Buena Park Truck Accident Lawyer

California’s highways have an intricate system of shipping and receiving stations all across the state, used for both importing and exporting goods. Drivers in Buena Park must often share the roads with large transport trucks and semi-trucks, also known as big rigs.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the use of trucks for transporting goods in the United States. While there are strict rules governing the use of trucks, these can come into conflict with the deadlines of the companies who are shipping or receiving the goods. If truck drivers are pressured to bend the rules in order to keep to a schedule, this conflict creates a risk for all drivers on the highway.

Anyone who suffers an injury due to the negligence of a truck driver may be eligible for compensation. Make sure to contact a Buena Park truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible so they can examine all of the aspects of your case. Let a qualified personal injury attorney advise you of your best legal options going forward.

Common Truck Accident Causes

There are a variety of reasons that trucking accidents occur on the highway, including:

  • Sleep deprivation of truck drivers
  • Speeding
  • Over-loaded trailers
  • Poor maintenance of trucks
  • Reckless driving

Many federal and state regulations are meant to prevent these risky situations from occurring, but these regulations are not always followed by truckers and their parent companies.

Are There Limits on How Long a Driver Could Operate a Truck in Buena Vista?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets specific limits on the amount of time truck drivers are allowed to drive without sleep. These regulations are very important, as sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of truck accidents.

For example, drivers of property-carrying trucks—in other words, the big-rigs, semi-trucks, and 18-wheelers that carry goods on California highways—are limited to a maximum of 14 hours on the road after they have had at least 10 hours off duty, and a maximum of 60 to 70 hours on the road in a period of seven to eight consecutive days.

Speeding

Speeding semi-trucks are incredibly dangerous, and crashes involving speeding semis can be deadly. Trucks traveling at 70 miles per hour carry twice the energy as a truck traveling at 50 mph, and when braking need a longer distance in order to safely come to a stop.

The National Traffic Safety Administration reports over a quarter of the drivers of large trucks that were involved in fatal crashes in 2004 had at least one speeding ticket.

Potential Damages in a Buena Park Truck Accident

Insurance companies and victims of truck accidents rarely share the same interpretation of what qualifies as full compensation for injuries and damages. If a serious accident causes injury, compensation might include the costs of:

  • Medical bills
  • Future health care expenses
  • Loss of income and/or earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Punitive damages
  • Property damage

A qualified Buena Park truck accident lawyer could help a person pursue damages in their truck accident case.

How Does Comparative Negligence Affect Damages in Truck Accident Cases?

California is a comparative negligence state, which means the defendant in a truck accident case may not be completely liable for the entire injury. If the injured person filing suit bears some amount of fault in causing the accident, the final amount of any potential damage award will be lowered by the percentage of fault attributed to them. A jury determines how much the injured person is at fault, and the court will lower the total recovery accordingly.

Speak with a Buena Park Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one suffered injury in an accident in Buena Park, consider seeking out an experienced Buena Park truck accident lawyer for help managing and litigating your case. Call today to schedule a consultation.