The commercial trucking industry provides a valuable service to people in the San Joaquin Valley. Large semi-trucks continuously travel through the area while delivering goods and cargo to local and far-off destinations. These large commercial vehicles sometimes cause accidents that pose a severe risk of injury to other people on the road.
When a trucking wreck injures you or a family member, consider meeting with a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer to determine whether you have grounds to file a civil lawsuit. A skilled personal injury attorney at Colvin Accident Lawyers could help you build a strong case against the responsible party who caused the wreck.
Semis are the most oversized vehicles on the road, often crushing passenger cars when they collide into them. The car’s occupants are at risk of life-altering injuries such as:
Truck crashes can be fatal. Compassionate legal representatives could help grieving family members seek justice for their deceased loved one in a wrongful death claim. Diligent attorneys in Bakersfield could also help an injured person evaluate their losses and pursue fair damages following a tractor-trailer wreck.
Most truck wrecks are not accidents. Crashes involving trucks typically happen because someone acted negligently or recklessly. Although the trucker is often at fault for a collision, their employer, the manufacturer of the semi-truck, or another party might also bear responsibility.
Operating a truck is vastly different than operating a car. Truckers must undergo extensive training on how to drive semi-trucks properly. This training includes processes for monitoring blind spots, which are more prominent on trucks than on passenger vehicles. Additionally, truckers must understand how to make wide turns with their vehicle and control their trailer—especially those carrying heavy loads.
Truck collisions often occur due to driver negligence. The trucker might speed, drive drunk, fail to follow traffic laws, text and drive, or commit other driving mistakes. The trucker might also feel pressure to reach their destination quickly by driving without a break. In these situations, the company that employs the trucker could be at fault, especially when they set dangerous delivery expectations for the driver.
Some problems occur even when truck drivers adhere to the rules of the road. For example, manufacturing defects can cause a truck to malfunction, making the manufacturer, mechanic, or owner potentially liable for a wreck.
When the cargo company fails to secure the load on the truck, the items could fall out, causing an imbalance in the trailer. The company in charge of loading the cargo could be liable for a truck rollover or other accidents resulting from improperly loaded cargo.
A local lawyer could review the evidence from the crash to learn why it occurred and identify all liable parties.
Truck crashes can immediately and permanently change your life. You might not know what to do in the immediate aftermath of such a massive accident.
Fortunately, a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer could guide you through the legal process so you thoroughly understand your legal rights and options. Contact our legal team members at Colvin Accident Lawyers and let us fight for what you deserve.