Truck drivers are the backbone of American living. Every product you buy, cars you drive and beds you sleep on would not make it to retail shelves without the dedication of truck driving companies. When big rigs slam into automobiles, it becomes a nightmare at best. Some drivers may walk away with only severe injuries, while others will succumb to their injuries on the spot. And because 18-wheelers are much bigger, they produce a much stronger centrifugal force the faster they go, becoming deadly weapons nearly indestructible beyond 40 miles an hour.
If you have been injured in a truck crash, only a skilled truck collision lawyer can fight to recover the compensation you deserve. Around 82% of all truck-related deaths in 2016 involved pedestrians or passenger cars, with many of those accidents happening right here in California. The Law Offices of Howard Kornberg intelligently represent victims and surviving families of truck accidents, putting years of courtroom experience to work for those seeking representation.
Truck Accident Victims Deserve Justice
Although California laws mandate how long truck drivers can remain on roadways every 24-hour period, many veteran drivers push themselves hard because mileage is the moneymaker. This overexertion causes failure in judgment, a major aggravating factor in head-on collisions with passenger cars. Distractions, such as checking Qualcomm computers for next loads or texting the wife back home are another growing concern in accident law.
Our firm gathers all facts surrounding your accident, including what caused the truck driver to fail in their duty to properly operate their truck. Some corporate trucks have onboard cameras, which allows our firm to see the accident in its entirety provided the camera wasn’t damaged. We’ll put together your claim with razor-like precision and fight the trucking company’s liability insurer or the company themselves. If settlement negotiations break down, we’ll gladly file your case in Los Angeles County Courts.
If you’re a survivor of a decedent killed by a truck driver’s negligence, we’ll fight to recover income lost along with pain and suffering.
Big Trucks Mean Bigger Damage
It’s rare you’ll hear victims of truck collisions walk away unscathed. Injuries sustained may include paralysis, dismemberment, head and neck trauma, or even a combination of all. Retain our Long Beach truck accident attorney, and we’ll promise to work diligently to bring reckless truck drivers to justice. My office has tried successfully numerous cases where injured drivers and pedestrians simply couldn’t avoid oncoming semis.
Some of the most common injuries seen in truck accidents include:
- Injuries to the back and the neck: It is common for victims involved in truck accidents to experience neck pain alongside other more serious injuries such as dislocation of discs. Individuals with back and neck pain often have trouble getting back on the job and resuming everyday life activities since the back and the neck are vital to nearly every movement made by the human body.
- Traumatic brain injuries and head injuries: Trauma to the head during a big truck accident is common, unfortunately. Even when there is no direct trauma to the head, brain injuries can result due to problems such as whiplash. It is important to note that brain injuries may not always be obvious upon the first examination but can become more apparent when symptoms such as vision problems, confusion, and cognitive problems develop. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious types of injuries since the victim is sometimes left with permanent disabilities and deficits.
- Internal injuries: Another common injury sustained during truck accidents, internal injuries can be quite serious. The most common internal injuries include internal injuries to the spleen, pancreas, liver, kidneys, and bladder—all of which can be extremely hard to control.
- Injuries to the ribs and upper body: The rib cage protects so many of the body’s vital organs. Rib injuries can be significantly serious.
- Broken bones: A broken bone is not just painful. It also requires quite a bit of recuperative time. Victims of truck accidents often find themselves unable to work due to fractures sustained during a crash.
Wrongful Death Claims Stemming from Truck Accidents
When a truck accident victim dies due to the actions or negligence of a truck driver/operator, trucking company, or another responsible party, the family of the victim has a right to file a wrongful death claim. This claim, generally lodged by a surviving spouse, child, or parent, seeks monetary compensation for the financial loss incurred by the death of the victim, including the loss of future income contributions.
Additional damages in a wrongful death suit may include loss of companionship, loss of consortium, funeral expenses, final medical costs related to the accident, and other compensation to which families might be entitled to under the law.
Truck Accident Statistics
In 2012 alone, the NHTSA estimated 333,000 large trucks were involved in traffic accidents across America. Over 104,000 people were injured in those incidents, of which 640 truck drivers lost their lives. Whether it’s bad weather, irresponsible driving, or trying to make deliveries on time, accidents involving large trucks seem to be an everyday occurrence in California, many of those accidents being completely avoidable with a little extra planning and attention to detail.
Large truck crashes are on the rise. As of 2018, the latest year for which data are available from the NHTSA, there was an 8 percent surge in injury-causing crashes among large trucks and buses. Fatalities related to large trucks are also on the rise, according to the NHTSA. In addition, property damage during crashes involving large trucks is also on the upward move, with an increase of 14 percent over previous levels.
Injured? We Want to Help
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed at the hands of a large truck, contact our Long Beach truck accident attorney at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg as soon as possible. Law Offices of Howard Kornberg. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 310-997-0904.
