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Modesto Truck Accident Lawyers
The backbone of our economy runs on our nation’s trucking industry and tractor-trailer fleet. You can see evidence of this anytime you drive the highways. There are always thousands of big trucks on the roads and highways at any given time. This is clearly the case in Modesto, CA, as well. Any time you drive on Highway 99, State Route 108, or SR-132, you’ll see dozens of tractor-trailers carrying the goods we all need and buy. But with a significant amount of big rig traffic, you’ll see an increase in accidents involving these trucks. In many cases, semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded. Automobile collisions involving these huge trucks can be quite violent and devastating. Often, if the crash happens on a busy highway, it can involve many vehicles.
Most of the time, semi-truck crashes can be very complicated, with a lot of vehicles and insurance companies involved. That’s why the best decision to make is to contact the Modesto truck accident lawyers at Silva Injury Law, Inc. We have decades of experience in successfully handling 18-wheeler crashes and fighting for the full compensation you deserve.
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Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Excessive Speeding
Some semi-truck accidents are caused by excessive speeding. The average speed limit on U.S. highways is 65 mph up to 75 mph. In many cases, semi-trucks travel at speeds higher than that. There is a significant amount of pressure on truck drivers to get the products to their destination on time, regardless of traffic or the weather. Because a fully-loaded 18-wheeler weighs so much, it takes a long time to stop when there is an emergency. If the driver is speeding, they will not be able to control the semi-truck.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving occurs with drivers of any type of vehicle—including truck drivers. There is an epidemic of distracted driving in the United States that seems to have intensified with the invention of the smartphone. With truck drivers spending up to 10 hours behind the wheel during a shift, they can easily be distracted. All it takes is a seconds-long glance at a text or their phone to cause a crash.
Fatigue
One of the major issues within the trucking industry is driver fatigue. Semi-truck drivers are highly regulated at the federal level regarding the amount of time they can be behind the wheel in a 24-hour period. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has specific rules regarding the number of hours a commercial truck driver has to rest after a 10-hour shift. But despite these rules, truck accidents caused by drivers falling asleep behind the wheel still happen too frequently. In many instances, the trucking company that employs the driver encourages them to skirt the rules and drive beyond their allotted time, putting everyone else on the highway in danger.
Driving Under the Influence
Truck drivers are just like any other type of person. Accidents caused by intoxication happen all the time, and truck drivers are no exception. A large, heavily loaded truck can be a dangerous weapon in the hands of a drunk or drugged truck driver.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
In some cases, the cargo that is in the trailer is improperly loaded or secured. When the truck is making turns or switching lanes, the improperly loaded cargo could shift and cause the truck driver to lose control. An improperly loaded trailer can be the fault of the truck driver. However, the fault can also belong to dock employees at the facility that loads the product onto the truck. This is another example of how semi-truck accidents can be very complicated.
Long-haul truck crashes can have many different causes, even in a single accident. There could be many different variables involved, with different parties being liable for your serious injuries. That is why you need skilled and experienced Modesto truck accident lawyer on your side fighting for your rights.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Because big rigs can cause extreme accidents, the injuries can be significant and horrific. Here are the common injuries from a truck accident that we often see in our practice:
- Broken and fractured bones throughout the body;
- Torn and damaged ligaments and tendons;
- Significant scarring and disfigurement;
- Third-degree burns throughout the body;
- Closed head injuries, including fractured skulls, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and concussions; and
- Spinal cord and disc injuries that cause paralysis, including quadriplegia and paraplegia.
If you are seriously injured in a Modesto semi-truck accident, you’re entitled to receive full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Silva Injury Law, Inc. Is Here to Fight for Your Rights
The Modesto truck accident lawyers at Silva Injury Law, Inc. are here to fight for you. Trucking companies often have a small army of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers fighting to pay you as little as possible. You need an aggressive team on your side with the skills, knowledge, and resources to take on these big trucking companies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Is Compensation Calculated in a Modesto Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Accident victims who successfully bring a truck accident claim are entitled to recover financial compensation for all of their accident-related expenses. Under California law, there are two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate accident victims for their out-of-pocket accident-related expenses. Additionally, economic damages include any money that an accident victim would have earned if they had not been injured and unable to work. Common examples of economic damages in a Modesto truck accident claim include:
- Medical bills;
- Future medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Decrease in earning capacity;
- Property damage; and
- The cost of necessary modifications to a victim’s home to accommodate their accident-related disability.
The other type of damages are non-economic damages. These compensate accident victims for the emotional and psychological effects that the accident had on their life. Of course, everyone’s life is impacted differently after an accident, so these damages vary significantly and are highly dependent on the facts of each case. However, non-economic damages generally include the following:
- Emotional distress;
- Physical pain and suffering;
- Loss of enjoyment of life; and
- Loss of familial relationships.
While non-economic damages are harder to assign an exact value to, they often make up a sizable portion of an accident victim’s total damages award. Thus, it is essential for accident victims to work with an experienced Modesto truck accident law firm that can identify the full extent of their damages. This ensures that an injured motorist knows what to expect throughout settlement negotiations.
What Should I Do After a Modesto Truck Accident?
While the days and weeks following a truck accident are a time for healing, it is also important that accident victims protect their right to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Thus, accident victims should not only be familiar with the personal injury process but also understand what they can do to increase their claim’s chances of success. Below are things to keep in mind after a Modesto truck accident.
Report the Accident Immediately
Immediately after the accident, dial 911 or call your local police department to report the collision. Reporting the accident is crucial for two reasons. First, the 911 operator taking your call will dispatch an emergency response team to determine if anyone needs life-saving medical treatment. Second, reporting the accident ensures there is documentation of the collision. This makes it harder for the truck driver, their employer, or an insurance company to argue that your injuries were the result of some unrelated incident.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you don’t go to the emergency room right after the accident, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. Many truck accident injuries may not appear serious until days or weeks after the crash. However, doctors can examine you to determine the extent of your injuries and ensure you receive the treatment you need.
Gather Any Evidence You Can
If your condition permits, take a few pictures of the accident scene. You should focus on the position of the vehicles, as well as damage to stationary objects such as road signs, utility poles, or buildings. Additionally, if anyone witnessed the accident, ask for their name and contact information. Your Modesto truck accident attorney can follow up with the witnesses later to corroborate your version of what happened leading up to the accident.
Contact a Modesto 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
Our experienced legal team also handles other types of injury cases, including:
Contact our Modesto truck accident attorneys for a free consultation today.
Promoting Healing Through Compassionate Advocacy
We believe that our duty goes beyond achieving large monetary awards for our clients. We strive first to be decent human beings who seek not to stir up fights, but to solve problems.