{"id":2031,"date":"2012-01-27T02:56:07","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T02:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/?page_id=2031"},"modified":"2026-06-14T17:51:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T17:51:19","slug":"truck-accident-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/es\/practice-areas\/truck-accident-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"Casos de accidentes de cami\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"

TRUCK ACCIDENTS<\/h1>\n

Truck Accident Cases<\/h1>\n
\n

INJURY ACCIDENT LAWYERS\n<\/h1>\n

Truck Accident Cases<\/h1>\n\"\"\n

Free Case Review<\/h1>\n

(<\/span>855)<\/span> 339–<\/span>8879<\/a><\/h1>\n\"\"\n

Truck accidents may not be as common as accidents between passenger vehicles, but there are still many incidents that results in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. As you are probably aware, California is the most populous state in the nation. Unsurprisingly, this is also the state with the highest rate of truck accidents.<\/p>\n

An estimated 300,000 truck accidents happen every year in the U.S., and around 30% of these events result in serious injuries. Even worse, around 4,000 people die every year because of a truck accident. Fatalities from a truck accident happen for all the reasons you would normally expect, but there is a higher risk of injury when a truck driver is fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted by their phone and other things that take their attention off the road.<\/p>\n

Around 17% of truck accidents are due to speeding, which is higher than the rate of 6% for accidents caused by driver error and cell phone usage. Issues with the brakes were responsible for around 27% of all accidents, meaning there was a lack of or improper maintenance, or the brakes were defective to begin with. Most accidents \u2013 around 59% – occur on freeways and highways. However, fatal crashes are more prevalent in rural areas, where the roads lack adequate lighting. This also explains why more accidents happen at night, when it\u2019s dark and people have a tendency to feel tired and fall asleep. In fact, it\u2019s estimated that 35% of all fatal crashes caused by trucks happen during the night.<\/p>\n

On a yearly basis, truck accidents cause billions of dollars in damages, and many people end up with lifelong pain and mental anguish. What can victims do when they have been harmed by an accident that shouldn\u2019t have happened? Filing a lawsuit is one of the options you can explore if a truck accident caused you bodily harm, emotional trauma, and\/or property damage. You may also have the right to sue for the loss of a family member or spouse if the death was caused by negligence or malicious conduct.<\/p>\n

If you would like more information on your rights and the legal actions that are available to you, contact the truck accident lawyers of DTLA Law Group.<\/p><\/div>\n

Common Causes of Truck Accidents<\/span>\n

Accidents can happen for many reasons that may or may not have to do with the truck driver. The blame for an accident can fall on other drivers, pedestrians, mechanics, engineers, parts manufacturers, and even government agencies. Many different individuals and entities play a role in making trucks safe and keeping people from being injured or killed. That\u2019s why there are many rules that truck drivers and trucking companies have to follow, and these are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The California DMV also has regulations that are specific to the ownership and operation of commercial trucks. <\/p>\n

Sadly, some people do not think about the consequences of their actions. Perhaps they are in a rush to get somewhere, or they are distracted by marriage or family problems. Or, they lack patience and empathy for others and take the risk of speeding, changing lanes without signaling, and other actions that are clearly dangerous. <\/p>\n

Truck drivers have a higher degree of care that they owe to the general public. Based on the massive vehicles they drive and the added cargo, they can easily kill or gravely injure someone, if not many people at the same time. There is no singular answer as to why truck accidents happen, but we can look at some of the most common factors. <\/p>\nDriver Fatigue<\/span>\n

Most of us have had moments of being unusually tired and needing to pull over for a quick rest. This is a common issue among delivery workers and truck drivers. Long-haul truck driving is extremely challenging, as you have to be on the road for many hours at a time. However, there are federal requirements on how many hours in a row you can drive, and how many hours of rest are required before you can drive again. Complying with these rules is one of the easiest ways to prevent accidents with devastating consequences. <\/p>\nTrailer and Hitch Problems<\/span>\n

Hitches are often attacked to trucks and other oversized vehicles. The hitches must be in good condition, but many drivers use hitches that are old, rusty, or improperly installed. This can cause the trailer to detach from the truck. A trailer can also detach if the truck goes over bumpy terrain, suddenly accelerate or stop, make a wide turn, and other situations that are likely to happen within the course of a truck route.\u00a0<\/p>\nAccidents Caused by Truck Loads<\/span>\n

