factors. Compared to accidents involving two cars, an accident involving a truck is more likely to result in death or very serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, damage to back and spine, paralysis, the need for amputation of limbs, burns, internal bleeding, internal damage to organs, and respiratory difficulties.
The factors that make California truck accidents so dangerous are highlighted below.
The Large Weight and Size of Commercial Trucks
Federal law allows big rigs to be up to 80,000 pounds. Some trucks have special permits that allow them to weigh even more. On the other hand, a typical car’s weight is between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. A small car weighs only a twentieth of what a commercial truck weigh.
This huge size is problematic in an accident as the impact of a crash is so much greater. This causes more serious injuries and increases the chances of a victim succumbing to their injuries significantly. In a collision between a truck and a car, the car and its occupants are in grave danger of being wounded severely. The weight of each vehicle contributes to the size of the force generated during an accident. If speeding played a role, this could increase the force substantially.
A car may be completely squashed in an accident with a truck. The occupants are likely to have suffered severe injuries like spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and coma. These injuries will change the victim’s life completely. They may not be able to take care of themselves anymore and lose their independence. There will be bills for occupational therapy and physical therapy, hospital bills, and pain and suffering. The victim may not be able to work again and will thus experience a loss of income. They are likely to become depressed and struggle to adapt to their new circumstances. Victims need to get in touch with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to build a good case for compensation.
Cargo Could be Expelled onto the Road
A commercial truck that is towing a trailer is usually jam-packed full of cargo. If this was not properly packed and secured, it can be expelled onto the road, creating an immediate hazard for other road users. For example, the cargo will obstruct traffic and a pile-up could result. If the truck is carrying hazardous or flammable substances, the consequences of an accident in which a truck loses its cargo could result in other vehicles going up in flames and road users needing to be treated for third degree burns. Toxic fumes may be breathed in, causing respiratory damage.
When a truck is involved in an accident and jackknifes, its cargo may spill out. The cargo could be flung quite far out into the road, making drivers swerve to avoid it and potentially causing more accidents. Sometimes, a road accident lawyer California will take note of all the parties that could be held responsible for the crash. The owners of the trailer may differ from the owners of the commercial truck fleet. The company that packed the cargo can also be held liable. Additionally, the driver could be a responsible party, with more than one group or person being held accountable.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups in Track Accident
Whether the truck jackknifes, the driver loses control due to distraction or speeding, a mechanical error occurs due to infrequent maintenance, or cargo is spilt onto the road, a crash with a truck usually has serious outcomes. One of the immediate dangers is that other vehicles on the road do not see the problem to stop in time or are not able to swerve around obstacles without going into other traffic. This can lead to multiple-vehicle pileups. In such accidents, many people are severely injured, and some may lose their lives.
Wrongful death of a family member who was killed in an accident with a truck can be taken to court. This will be handled by a wrongful death attorney California. Compensation may include all hospital bills, the cost of replacing the written-off car, funeral costs, loss of a source of income, personal suffering, and loss of a guide and/or companion.
The sheer size of a truck makes it more likely that a pile-up will occur. These vehicles are long enough to block several lanes of a freeway. A rolling truck that has overturned could crash into more than one vehicle before coming to a final stop.
Override and Underride Collisions
In an override accident, a truck manages to drive over a smaller car instead of ploughing into it. During an underride incident, the car drives underneath the truck. This is a unique feature of collisions with trucks. The passengers in the car are likely to sustain severe injuries. The small car may be crushed completely. Sometimes the top of the smaller vehicle is lopped off completely at a certain level that leads to decapitation of its driver. Rear impact guards are required to be fitted to all trucks to prevent overriding and under-riding. Many commercial truck companies fail to have rear guards installed on all their trucks.
If you are looking for a personal injury accident lawyer, contact us here at Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys. We can help you to claim compensation if you are involved in an accident with a truck.
We have offices in California, Texas & Nevada.
