California Truck Accident Statistics
Due to a commercial truck's sheer size and weight, any accident with these vehicles leaves few unaffected by the event. A collision with a commercial truck often results in devastating injuries that leave victims financially strapped and on a long road to physical recovery.
What can make these accidents even more difficult to process is learning that the collision could have been avoided if the driver wasn’t negligent. The statistics related to truck accidents are sobering. However, knowing the facts may make drivers more aware when they encounter these commercial trucks on the road.
If you were the unfortunate few to suffer injuries in a truck accident, understanding the cause of your collision helps your attorney determine fault and hold the proper party responsible for your losses. Learn more about truck accident statistics and the common factors leading to these horrific collisions.Â
California Truck Accident Statistics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported 12,753 accidents in California in 2023 alone. Passenger driver and truck driver injury statistics reported that 5,117 collisions resulted in injuries, and 335 accidents resulted in fatalities.
Knowing the scary truth of how many truck accidents happen per year would make any driver think twice about sharing the road with these large and dangerous vehicles.
A skilled Los Angeles truck accident attorney carefully investigates the facts surrounding your collision to strengthen your case and get you the compensation you need and deserve.
Factors Contributing to Truck Accidents
An experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyer knows that various factors could contribute to a severe accident with a commercial truck. However, from case to case, attorneys see common factors as a factor in these collisions.
Distracted Driving
Texting, talking on the phone, fiddling with GPS, or tuning a radio all distract a driver from the road and increase the occurrence of collisions. Even a few seconds that a driver looks away from the road can be catastrophic. All drivers must take careful steps to eliminate distractions and safely pull off the road before addressing any issues.
Driver Fatigue
Due to strict delivery schedules, commercial truck drivers are often on the road for long stretches, creating an environment for fatigued driving. While federal regulations require drivers to take regular breaks, some drivers fail to do so and continue to drive through this fatigue.
Drowsy driving is hazardous and is often compared to driving while under the influence of alcohol as it diminishes a person's ability to react quickly to changing conditions, impairs their judgment, and increases the likelihood of accidents.
Driver Error
Commercial truck drivers must undergo special training and follow safety regulations to avoid being included in the year's truck accident statistics.
Unfortunately, driver error continues to be one of the leading causes of truck accident collisions. Common examples of driver error include tailgating, failing to watch for blind spots and speeding.
Speeding
Excessive speed is a common factor in many traffic collisions. Due to their size and weight, commercial truck drivers need significantly more time to stop.
As a result, high-speed situations on freeways and highways require truck drivers to exercise extreme caution when driving their vehicles. The force of an impact between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle due to speeding is often catastrophic.
Improper Maintenance
Commercial truck drivers and their employers are responsible for maintaining their fleet in working condition to avoid mechanical and equipment mishaps.
Drivers and employers must regularly correct mechanical issues to avoid brake failures, tire blowouts, faulty lights, or steering problems. Commercial trucks that are not in safe working condition should only be on the road once they resolve all issues.
Inadequate Training
Inadequate driver training and improper education of drivers significantly increase the risk of accidents. Truck companies are responsible for maintaining employees who satisfy the required qualifications to avoid poor decision-making, improper handling, and risk of collisions.
Improperly Loaded or Overloaded Trucks
Federal trucking regulations set the maximum weight limit for commercial trucks and truckers that load their trucks heavier than this weight create the risk of accidents.
An overloaded or improperly loaded truck creates dangerous conditions including making steering and stopping more difficult and it also greatly increases the possibility that the truck will rollover.
Driving While Intoxicated
The same laws against driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol apply to commercial truck drivers. Practicing this dangerous behavior causes impaired judgment, poor decision-making, and slower reflexes, leading to catastrophic consequences in the event of an accident.
Inclement Weather
Commercial truck drivers are often required to drive to meet strict deadlines, rain or shine. However, inclement weather, including heavy rain, sleet, snow, fog, and high winds, creates dangerous conditions for truck drivers and dramatically increases the risk of accidents. Federal regulations require a driver to stop if the weather conditions are too severe to operate the truck safely.
What Can I Recover in Damages?
Victims injured in truck accidents receive compensation through economic and noneconomic damages. These damages cover losses related to the accident, including:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Lost wages,
- Loss of future earnings,
- Property damage,
- Medical expenses, and
- Loss of consortium.
Your Los Angeles truck accident lawyer uses the evidence gathered to calculate the value of your claim. Most personal injury cases resolve out of court as your attorney negotiates a fair settlement on your behalf.
In situations where negotiations fail to progress favorably, our attorney prepares your case for trial and litigates the matter to a judgment before a judge or jury.
Contact Us
At Starpoint Law, we work with clients on personal injury and employment law-related cases. With our extensive legal experience, we get results for our clients when they need it most. Unlike other firms, we are highly selective with our cases and only take winning cases. As a result, our track record is impeccable.
We've obtained millions for clients in personal injury matters to help victims on their road to recovery. We understand the trauma of what you have experienced and never treat our clients as a case number. We listen carefully to you and fight for what's best for you. We communicate with you at every step of your case and keep open lines of communication.
Contact us today by phone or email for a free consultation to learn more about how Starpoint Law can help you.
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Starpoint Injury Law Staff
Starpoint Law was founded on a number of core principles that allow us to help our clients and develop deep and meaningful relationships. If you have suffered injuries or facing an issue with your employer, reach out to our legal team and we can sit down for a free consultation and start the process immediately.
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