The Most Common Causes Of Truck Accidents

As you drive down a highway anywhere in California, you cannot help but notice large trucks on the road. While most of the time these trucks simply pass you by on their way to various destinations, there are other times when these trucks are involved in serious accidents. 

When these accidents do occur, the truck driver often walks away unhurt. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the other accident victims. Along with serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and even paralysis or amputation of limbs, many victims die in these horrible accidents due to the impact of such a large vehicle. 

Since there are many reasons why truck accidents take place, it is vital you hire a Sherman Oaks traffic accident attorney who has the experience needed to win your case and get you the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at Okhovat Law have experience in handling truck accident cases with a variety of liability behind them. 

Distracted Driving

If the truck driver was distracted and did not react quickly enough to avoid an accident, they are at fault. Such a careless mistake by these truck drivers can have devastating consequences. For example, if a driver of a tanker truck is distracted due to talking or texting on his cellphone, even a minor accident can lead to an explosion and fire, resulting in life-changing injuries or even death. 

Just like drivers of passenger vehicles, it is very common for truck drivers to talk or text on cellphones while driving. If this negligence led to you being severely injured, retain the services of a Sherman Oaks trucking accident lawyer.

Fatigue

Due to most large trucks weighing nearly 80,000 pounds and sometimes being in excess of 80 feet long, it is easy to see why accidents involving large trucks result in extremely serious injuries. For many truck drivers who are trying to meet tight delivery deadlines, sleep is often not an option. As a result, they often fall asleep behind the wheel while driving, leading to catastrophic injuries. 

Since 30% of American workers are operating on an insufficient amount of sleep, the driver in your accident may be one of them. Since there are federal regulations in place limiting the amount of time drivers can legally drive before they must pull over and rest, hold them accountable for their indifference to your safety. To do so, consult with a semi truck injury attorney Sherman Oaks accident victims always trust.

Impaired Driving

When many large truck accidents take place, it is found the driver was behind the wheel while being legally drunk or high on various types of drugs. In these situations, a truck driver who is impaired is essentially driving a deadly weapon down the road. Since there is no excuse whatsoever for a driver of a large truck to be impaired while behind the wheel, hire a truck accident law firm to fight for your rights.

Excessive Speed

Time after time, truck drivers may exceed 90-100 mph while on the highway in an effort to be on time with their deliveries. Needless to say, this demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of other drivers on the road. Thus, when truck accidents involving excessive speed take place, victims often sustain life-threatening injuries. 

If you were injured in a truck accident and authorities determined was due to a truck driver ignoring posted speed limits, get the compensation you deserve by hiring an experienced Sherman Oaks traffic collision injury attorney at once.

Lack of Experience

While all truck drivers are required to have a valid CDL, this does not mean they have been properly trained in how to operate their vehicle. In fact, many truckers fail to receive the proper amount of training they need before hitting the road. 

As a result, they lack the experience and skills needed to safely drive down the highway and in other highly-trafficked areas. Whether it’s not knowing how to properly change lanes, how to approach bridges and underpasses, or failing to take into account the blind spots in their mirrors, these and other factors can lead to devastating crashes and catastrophic injuries to innocent victims who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If you were injured because a trucking company put a woefully inexperienced driver behind the wheel, rely on a Sherman Oaks trucker accident lawyer to win your case and help you receive maximum compensation for medical bills and other damages.

Faulty Maintenance

While all businesses are of course concerned with keeping their costs as low as possible, trucking companies are notorious for failing to perform regular maintenance on their fleets of trucks. As a result, many trucks on the road have worn-out brakes, tires with very thin tread, and other issues that can result in malfunctions. 

Yet in many cases where accidents take place, trucking companies will refuse to accept blame for the accident taking place, and instead attempt to make the victim the scapegoat. If you are facing such a situation, don’t let this happen and thus rob you of the money needed to pay your medical expenses and replace lost income for you and your family. Instead, hire a truck injury attorney Sherman Oaks families trust to force the trucking company to accept blame for its negligence and do the right thing regarding compensation.

Poor Judgement

From changing lanes without signaling to driving recklessly with cargo that is not properly anchored down, these are just some examples of how negligent truck drivers use poor judgement while behind the wheel. When these situations occur, accident victims can be injured in ways that forever change their lives, such as suffering spinal injuries resulting in paralysis. 

Victims of truck accidents should put their faith in a truck accident law firm. Okhovat Law will hire investigators to prove the truck driver’s negligence. Schedule a consultation immediately with a Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney at Okhovat Law.