Trucking & Big Rig Accident Attorney Chino & Chino Hills
Involved in Truck Accident in or Around Chino Hills? We Can Help.
Commercial freight vehicles and other large trucks on the road are an ever present danger on today’s roadways. Accidents involving large trucks are far more deadly than passenger vehicle accidents and recovering for your injuries when one is involved is far more difficult. According to the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , 1 in 8 traffic fatalities is caused by a trucking accident. In 2014, 3,903 people were killed in large truck accidents.
In 2014, there were an estimated 111,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks. This represents a 17 percent increase from 2013. Those people injured and killed by large trucks are almost invariably occupants of other vehicles on the road. Accidents involving large trucks are more likely to cause fatal multiple vehicle crashes than those that only involve passenger vehicles.
In California alone over 4,259 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes in 2014, killing 300 people. California has the second highest total fatalities from large truck accidents in the nation behind only Texas. This is in part due to the California’s unique position in the United States, receiving imports from Mexico and other countries through land routes and the largest ports in the nation.
Chino and Chino Hills, in the middle of San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles County are home to some of the largest and most traveled freeways in the State, and where there are roads, there are trucking accidents. When victims want a local Chino and Chino Hills Personal Injury Attorney, The Law Office of Justin H. King is ready to fight.
Contact Justin H. King: No Obligation – Always Confidential
If you or someone you know has recently been involved in a truck accident we are here to help. Our no obligation and confidential case evaluation provides important details about your rights and responsibilities after an accident. Use our case evaluation form here to get in touch and learn what you need to know now. Truck accident cases are always time sensitive so understanding your rights sooner may make all the difference.
Aside from these very serious types of claims, the Law Office of Justin H. King also helps victims in Chino and Chino Hills who have suffered serious and traumatic accidents and injuries. He successfully helps victims of Auto and Car accident injuries, bicycle accident claims, serious dog bites and wrongful death claims.
Who Is Liable For A Large Truck Accident?
While it may be obvious that the driver of a large truck who caused an accident is responsible for the damages that he or she has caused, the question of liability in a truck accident is far more complex than just that. Unlike in a traffic accident that only involves passenger vehicles, there are numerous parties who may be liable when a large truck is involved in a traffic accident. These parties may include: The driver of the truck, The company that employs the driver of the truck, The manufacturer of the truck, The truck maintenance company, The company that loaded the truck.
Each of these parties may be held jointly and severally liable for their role in causing a traffic accident. Each could be required to pay for any injuries and property damage caused by the traffic accident.
Even if the truck driver is found to be solely factually responsible for causing a traffic accident, his or her employer may be held legally liable under the legal principle of vicarious liability or “ respondeat superior” for the actions of the driver. Other parties listed above may also be liable due to any role that they may have played in causing the accident, whether it be from improper maintenance of a large truck or improperly loading the vehicle.
Only a personal injury lawyer with experience in large truck accidents will be able to determine who may be at fault for your injuries.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Accidents involving commercial freight vehicles and large trucks have a number of causes. Like any other vehicle on the road, a large truck accident can be caused by driver error. However, large truck accidents can also be caused by inherent design flaws present in all large trucks.
Blind Spots : Commercial freight vehicles have a large and bulky frame present in both the tractor and the trailer. Due to this design there are many blind spots where a truck operator cannot see. A commercial freight vehicle operator cannot see spots on either side of the vehicle, as well as directly in front of and behind of the vehicle. This means that it is a common occurrence for an operator of such a vehicle to not be able to see passenger vehicles on the road. This can lead to a large truck either merging onto a much smaller passenger vehicle or hitting them with their trailers when making turns.
Improperly Secured Loads : An improperly secured load can cause a large truck to tip over or lose control while traveling along the road. Contents in the trailer may shift due to a sudden stop or sharp turn. When this happens the driver of a large truck may not be able to maintain complete control over the vehicle and cause an accident.
Impaired Drivers : While any driver or operator of a vehicle can drive impaired, when large truck drivers do it, they pose a greater danger than any passenger vehicle could. Commercial freight vehicles can legally haul up to 40 tons of freight while traveling. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that 15 percent of all truck drivers in trucking accidents had marijuana in their system. Another 12 percent had stimulants in their system used to keep them awake. This does not even address the amount of truck drivers who drink and drive.
Fatigued Drivers : Endemic amongst commercial truck drivers is the problem of fatigued drivers and operators. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study has shown that 13 percent of all commercial vehicle drivers who were involved in a crash were fatigued at the time of the crash. Driver fatigue may be due to a lack of adequate sleep, extended work hours and a combination of other factors.
Many large truck drivers operate their vehicles while fatigued due to pressure by their employers to deliver large amounts of goods in a short period of time in order to fulfill as many deliveries as possible. Financial incentive leads many drivers to push the safe limits of traveling without sleep putting everyone else on the road at risk for an accident.
What Damages May I Recover?
You are entitled to recover compensation for all damages and injuries that you have suffered in a traffic accident with a large truck. Your recovery can include: Lost wages, Damages to your vehicle, Payment for hospital bills, Compensation for future medical bills due to lasting injuries, Damages for pain and suffering, In some cases punitive damages.
Recovering damages in a traffic accident that involves a large truck can be much more difficult than in cases only involving passenger vehicles. This is due to the fact that many parties may become involved in the recovery process. These parties are usually large companies that retain attorneys of their own to protect their interests when a lawsuit arises. Most victims of a large truck accident do not have the time, resources or experience to adequately handle their claim while focusing on recovering and getting on with their life.
