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Turlock Truck Accident Lawyers
A collision with a commercial truck can be devastating. If you are in an accident, you need compassionate legal representation from experienced Turlock truck accident lawyers. The team at Silva Injury Law, Inc. is here to help.
Turlock is situated in the heart of the California Central Valley along heavily trafficked Route 99. This area connects northern and southern California economies as a thoroughfare for commercial transportation. California’s transportation logistics infrastructure drives one-third of the state’s economy and includes 5,800 miles of high volume commercial traffic interstate and highways, including highway 99 through Turlock. With a large amount of commercial traffic passing through the area on a daily basis, it is no surprise that accidents are a frequent occurrence.
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Types of Truck Accidents
Commercial truck (big rig) accidents can be similar to standard passenger vehicle accidents, such as head-on-collisions, rear-end accidents, and T-bone crashes. Some accident types are more specific to trucks because of their height and the mechanics of pulling a trailer or tanker.
Jackknifing
Jackknifing occurs when the tractor part of the rig moves slower than the trailer it is pulling. This causes the trailer to swing around toward the tractor, potentially colliding with other vehicles or objects. This can happen due to weather conditions, vehicle malfunctions, or poor driving skills.
Override
An override is a catastrophic accident when a commercial truck drives over a passenger vehicle. The truck collides with the back of a passenger vehicle pushing it forward or the truck could go over the passenger vehicle. This type of accident is often fatal, and survivors should contact a Turlock truck accident lawyer to discuss a potential wrongful death claim.
Underride
Though they may look cool in movies, in real life underride accidents are often fatal, or the smaller vehicle driver and passengers sustain serious, life-altering injuries. An underride occurs when a passenger vehicle rear-ends a commercial truck, wedging the passenger vehicle under the back of the truck. If the vehicle is small enough, it could slide under the truck. Severe head trauma and decapitation are not uncommon.
Blind Spots
Commercial trucks have blind spots on all sides, which increase with the size of the trailer. It is difficult for drivers to see all vehicles in the lanes beside them, especially the right lane. This lack of visibility often results in inappropriate lane changes which cause collisions.
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, 5,005 trucks were involved in fatal accidents and 118,000 were involved in accidents resulting in injury in 2019. In the battle of truck vs passenger vehicle, the odds are that you will need the assistance of an experienced Turlock truck accident attorney to help you achieve fair compensation for your injuries. Here are some of the causes of trucking accidents:
Driver Fatigue
There are laws and regulations that strictly govern how many hours a truck driver can drive in one shift. These laws include sleep and rest break requirements. When companies fail to follow these rules, driver fatigue can be a big problem and cause accidents.
Distracted Driving
Driving long distances on rural highways can get boring. Distracted driving occurs anytime the driver’s attention is diverted from the road. Whether it is changing the radio station or sending a text, distracted driving is a problem everywhere.
Excessive Speed
Big trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles. Speed is a big factor in a truck driver’s ability to properly react to a situation. If a load needs to be somewhere at a certain time, drivers may be motivated to drive faster than the speed limit. This opens them up to a higher chance of an accident.
Improper Cargo Load
Regulations exist to ensure trailers are balanced with proper weight and distribution. If cargo is improperly loaded it could shift suddenly and cause the trailer to tip and fall into another lane, or fall into the road.
Driving Under the Influence
Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem in the trucking industry. Some drivers choose to turn to amphetamines to keep them awake on long drives.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Injuries can vary widely from one accident to another. The angle and speed of impact can have a lot to do with the severity of the damage. Here are some common truck accident injuries:
- Back and neck injuries,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Head and brain injuries,
- Burns,
- Amputation and disfigurement, and
- Internal injuries.
Consider hiring experienced Turlock truck accident attorneys to help you determine the value of your damage.
Turlock Truck Accident Attorneys
Do not settle for less than what you deserve. After an accident, the last thing you want to do is worry about negotiating with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit. That is what we are here for. Our truck accident legal team understands the complexities of California personal injury law and will fight to make sure you receive what you need to recover and get back to living your life.
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.