California Truck Accidents

Millions of commercial trucks move goods across national highways each year. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), commercial trucks account for 4.3% of all highway vehicles and, because of their weight, can cause major damage to other vehicles if a collision occurs.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2010) reports that passengers in normal-sized vehicles were far more likely to die in accidents with large trucks than the occupants of the truck. A study conducted by Kansas State University civil engineers reveals that 1-in-10 fatal crashes in the United States involves a large truck. These statistics clearly show that large, commercial-grade trucks are more dangerous than the average vehicle.

While trucking accidents are a big problem nationally, California statistics prove that the state deals with these collisions at a higher rate than the rest of the country. Data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that there were 2,715 fatal traffic accidents in 2010. Of those accidents, 235 of them involved a commercial-grade truck, accounting for nearly 9% of total fatal collisions in the state. This makes California the second most-dangerous state for trucking accidents, and a person injured by a commercial-grade truck should retain the services of a personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.

Common Reasons for Trucking Accidents in California 

A lot of reasons for trucking accidents involve common sense. For example, due to their weight and size, it takes commercial-grade trucks a longer period of time to come to a complete stop than the normal-sized vehicle. On average, up to 40% more distance is needed for a truck to come to a complete stop than a small passenger vehicle.

Large commercial-grade trucks also have huge blind spots called “no zones” that can force them into some tricky situations. The “no zones” are located on the front, rear, and sides of these trucks, and a driver can be completely unaware that a car is traveling just a few feet away if their vision is being blocked. Also, if a big rig decides to make an illegal lane change and does not see a car due to a blind spot, an accident can occur, and a serious injury or fatality is the likely result.

Another common sense reason for trucking accidents is driver fatigue. While there are legal limits surrounding the amount of time a driver can operate a commercial-grade truck (cannot surpass 60 hours in 7 consecutive days), drivers may feel pressure from their employers to deliver goods on schedule, forcing them to bend the rules and drive while fatigued. When companies put pressure on their employees to increase profitability, they are simultaneously making it more dangerous for other vehicles on the road.

Taking Responsibility After A Trucking Accident 

Although some accidents are out of a person’s control, someone suffering from severe physical pain because of a trucking accident can regain some of that control by contacting a personal injury attorney and having them handle the case.

The legal process for litigating against a trucking company is challenging and may require multiple jurisdictions and several lawful arguments to get the job done. If you have suffered a personal injury due to a trucking accident, and live in Chino Hills or the surrounding Los Angeles area, you must contact The Paris Firm and be proactive by allowing one of our experienced attorneys to handle your case.

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