Commercial trucks are used to carry many types of cargo, such as gravel, sand, merchandise, and waste products. Taking the time and effort to properly secure a load is critical to people\u2019s safety. Accidents can happen from things spilling or falling out of the truck, and some of these objects \/ loads can weigh thousands of pounds. People can crash or flip over in their cars when they come across these hazards on the road. Or, they may be exposed to toxic chemicals that cause severe illnesses.<\/p>\nWeight Distribution<\/span>\n

Trucks that are used for transporting cargo must be loaded a certain way to ensure even weight distribution. This is done by dock workers, warehouse employees, and other individuals who load pallets, containers, boxes, etc. in a specific formation. For example, you must prevent too much weight in the back of the trainer, which can cause it to sway back and forth. If the driver is forced to slam on the brakes, this can also cause all the weight to shift forward and make it harder to maintain control of the vehicle. <\/p>\nAlcohol or Drugs<\/span>\n

Sadly, there is a high rate of alcohol and substance abuse among truck drivers. This is due to a variety of factors, including the need to stay awake for long periods of time to loneliness and depression. Whatever the reason, it\u2019s clear that driving while intoxicated kills thousands of people every year. Additionally, alcohol is readily available at rest stops and other establishments that truck drivers encounter on their travels. The same can be said for drugs, which can be purchased at truck stops and other locations along the way. Alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two can slow reflexes, inhibit decision making skills, and reduce your ability to focus. <\/p>\nSpeeding<\/span>\n

Speeding is something that can happen intentionally or by accident. But that\u2019s why we have to pay attention and slow things down when the odometer goes above a certain number. Driving too fast is incredibly dangerous when it comes to tractor trailers, semis, and other big rigs. For one thing, trucks take longer to slow down and come to a stop because of their weight and size. Speeding can easily cause you to lose control of the truck or crash into someone because you can\u2019t stop the vehicle on time. With that in mind, truck drivers are bound by certain speed limits, like 55 mph. They must also drive in the right-most lane, since trucks have a larger blind spot that makes it difficult for them to see oncoming vehicles. If a truck driver is over in the left lane or tries to pass others in smaller vehicles, this is negligence that can result in an accident. <\/p>\nDistracted Driving<\/span>\n

Driver distraction can happen to any of us, and it\u2019s very tempting to answer that call or take a quick look to see if your friend texted you back. With truck drivers, there is also the constant need to follow instructions from their GPS device. Some tasks have to be done while one is operating a truck, but other things are merely distractions that can cause you to lose focus. Phones are one of the biggest sources of distractions that lead to an accident, but there are many other kinds of behaviors that should be avoided by truck drivers when they\u2019re out on the road. <\/p>\nLack of Truck Repairs and Maintenance<\/span>\n

As with any vehicle, the parts on a truck can break down from wear and tear. Immediate repairs, along with scheduled maintenance are essential to ensuring the driver\u2019s safety, and that of the general public. It\u2019s worth noting that big rigs have maintenance needs that are quite different than what you are used to on a sedan, minivan, SUV, etc. From one of its 18 tires blowing out to malfunctions to improper fluid levels, there are many things that can go wrong when a truck is not maintained on a regular basis. <\/p>\nEnvironmental Factors<\/span>\n

We all know that some routes are tougher to navigate then others, like hills and mountains, or rural areas where deer and other animals can run into the road at any given moment. Truck drivers also have to drive in bad weather conditions. Ice storms, heavy rain, snow, fog and other issues beyond one\u2019s control can increase the possibility of an accident. <\/p>\n

Road conditions are another major cause of truck accidents, and this can be due to a city or state agency\u2019s failure to properly maintain the roads. Even things you normally wouldn\u2019t think about, like falling branches, can lead to a truck crashing into someone or veering off the road. So, public entities such as Caltrans can also be liable for certain types of truck accidents. <\/p>\nInjuries Associated with Truck Accidents<\/span>\n

There is a high chance of fatalities and severe, permanent injuries if you are involved in a truck accident. Even with all the protective features in a car, a commercial truck easily outweighs the average car, especially when it\u2019s loaded with cargo<\/a>. So, even if the truck is traveling at relatively slow speeds, it can easily cause people to be seriously injured. The worst injuries are caused by head-on collisions and T-bone crashes, but any truck accident has the potential to cause:<\/p>\n