Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer

California needs trucks to bring consumer goods and carry products and produce from the state to the rest of the country. While this trucking traffic may provide an overall benefit to the people of the state, it increases the risk for people on the roads. Every person on the road is at a higher risk of getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle.

If you have been injured in a semi-truck collision, you need the help of a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer. Injuries from truck accidents are often severe, which means you will miss substantial time away from work, have thousands of dollars in medical bills, and may have your life completely unended. Truck accidents can result in changes, not just for those injured but for their families and loved ones, as well. Getting the compensation you deserve with the help of a personal injury attorney could help you and your family adjust to the new normal.

Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents

Passenger car accidents can lead to severe injuries and even death. However, truck accidents are much more likely to result in severe injuries or wrongful death. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 70,000 pounds. The average passenger vehicle weighs around 4,500 pounds. Even large passenger vehicles rarely top 10,000 pounds. So, trucks are at least seven times heavier than passenger vehicles.

This weight difference makes a massive difference in accidents. A truck accident has at least seven times as much force as a passenger vehicle accident at the same speed.

Force is not the only difference between car and truck accidents. When passenger vehicles collide, they are often at similar heights. When a large truck hits a passenger vehicle, it often strikes at a higher spot, which can be much deadlier for the people in the passenger vehicles.

Another way that truck accidents differ from car accidents is insurance. The minimum car insurance coverage for passenger vehicles is relatively low, and it is often challenging to collect above someone’s policy limits, even when a victim has substantial damages. Trucks that travel interstate need to have at least $750,000 in insurance coverage, plus third parties may share liability. A successful claim with high damages is much more likely to be fully funded than a similar passenger vehicle claim. An attorney in Bakersfield could help a person understand the unique elements of a truck crash claim.

What Causes a Truck Accident?

The leading types of truck accidents include loss of vehicle control, failure to stop, or trucks leaving their lane of traffic. Different driver behaviors and other causes can lead to these types of truck accidents.

Driver fatigue, speeding, distracted driving, intoxication, and aggressive driving are the underlying causes that frequently lead to those types of accidents. If a trucker exhibited any of those behaviors, they may be fully liable for the accident. Even if not fully liable, any of those behaviors will lead to shared liability.

Driver fatigue, distracted driving, and driving while intoxicated all have similar impacts on driving behavior. They increase response time, impact reflex speed, and increase the risk that a driver will not be paying attention. For truckers, driver fatigue is a particular issue—it plays a role in approximately one-third of all truck accidents. A lawyer can review a truck accident case in Bakersfield to determine the cause and who is at fault.

Consult a Bakersfield Truck Accident Attorney

In addition to truckers, several different parties could share liability in a truck accident. You may be partially to blame, but seemingly unrelated third parties could have liability as well. Trucking companies, truck manufacturers, mechanics, and cargo handlers may contribute to an accident. Tracing liability can be complex, especially for someone unfamiliar with these complex claims.

If you have been in a wreck with a truck, it is vital to get help from a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer. We can help you trace liability, establish damages, and maximize your chances of a strong recovery. Schedule a consultation to learn more.