Truck Accident Lawyers and Attorneys in Los Angeles, California

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2016 alone 3,986 people were killed in truck accidents in the U.S. When truck accidents occur, occupants of passenger vehicles are the ones most likely to get hurt. Trucks can weigh as much as 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles, meaning that victims could find themselves facing far more serious injuries when they are involved in these accidents. When trucks experience brake failure or a blown tire, the sheer size of the vehicle means that the consequences can be far greater.

In the aftermath of a truck accident, victims and families may find themselves facing new medical expenses, lost wages due to missed time from work, and suffering due to their injuries. Victims can suffer paralysis, back injuries, neck injuries, internal injuries, and even post-traumatic stress disorder due to a truck accident. Fortunately, the law offers protections to those who have been hurt in truck crashes. You may be entitled to seek damages for your medical costs, future medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages resulting from your truck accident. Truck companies are required to take out high insurance policies for their trucks and drivers, and some of these policies can be as high as $1 million. The truck industry is big business. Truck companies and drivers may have teams of lawyers representing their interests. Insurance adjusters may have their own company’s bottom line on their mind when offering you an initial settlement. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, consider reaching out to the Ledger Law Firm, a truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles, California today.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many factors that contribute to truck accidents in the U.S. each year. Many of these contributing factors can be traced back to drivers’ errors or mechanical failures. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently analyzed contributing factors leading to truck accidents. Some of the factors they discovered are shocking. Here is what they found:

• Brake Problems. 29% of truck accidents can be attributed to brake problems. This is alarming because a truck that can’t stop typically weighs much more than the passenger vehicles surrounding it, thus posing a greater risk. Truck companies are required to regularly maintain their vehicles. But when companies put their bottom lines above regular vehicles maintenance, they can put their drivers and other people on the road at risk. Brake problems are not the only issue that can lead to a truck accident. A simple tire blow out can result in a truck driver losing control of his or her vehicle.
• 23% of truck accidents can be attributed to excessive speed. Some truck companies place excessive pressure on their drivers, asking them to make deliveries in unreasonable time schedules. When this happens, drivers may speed to meet their deadlines. The result can be injured victims in crashes.
• Over the Counter Drug Use. 17% of accidents can be linked to over the counter drug use. Some medications can make a driver drowsy. Other medications might make a driver feel more alert or awake than he or she really is. Drivers may use drugs to manage their fatigue if they spend long hours on the road. While drivers are required to undergo regular health screenings, sometimes a driver’s health status changes before a driver is due for a screening. And, sometimes drivers take medications without reading the warnings. The results are the same—injuries and crashes.
• 13% of accidents can be linked to fatigue. While the law requires that drivers limit their hours of service to 11-hour shifts, some drivers falsify their logs or ignore these rules. When drivers break the law, they could be tired behind the wheel. Some studies have found that fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
• 10% of drivers attributed their crashes to pressure from their employers. Truck driving can be a high-pressure job. Goods need to be delivered on time and shippers want to keep costs low. Drivers may sometimes feel pressure to cut corners to make deliveries happen on time.
• 9% of crashes can be linked to distracted driving. While the laws governing cell phone use for truck drivers are stricter, drivers may still be tempted to text and drive or consume distracting media while on the road. The result? Crashes.

These are just some of the factors that can contribute to truck accidents. Drivers and truck companies have a responsibility to follow federal trucking regulations, to get proper rest, and to properly maintain their vehicles. When they fail to do so, innocent drivers can be injured. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident in Los Angeles, California, you have rights. The Ledger Law Firm may be able to help.

Seek Justice Now

 The trucking industry makes approximately $700 billion each year. Trucking is big business. When truckers and truck companies cut corners to increase their bottom lines, they put innocent lives at risk. Truck accidents can leave victims disabled, seriously injured, and out of work. Families may struggle under high medical bills. Truck drivers and companies are required to abide by federal and local trucking laws. When truck companies break these laws, accidents happen and they should be held accountable.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident in Los Angeles, California, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim. The Ledger Law Firm are truck accident attorneys who can help you seek the damages you may deserve. We can review your case, determine whether the truck company or driver broke the law, and fight to help you seek the best possible recovery under the law. With truck accident claims, many stakeholders may be involved, from truck drivers, shipping companies, to truck companies themselves. Insurance adjusters may also play a role. With so many moving parts, it helps to have a truck accident lawyer Los Angeles, California like the Ledger Law Firm on your side.