Truck AccidentsAre Commercial Vehicle Accidents On The Rise In California?

May 22, 2020

Over the past decade, large truck accidents throughout the country have risen 52% and show no sign of slowing.

Last year alone there were approximately 116,000 injuries from commercial vehicle accidents, which changed the victims’ lives without notice.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and its annual Fatality Analysis Reporting System, over 4,100 casualties occurred last year in traffic accidents involving large trucks across the United States.

At the Binder Law Group, our San Fernando Valley & Encino truck accident attorneys know how difficult it is for injury victims to get the care they need to fully recover after a crash, and how life-changing these collisions are families who have lost their loved ones.

Commercial vehicles are larger and heavier than most passenger vehicles, which makes any collision with these large trucks potentially life-threatening. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident in San Fernando Valley, our San Fernando Valley & Encino personal injury lawyers will help create financial recovery solutions that will allow you and your family to move forward with confidence.

What Types of Vehicles Are Considered Commercial Trucks In California?

Commercial vehicles are owned, leased, or operated by companies for business purposes.

This can include, but is not limited to:

  • Box trucks
  • Buses
  • Concrete trucks
  • Corporate cars, trucks & SUVs
  • Delivery vehicles
  • Dump trucks
  • Flatbed trucks
  • Heavy equipment vehicles
  • Semi-trucks
  • Taxis
  • Trash trucks

If you have been hurt in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you will need an experienced truck accident attorney in Encino to determine who is liable for your injuries.

That can include the driver, the commercial vehicle owner, the manufacturer, maintenance company, or another third-party who was responsible for loading the vehicle properly.

Our skilled commercial vehicle accident lawyers will fully investigate your collision to ensure we are pursuing the liable person — or combination of parties — for the maximum financial recovery you deserve.

Commercial Truck Accidents in California Can Be Caused By Multiple Parties

Most people believe that the driver is at fault for commercial truck accidents in California and throughout the U.S., and often that may be the case.

Semi-truck drivers are trained to operate their vehicles based on their size and weight, which means maintaining a safe speed and providing the necessary stopping distance between the truck and other traffic to ensure everyone’s safety.

Anyone who has traveled alongside or in front of a semi-truck at 55 mph knows that the distance between them and the much larger vehicle is often less than the required 100 yards — or the length of a football field — they need to stop without colliding with another vehicle.

When truck drivers do not anticipate the proper amount of space needed to stop safely, people get hurt and some lose their lives.

Other common causes of semi-truck collisions are mechanical defects, which can include: 

  • Defective or poorly maintained tires
  • Electronic system malfunctions
  • Faulty brakes
  • Steering wheel defects
  • Transmission problems

When negligence is a factor in commercial vehicle accidents — no matter whose actions or inactions led to the crash — there is no limit to the number of injuries and fatalities that can occur during these collisions.

If you have been hurt in a truck crash or have tragically lost a family member in a traffic collision, contact our San Fernando Valley & Encino Personal injury attorneys at the Binder Law Group, PLC to schedule a free consultation today by calling (818) 659-8588. We want to help you hold the liable parties accountable for the financial recovery you deserve.