Semi-Truck & Big Rig Accident Attorney in Los Angeles
Truck accidents can be incredibly traumatic events for injury victims in Los Angeles. A collision with a semi-truck is completely different from a collision with a normal vehicle, and the consequences can be much worse for everyone involved. This is due to a wide range of factors unique to these heavy, large vehicles. More often than not, victims are left with serious injuries. Unfortunately, some lose their lives.
Despite the obvious safety concerns associated with the trucking industry, very little is being done to address these wider issues. This industry is so massive and so integral to the nation’s economy that genuine safety reforms are unlikely. Big businesses depend on trucking companies to move their products across the nation as quickly as possible. With so much money on the line, the safety concerns of average citizens are often ignored completely.
However, you can take effective legal action with the help of a truck accident attorney in Los Angeles. Our legal professionals can hold negligent parties accountable for the injuries you have sustained. With our help, you can pursue a substantial settlement for your damages. These might include medical expenses, missed wages, and other non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Why are Trucks So Dangerous on Los Angeles Freeways?
Semi-trucks are especially dangerous vehicles for a number of reasons. First of all, you have to consider the obvious factors. Their size and weight can turn these vehicles into wrecking balls that plow through smaller vehicles as if they were paper-mache. A vehicle with a large size and weight gains far more momentum than a smaller sedan when it loses control, and the consequences can be devastating.
These problems are further compounded by the lack of effective brakes in most semi-trucks. Even the most technologically advanced semi-trucks take far longer to come to a complete stop compared to a passenger vehicle. This means that when a trucker does spot a dangerous situation, it is usually too late for them to stop their truck in time. A fully-loaded semi-truck can take well over 500 feet to come to a complete stop while traveling at over 60 miles per hour. In contrast, a typical consumer vehicle such as a modern Nissan Sentra traveling at 60 miles per hour can come to a complete stop in about 20% of that distance.
You also have to consider the cargo that these trucks may be carrying. Sometimes, this cargo can come loose while on the road, impacting innocent drivers and even pedestrians. Trucks carrying logs or other heavy objects can easily create fatal accidents if their loads are not properly secured.
Even relatively innocuous cargo can become a hazard if it is not properly packed. A truck that is packed the wrong way can result in an unbalanced load, causing the vehicle to topple over when taking a corner. Even something as simple as animal fat can spill onto the road, causing vehicles to spin out of control.
Perhaps the most dangerous forms of cargo include flammable, toxic, or even radioactive materials. Flammable liquids such as gases can explode if a truck crashes, turning an accident from bad to worse. Toxic materials can also spill from a truck, leaving motorists with potentially permanent health consequences. Believe it or not, there are many trucks that carry radioactive materials, creating the potential for serious harm.
What are Some Examples of Truck Driver Negligence on Los Angles Roadways?
So far, we have only mentioned the mechanical and physical issues related to trucks, but there are many other human-caused errors that can lead to crashes. Truckers are infamous for driving for long periods of time without taking breaks, and this can lead to serious fatigue behind the wheel. In some cases, truckers take drugs and other stimulants to keep themselves awake, but this level of intoxication can cause its own unique safety concerns. Driver fatigue is a common cause of truck accidents in Los Angeles.
Many truckers also suffer from severe boredom while carrying loads across the nation. This can lead them to do questionable things behind the wheel, such as reading, texting, having in-depth phone conversations, or even watching movies with portable DVD players. Another common form of driver distraction among truckers is eating while driving. These are all just a few examples of truck driver negligence.
What are Some Examples of Trucking Company Negligence?
What are Some Examples of Trucking Company Negligence?The trucking company itself may also be guilty of negligence under certain circumstances. For example, the trucking company may have pressured a driver into staying behind the wheel for long periods of time without a break. This is not only a sign of negligence, but it is also a potential violation of federal laws. The trucking company might also force its drivers to get behind the wheel in dangerous weather conditions, even after the trucker complains about safety concerns. This is also a violation of federal regulations.
The trucking company may also fail to properly maintain the vehicle. For example, they may choose not to fix a truck’s brakes, even when drivers officially complain about their degradation over time. Those are just a few examples of negligence on the part of a trucking company.
How Can We Improve Truck Safety in Los Angeles?
Many people believe that in order to fix the issue of truck safety in Los Angeles, we must make use of advanced technology. An obvious solution is a self-driving truck, which almost completely negates the possibility of driver error. Artificial intelligence cannot become intoxicated or distracted, and it cannot suffer from fatigue. Unfortunately, there is significant pushback from trucking unions, as drivers are concerned that they may be replaced entirely by technology in the near future. That being said, the first self-driving trucks are beginning to take to the roads as we speak.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Truck Accident Attorney in Los Angeles Today
If you have been searching the Los Angeles area for a qualified personal injury attorney, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates. We have helped numerous injury victims in California pursue legal action after suffering injuries in a truck accident. No one is above the law while on Los Angeles roads, especially not those driving large, heavy commercial vehicles capable of wreaking untold destruction on the lives of innocent motorists.
With our help, you can hold negligent trucking companies and drivers accountable for their reckless actions. In doing so, you can not only receive a substantial settlement for your damages, but can help make roads in Los Angeles safer for everyone by deterring further acts of negligence. Book your consultation today, and we can develop an effective action plan together.
