A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, might be 20 times the size of a conventional passenger car when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme disparity between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and regular passenger cars, it is not tough to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a standard vehicle when they get in a crash with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the impacts on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Truck Regulations
Large truck accident cases are quite a bit different from other automobile accident cases. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than standard automobiles and drivers.
Because of the inherent risk that these huge vehicles pose to other drivers, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws consist of:
California commercial truck regulations include:
There are added regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these policies and regulations are regularly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Causes of Pasadena Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. However, much like any other motor vehicle accident reason, there are some factors that have a tendency to increase the possibilities of a semi-truck collision.
Common reasons for truck accidents include:
Prevalent Injuries from a Pasadena Truck Accident
Semi-truck accidents tend to cause more severe injuries than an accident involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck crashes have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and much more.
In some cases people leave truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer major injuries and might have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical expenses as well.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical bills, lost income, and also pain and suffering. You might be worried about how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident lawyer can help. They can handle your injury case thoroughly, and ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you might be qualified to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This includes:
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have an exact monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These types of damages consist of:
The amount one can recuperate for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the crash. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer and the insurance company, or a judge and jury in court. Your attorney will utilize their previous experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Pasadena Truck Accident Attorneys at Mendez & Sanchez Can Help
At Mendez & Sanchez, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies should be held accountable when they are responsible for causing accidents and injuries. The unfortunate fact is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to abide by the guidelines and regulations that are there to keep the roadways safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make bad choices that affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And typically, the outcome of these bad decisions is a crash.
A qualified truck accident lawyer in the Pasadena area knows all of the unique factors that may be relevant in truck accident cases. At Mendez & Sanchez, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and motorists, and we are diligent in examining the possible causes and concerns that may affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Mendez & Sanchez, we have the resources and experience to get results. The unfortunate fact is that large truck accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disablement, and even death. If you are hurt in a collision involving a large truck, it is vital for you to partner with a law firm that has the capability to fight large companies, large insurers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and variables that apply in commercial trucking cases.
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While other firms just handle your bodily injury claim, we offer a complimentary full-service package where we will also handle your property damage for no fee!
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