What is the first thing you think about when you are riding down the highway and find yourself next to or behind a large truck? We are not talking about pickup trucks. We are talking about the large commercial trucks you see everywhere in and around the city.
- Package delivery trucks
- Construction trucks
- Dump trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- And more
If you are anything like us, you think, “Let me get around this or stay back.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just released its new traffic safety fact sheet for the latest reporting year and it gives us a clear picture of the accidents these trucks are involved in and their outcomes. In 2017, there were 4,761 people killed in large truck crashes in the United States. The latest year for injury statistics is 2015 and that year saw over 116,000 people injured in large truck crashes.
At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, we are here when you need a truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles.
What Can Happen?
We know from past studies that the main causes of catastrophic large truck accidents revolve around vehicle failure and driver errors.
When we talk about vehicle failure, we are talking about the failure of one or more of the following systems:
- Powertrain
- Brake system
- Suspension
- Steering
- Lighting
- Steering
- And more
It is the responsibility of the truck companies and owners to regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles so that they are functioning well each and every time they hit the road. Companies should also always ensure that their drivers have and maintain their commercial driver’s licenses and are trained on each vehicle they drive.
Drivers also have a huge responsibility. They should never operate while distracted by their phones or other devices. They should also never drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol. This is reckless behavior that will only result in a major accident.
We often find that drivers and companies push the limits of both federal and state law concerning how many hours they are allowed to operate in a day as well as how much weight they are legally allowed to carry at a time. This is often done in an effort to make more profit but inevitably leads to accidents.
Large truck accidents can lead to severe injuries for drivers and people in vehicles around the truck. The situation can become compounded if a truck is hauling hazardous materials at the time of the accident.
What Happens Now?
If you or a loved one have been injured in a crash involving a large truck, we want to help. At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our knowledgeable and experienced team will work with you to determine who caused the accident so we can secure the compensation you deserve. When you need a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling 310-997-0904 for a free consultation.