Large truck and commercial vehicle accidents can cause greater property damage than other kinds of motor vehicle collisions because of their size and weight. It goes without saying that people hurt in truck accidents are more likely to die or have serious injuries.
These automobiles are known as semi-trucks, big rigs, and 18-wheelers. We have come to refer to semi-trucks and their trailers together as semis, even though the phrase semi-truck only refers to the truck cab housing the engine. These are the biggest and most common kinds of commercial vehicles on our roadways.
If you were hurt in one of these serious truck collisions, you might be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings, and more. Although it’s obviously difficult to totally prevent crashes, drivers should be knowledgeable about truck accidents in California so that they are well-prepared each time they get behind the wheel.
Frequency of Commercial Truck Crashes in California
Unsurprisingly, California has a high incidence of auto accidents overall, partly as a result of its size and abundance of significant metropolitan areas. Nearly 200,000 people are injured in car accidents each year in California. If every minor accident with no injuries were included, the projected total number of reported and unreported events would rise to more than half a million. Additionally, roughly 3,000 events per year result in deaths.
Sadly, the figures for accidents in California involving semi-trucks are significantly worse. Each year, there are about 113 fatal truck accidents in California. Each year, 3,000 truck accidents cause injuries, and 200 to 300 truck drivers lose their lives.
Unsurprisingly, major highways like I-5, I-10, and I-715 are the sites of most semi-truck incidents in California, and Los Angeles County has the state’s highest incidence of truck accidents overall.
Data on California Truck Accidents
The majority of these accidents are, in fact, caused by truck driver errors, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Truck drivers are under a lot of pressure to succeed and push through tough conditions, particularly given the fact that the trucking industry is having trouble meeting demand. Additionally, truck drivers must adhere to significantly stricter requirements than other drivers.
Four categories are used to group the major types of accidents caused by truck driver error: non-performance, recognition, performance, and judgment.
First, non-performance describes a truck driver’s inability to complete driving duties in a satisfactory manner. The truck driver may be physically unfit, have some sort of impairment, or become otherwise unable to work due to a medical issue like a heart attack or seizure.
The failure of the truck driver to recognize and respond effectively to the present driving situation is referred to as recognition. This failure might result from negligence, being sidetracked by anything inside or outside the car, or making other insufficient observations.
On the other hand, performance issues often include overperformance, such as panicking at the wheel, overcompensating for a driving error, or failing to control the direction of the rig.
Finally, decision refers to the driver’s incapacity to make wise decisions in light of a certain condition on the road. These options could include following too closely, misjudging the speed of other vehicles, and speeding (usually or in reaction to traffic circumstances).
Semi-Truck Crashes in California
Still, the two most common causes of truck accidents in California are speeding and distracted driving. The ability to adapt to changing conditions is hampered by excessive speed, which also impairs a driver’s reaction time in an emergency or during sudden traffic hazards.
Every traffic accident has some risk, but the risk is much higher because of a commercial truck’s size and weight. Although trucking is risky, the people in other automobiles involved in truck accidents are often more at risk of suffering serious injuries or losing their lives. Tragically, in one recent year alone, around 34,430 fatal accidents resulted in 37,460 fatalities. Huge trucks or buses were involved in over 4,080 of these deadly traffic incidents, resulting in over 4,560 fatalities nationally.
These numbers have risen by 6% and 5% since 2015. Even worse, occupants of large trucks account for around 17% of all fatalities caused by traffic accidents involving large trucks and buses.
These statistics show that commercial truck accidents often result in fatalities, with non-truck drivers being killed far more often.
If you are in an accident with a truck, go to the hospital right away. Additionally, write down as much relevant information as possible from the collision site, including pictures, videos, and other evidence.
After that, you need to swap insurance and contact information with the truck driver and any other drivers who may be involved. Get in touch with your insurance company, but wait to provide a statement until you’ve talked with your lawyer. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should always seek emergency medical attention and follow your doctor’s orders if you have been hurt.
Contact Beckerman Anderson in Orange County
Large trucks may weigh tens of thousands of pounds, which can seriously hurt people in smaller cars in the event of an accident. The legal position is complicated by the fact that these cars are often operated on behalf of an organization.
So, if you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, you should contact a lawyer with knowledge and seasoned experience in these accident cases as soon as possible. To help you get the compensation you are entitled to, contact Beckerman Anderson.
Our truck accident attorneys in Orange County can provide invaluable advice on gathering the right evidence and facts to help build your case. Any kind of auto accident lawsuit is by far the most common type of personal injury case now before our courts.
Contact our legal team with experience in commercial truck accidents if you or a loved one has been hurt in a collision with a tractor-trailer to protect your legal rights. Your eligibility for compensation for medical costs, property damage or loss, lost wages, and other expenditures may become clear after you meet with our team. Call 949-409-4299 right now to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
