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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 lawyer 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
Long-haul truck accidents can have many causes. Despite the fact that our nation’s trucking industry is heavily regulated, it still has a traffic accident problem. In the U.S., a total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. A vast majority of these traffic deaths were not the truck drivers but were the occupants of other, smaller vehicles. Here are the common causes of semi-truck crashes that our Modesto truck accident attorneys often come across.
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 attorney 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 semi-truck crash injuries 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 attorneys 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.
Our experienced legal team also handles other types of injury cases, including:
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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.