Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers ca

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Several factors can cause a truck accident. As a personal injury law firm with years of experience handling truck accident cases. We’ve found that some of the most common causes of truck accidents are:

Driver Fatigue

Due to the fact that truck drivers often work long hours at a time, they are much more susceptible to driver fatigue. There are laws mandating how many hours a truck driver may work. Regardless of these laws, some drivers work longer hours than they are allowed. Driver fatigue can cause drivers to make driving errors that put motorists at risk.

Distracted Driving

Oftentimes, due to boredom, truck drivers engage in distracting activities such as texting and eating while driving. A distracted driver who texts while driving is 23 times more likely to get into an accident. A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 71% of large-truck accidents happened due to a distracted driver.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving Habits

Commercial trucks are often much bigger and heavier than personal cars, making them more difficult to control. This means that speeding can cause commercial truck drivers serious problems on the road – especially when they come up against curves or steep hillsides where losing traction could lead not only to losing control but could also cause a collision with other objects, such as trees.

Driving While Under the Influence

Driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol is believed to be a common problem amongst truck drivers. Being intoxicated by these substances can cause a driver to lose control of their motor functions and impair their vision, causing big-rig accidents.

Tailgating

Driving too close to the rear of a truck can be extremely dangerous for a car driver and their passengers. Unforeseen hazards could cause a truck to stop abruptly, causing a rear-end collision with the car behind them. The same is true for a truck driving behind a passenger vehicle. It is always best to keep a significant distance between yourself and the truck.

Improperly Loaded Trailers

Improperly loaded cargo can lead to a number of serious issues, including tire blowouts and rollovers. The driver may also lose control of the vehicle because of the sudden shift of weight if the cargo was lost in transit. This is risky not only for the truck driver but for other motorists on the road as well.

Poor Maintenance and Equipment Failure

Mechanical failure is also a common cause of trucking accidents. Truckers or trucking company owners are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained.

Natural Disasters

Weather can have a significant impact on the safety of truck drivers and motorists. Road conditions may become slippery, or visibility might be reduced due to rain, snow-covered roads, and other factors.

Common Injuries in Truck Accidents

Due to factors such as size, weight, and force, accident victims may sustain a range of injuries when involved in a truck accident. Our experienced Santa Clara truck accident lawyers have compiled a list of some of the most common truck accident injuries they encounter:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries/whiplash
• Internal organ injuries
• Bone fractures
• Cuts and lacerations

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?

In complicated situations such as these, the truck accident victim and their families are unsure of who can be held responsible for the accident. This is not uncommon in these cases since more than one party may be liable for the accident.

Having an experienced truck accident attorney by your side is in your best interest to ensure you hold the correct party accountable for their negligence. Depending on the factors and circumstances of your accident, the following parties may be held liable:

1. Truck Driver – If the accident occurred due to the negligent actions of a truck driver, they may be held liable for the injuries and damages sustained by any victims involved. A truck driver may be held liable if they were driving while under the influence, speeding, driving while distracted, or falling asleep at the wheel.

2. Truck Company – If a truck company was negligent during the hiring process or break federal or state regulations, they may be held liable for a catastrophic trucking accident.

3. Truck Manufacturer – A number of truck accidents are due to faulty manufacturing. Faulty steering systems, tire blowouts, or brake failure may lead to catastrophic accidents. In the event that an accident was due to poor manufacturing, the truck manufacturer may be held liable for these physical injuries and property damage.

4. Cargo Loaders – As previously mentioned, poorly loaded cargo is a common reason for truck accidents. If the improperly loaded cargo was the cause of the accident, the cargo loaders may be held responsible for the accident.

5. Truck Owner – If the trucking company does not own the truck and only leases it from a truck owner, the owner may be held liable for an accident if they fail to properly maintain the vehicle.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

The most important thing to do immediately after a truck accident is to ensure that you or your passengers are safe. If you wish to file a personal injury claim to recover financial compensation for your injuries and damages, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you are safe, your rights are protected and the integrity of your claim is strengthened.

• Seek medical attention – If you are suffering from severe injuries, you must call emergency services immediately. Even if you suspect you may have only sustained minor injuries, it is important that you are cleared by a medical professional. Some injuries do not present themselves outwardly and may need medical treatment.
• Call the police – It is crucial that you have a police officer at the accident scene as soon as possible. The officer must also file a police report of the accident. Be sure to procure the police report number if possible. Your Santa Clara personal injury lawyer may use this as proof to help strengthen your claim.
• Take photographs – If you are physically able, take as many photos of the accident scene as you can. Take photographs of the details you think may be important to your case, such as skid marks, signages or stop lights, or road hazards. Document your accident injuries as well.
• Collect truck driver and vehicle information – Note down essential information such as the truck driver’s name, phone number, license number, insurance company information, and the truck’s license plate and if possible, truck company.
• Collect witness information – If there were any witnesses at the time of the accident, write down their important information as well, such as name and phone number.
• Contact a Santa Clara truck accident lawyer – You must have aggressive legal representation by your side to help guide you through your insurance claim. Contact Farahi Law Firm today!

Compensation in a Truck Accident Claim

Truck accidents can lead to debilitating injuries. These injuries may require long-term medical care and could result in mounting medical expenses. Financial compensation is meant to help the accident victim recover, get back on their feet and hopefully return to their way of life before the accident occurred.

As the accident victim, you may be entitled to the following compensatory damages:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Property damage
• Physical therapy
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of consortium
• Other non-economic damages
• And more

If a truck accident caused the wrongful death of your loved one, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for their injuries and damages.

An experienced personal injury attorney will know the best course of action to take to ensure your rights are protected from insurance adjusters who may wish to lowball you by tricking you into lowering the value of your claim.

Expert Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers

At Farahi Law Firm, we understand the difficulties of dealing with a truck accident claim while trying to recover from your injuries. Our Santa Clara truck accident lawyers are here for you.

Not only will we handle all the complex paperwork of your case, but we will also put you in touch with the best doctors. And we will fight tooth and nail to ensure you win fair compensation for your injuries.

Our dedicated team is committed to winning. We have won millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims. We work on a contingency fee basis and offer a No Fee Guarantee to our clients. This means you won’t need to pay us a single cent unless we win your case.

Contact Farahi Law Firm at (408) 715-3296 for a free case consultation. We are available 24/7.