Causes of truck accidents and best ways to avoid them

All traffic accidents are dangerous, but when they involve massive semi-trucks, they often result in devastating injuries. The extreme size and weight difference between semis and the cars we drive makes these accidents extremely destructive. If a negligent trucker leaves you or someone you love injured in a truck accident, consult with an experienced truck accident attorney in the Los Angeles area today. Contact us online or call us at (213) 568-4000 for a free case consultation.

Truck accident cases can become very complicated, very quickly. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you are likely to need a professional investigation into the circumstances of your claim—along with expert witnesses to corroborate certain elements. Without the experience, skill, and resources of an experienced truck accident lawyer, you’re unlikely to be fully compensated for the complete range of damages you endured.

If a truck accident has left you injured, it’s time to consult with a truck accident lawyer. The damages commonly associated with truck accidents are often immense, and time is of the essence. While you attend to the important task of regaining your health and well-being, your attorney will get to work building your strongest case from the outset. In other words, it’s never too soon to consult with a lawyer if you’ve been injured by a negligent trucker.

Truck drivers are commercial drivers who are held to more rigorous safety standards than other drivers. When truck drivers fail to carefully adhere to these requirements, it can lead to dangerous truck accidents. Common causes of serious commercial trucking accidents include:

Truck drivers are responsible for maneuvering their immense vehicles safely across our highways and byways, and this requires the utmost concentration on the task at hand. Distracted truck drivers are dangerous truck drivers, and distractions can include anything from interacting with one’s smartphone (arguably the most dangerous distraction of all) to working on required paperwork behind the wheel.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is always extremely dangerous, but the potential negative consequences are even greater for truck drivers. Because truck drivers are commercial drivers, they are held to zero-tolerance policies related to impairment.

Speeding is always dangerous, and speed limits are set specifically to help keep our roads safer for everyone who travels on them. Because trucks are so massive, their stopping distances are far greater than those of the vehicles we drive, which makes speeding that much more dangerous.

The trucking industry is booming, and many trucking companies are having a difficult time keeping up, which can translate to overworked truck drivers. Strict hours-of-operation limitations at the state and federal levels are in place for this very reason, and truck drivers are responsible for carefully adhering to these rules. When trucking companies push their drivers to exceed legal limits, they may be liable for personal injuries that result from an accident.

We share the roads with an increasing number of big rigs, and it’s important to know how to stay safe out there. You should:

• Allow semis as much room on the road as you possibly can.
• When pulling in front of a semi after passing it, remember that it needs more distance to come to a safe stop, so never cut in too close.
• Don’t hang out beside an 18-wheeler. Pass as safely and efficiently as you can, and always pass on the truck’s left.
• Stay out of trucks’ blind spots, which are present on all four sides of the rig.
• Always err on the side of safety.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent truck driver, your future could hang in the balance. While you need a skilled lawyer on your side, you may not know how to go about finding a good fit for you.

Knowing which questions to ask can help. Some pertinent questions include:

• What is your assessment of my case?
• Will you be managing my case, or will you pass it on to a junior member of the firm?
• How accessible will you be throughout the case?
• Do you have the resources to take on a case of this magnitude?
• In your opinion, what is the expected timeline of this case?

You are looking for an experienced truck accident lawyer with whom you are comfortable working. Further, if his or her answers to the questions above are in line with what you are looking for, you have probably found a good match for your case.

Truck accidents are terrifying and often deadly events. If a negligent trucker leaves you injured, the experienced truck accident attorneys at Blair & Ramirez LLP are on your side. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at (213) 568-4000 today.

Created by Blair & Ramirez LLP