Calabasas Truck Accident Attorney

Have You Been Injured In a Calabasas Truck Accident?

A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, might be 20 times the size of a traditional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and normal passenger vehicles, it is not hard to imagine how risky it is for the occupants of a normal vehicle when they get in an accident with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the impacts on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.

Commercial Driver and Truck Regulations

Large truck accident cases are quite a bit different from other car accident cases. In particular, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated much more stringently than standard vehicles and drivers.

Due to the inherent threat that these huge vehicles present to other motorists, there are multiple laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.

These laws include:

• Making sure that truck drivers have adequate training,
• That their vehicles satisfy defined safety guidelines,
• That operators comply with regulations.

California commercial truck regulations consist of:

• Restricting how many hours a trucker may drive each day
• How often they must be tested for alcohol or drug use
• How frequently their vehicles must be inspected
• The regularity of vehicle systems for maintenance and service
• How loads have to be secured

There are added regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials. All of these policies and regulations are constantly being updated and modified to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.

Reasons for Calabasas Truck Accidents

Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is important that truck drivers are safe. However, much like any other automobile accident cause, there are some things that have a tendency to increase the odds of a semi-truck accident.

Common reasons for truck accidents consist of:

• Driver Fatigue
• Lack of Training
• Overweight Trucks
• Driving while intoxicated
• Distracted Driving
• Road Hazards
• Speeding

Prevalent Injuries from a Calabasas Truck Accident

Semi-truck crashes have a tendency to result in more severe injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is a lot greater. Semi-truck accidents have been known to result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and more.

Sometimes people walk away from truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer serious injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical bills as well.

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Internal injuries

What Compensation Can I Get from a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You might be stressed regarding how you're going to manage these challenges. This is where a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury case thoroughly, and make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

If a truck accident causes injuries, you may be qualified to recuperate both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This consists of:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Property damages
• Household services
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have a precise monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These types of damages consist of:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of pleasure of activities
• Loss of companionship
• Worsening of previous injuries

The amount one can recover for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the severity of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the crash. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer and the insurance provider, or a judge and jury in court. Your lawyer will utilize his or her prior experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.

If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Calabasas Truck Accident Attorneys at Drake Law Firm Can Help

At Drake Law Firm, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing collisions and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to follow the rules and regulations that exist to keep the roadways safe.

When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make poor decisions that impact the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar offenses. And more often than not, the outcome of these poor decisions is a wreck.

A knowledgeable truck accident attorney in the Calabasas location knows all of the special factors that might be relevant in truck accident cases. At Drake Law Firm, we are familiar with both California and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and drivers, and we are thorough in investigating the potential causes and issues that may affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.

Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the claim might involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Drake Law Firm, we have the resources and knowledge to get results. The sad fact is that large truck accidents commonly involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, and even death. If you are injured in a crash involving a large truck, it is vital for you to work with a law firm that has the capability to fight large companies, large insurers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make detailed and timely inquiries into the facts and variables that apply in commercial trucking claims.