California Truck Accident Lawyers
California is the most populous U.S. state with over 39 million residents living across a land area of over 160,000 square miles. This resulted in a large demand for goods and services to be transported all over the state which led to the development of a massive trucking industry in California.
Local freight trucking in California has a market size of over $16.4 billion with 56,475 businesses and over 90 thousand employees. The sheer size of this industry increases the risk of people sustaining injuries that result from truck accidents, which means that people should constantly be wary of their surroundings. To help protect yourself, you may seek the help of California truck accident lawyers who can help you resolve legal issues that may arise from such incidents.
California Truck Accident Statistics
According to the National Safety Council, California had 436 fatalities caused by large truck accidents in 2022, having the second-highest number of incidents nationwide after Texas. Truck drivers and companies try to bypass their legal obligations and overlook safety measures to meet delivery schedules and cut costs which often lead to these catastrophic incidents.
Most Common Causes Of Truck And 18-Wheeler Accidents In California
Defective Truck Parts
Before hitting the road and conducting a delivery, it is standard practice to check on the status of the truck to see if everything is in good condition and is functioning well. When drivers and trucking companies ignore the process of inspection and preventative maintenance, it can cause truck issues while on the road, including tire blowouts, ineffective braking, and wheel-offs.
Fatigue and Truck Error
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers can only be behind the wheel for 11 hours, and must rest for 10 hours before the next trip. Drivers often push beyond these mandated hours to maximize profits, which makes some drivers resort to using substances to keep themselves awake, thus impairing their reaction time and judgment while on the road.
Jackknives
Jackknifing happens when the truck swings out of control because of uneven weight distribution and the truck’s elevated center of gravity. These often happen in sharp turns and blind spots because controlling the truck in these areas can be difficult.
Speeding
The size of trucks makes it harder for them to stop while on the road, but truck accidents often happen when drivers overspeed and cause collisions due to their negligence. For example, a truck traveling at 70 mph would need over 600 feet of road space to safely stop. Other drivers should maintain a safe distance away from these trucks so that they can avoid these accidents.
Company Pressure
All the previous examples of causes of truck accidents have something in common: they violate established safety standards and regulations that aim to help protect everyone on the road. The main reason these incidents happen can be attributable to companies putting pressure on their employees to meet certain deadlines so that they can maximize their profit. This can lead to negligent driving, speeding, and inattention which may result in a catastrophic truck accident.
Most Common Truck Accident Injuries In California
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries result from external physical force to your head such as sudden jolts, forceful bumps, or even from an object penetrating the brain. TBIs can present with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, and anger. TBIs vary in severity, ranging from mild, like a concussion, to severe, such as amnesia and comatose.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
SCIs happen when your spinal cord is damaged by a strong impact caused by trauma like a truck accident. These injuries cause life-altering consequences that can have long-term effects, including loss of sensation, one-sided weakness, and even paralysis.
Fractures
Fractures happen when the body experiences strong forces that lead to broken bones like the clavicle, femur, and ribs. If you experience a truck accident, you may need extensive medical treatment including hospitalization, surgeries, and rehabilitation. You may also be unable to perform your routine daily activities, or even work, until you have fully recovered from your injuries.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries refer to damage to tendons, muscles, and ligaments, which include strains, sprains, and bruising which are caused by trauma like a truck accident. These injuries may seem minor, but can inconvenience you with discomfort throughout your recovery process.
Burns
Trucks operate with fuel and electricity which are hazards that can trigger fires in case of a truck accident. The severity may vary from mild first-degree burns to life-threatening third-degree or full-thickness burns that need prolonged hospital stays and reconstructive surgeries to help you recover.
Gathering Evidence After A Truck Accident
Assess For Injuries And Call 911 For Help
Evaluate yourself to see if you have any injuries that need immediate attention after experiencing an accident. Tend to your wounds and injuries as best as you can before trying to help others and examining your surroundings. Call for emergency services or ask someone to contact 911 so that a team will be dispatched to the area and provide immediate help to avoid long-term injuries.
Once the police arrive, they will interview you and other people who are involved in the accident so they can file an accident report. Try your best to provide a clear account of how the accident occurred. This is because the report can later be used as evidence. If you cannot recall certain details, then it is okay to let the investigator know that you do not know or you are not sure.
If you can, ask for a copy of the report because this can help your truck accident attorney facilitate your personal injury claim.
Move To A Safe Spot
After making sure that you’re okay and that the emergency team has been contacted, try to move to a safer area to avoid further injuring yourself in secondary accidents. A fire or explosion may occur after the collision due to broken fuel tanks that may have been caused by the accident. Therefore, it might be a good idea to move to a safe location away from where the collision occurred.
Gather Evidence
We suggest that you gather evidence at the accident site itself by photographing the scene, damage to vehicles, skid marks, and other details. You may also take note of the date and time of the incident, including the details of the weather that might have contributed to the accident. Obtain contact details from witnesses as well as contact information of all parties involved in the accident and their insurance information, so you may be able to reach them, if necessary. This information can be beneficial in the event you file a claim for your personal injuries.
Seek Medical Attention
If you think you have been injured, it might be a good idea to seek medical attention, whether by your family doctor, or an emergency room, so they can help with your injuries. Some injuries such as back pain, concussions, whiplash, and bruising may appear a few days after the accident. Therefore seeking prompt medical attention can help with your recovery, and your attorney in pursuing your personal injury claim.
Consult With A Truck Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a truck accident in California, contact a truck accident attorney so they can help evaluate your claim. At Gosuits, our truck accident attorneys will advocate for your rights so that you may receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Compensation After Your Truck Accident Injuries
If you file a truck accident claim, you may be entitled to special compensatory damages, general compensatory damages, and punitive damages. Special compensatory damages, also known as economic damages, are awarded to compensate for quantifiable losses that resulted from the accident, including income loss, property damages, and medical expenses. General compensatory damages are awarded to help deal with intangible losses like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.
Punitive damages can be awarded as a punishment to deter the at-fault party from repeating the same acts in the future.
Why Should I Hire A Truck Accident Lawyer In California?
Truck accidents are different from other types of vehicular accidents because of the need for prompt investigation, expert hiring, and the nuanced state and federal laws that are involved in these cases. If you become injured in a truck accident, we recommend that you hire a California truck accident lawyer so they can help facilitate your personal injury claim.