Trucking accidents are more common than you may think. In the United States, there are over 500,000 large truck accidents yearly. Unfortunately, many of these accidents resulted in death or serious injury.
If you were injured in a trucking accident in California, you should know that you are likely entitled to compensation for your losses. At D’Amore Law Group, we have seasoned truck accident lawyers who can help you get the justice you deserve. Our team of legal experts has recovered millions on behalf of our injured clients, and we are available to take on your case. Contact us today.
In this article, we will discuss the most common causes of truck accidents in California. In addition, we will talk about trucking accident lawsuits and how a lawyer can help with your legal claim.
Trucking Accident Statistics
In 2021, 117,300 large trucks were involved in crashes that caused serious injuries. In addition, there were 5,700 trucking accidents that resulted in fatalities.
California also saw some of the highest rates of trucking accident fatalities in 2021, coming in with the second-highest rate of fatalities in the nation. These numbers are disheartening as many of these accidents could have been prevented.
California Truck Accident Causes
Trucking accidents are a major problem on California highways, and the consequences can be deadly. By understanding some of these accidents, you can be more aware and help prevent these types of accidents from occurring. Below, we discuss the most common causes of trucking accidents in California.
Driver Fatigue
Drowsy drivers are accountable for about 40,000 injury-related crashes and about 1,500 deaths each year. Commercial truck drivers often have tight schedules, and they are required to drive long hours and cover large distances. When drivers become fatigued from these long journeys, it can delay their reaction times to hazards and impair their decision-making skills on the road.
Generally, trucking companies are required by both state and federal law to limit the number of hours that their drivers can drive in one trip without sleep. However, sometimes these laws are violated, and drivers exceed their allotted hours. To avoid fatigue-related accidents, drivers should comply with hours-of-service regulations.
Equipment Failure
Equipment failures are one of the most common causes of truck accidents in California. In fact, one study showed that almost 30% of all trucking accidents were caused by defective tires. However, tires are not the only things that tend to break down on commercial trucks.
Commercial trucks rely on mechanical systems to function properly, so when one or more components fail, the results can be catastrophic. Equipment failures can be caused by a wide variety of things, including negligent maintenance, defective parts, or aggressive driving practices.
Speeding
One of the easiest ways for drivers to prevent serious accidents on the road is to drive the speed limit. Speeding is so dangerous that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration classifies it as one of the leading causes of truck accidents.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is another major problem on California roadways. A common distracted driving practice that leads to accidents is texting. Sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. During that time, at 60 miles per hour, you can travel the length of an entire football field.
Drug and Alcohol Use
Drivers under the influence cause a large number of crashes each year. It is especially dangerous when a truck driver uses drugs and alcohol while driving, given the sheer size and weight of their vehicles. Further, they are more likely to lose control of their vehicle, exponentially increasing the chance of an accident.
Trucking Accident Lawsuits
If you were injured in a trucking accident, you can file a claim against the at-fault party to recover your losses. Through a lawsuit, you can recover funds for costs like medical bills, property damage, costs of medication, and therapy. In addition, you can recover compensation for your intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disfigurement, or loss of consortium.
Filing a lawsuit will resolve in one of two ways: a lawsuit or an out-of-court settlement. Either way, having an experienced attorney on your side is best.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me After a Trucking Accident?
Truck accident cases are frequently complex. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal world by:
- Maximizing the amount of compensation that you may be able to receive,
- Filing the legal claim on your behalf,
- Meeting critical legal deadlines,
- Representing you in court if necessary, and
- Explaining the relevant laws and regulations.
Overall, by hiring a lawyer, you can ensure that your legal rights are protected while you focus on healing
D’Amore Law Group Is Here to Help
At D’Amore Law Group, we understand how serious trucking accidents can be, so we fight hard for our clients’ rights. We have had success getting our clients what they deserve after an accident, and this can be seen through our record-setting case results. For example, in one semi-truck accident case, we were able to recover $26.4 million on behalf of our injured client.
Because trucking accidents can be costly, we offer free, no-pressure case evaluations. To contact our office, you can reach out to us online or by phone at 503-222-6333. There are important legal deadlines to meet in every accident case, so please do not hesitate to reach out today.
