California leads the nation in truck accidents. Truck accidents often present serious consequences for the occupants of the passenger vehicles involved in the collisions. Injuries in these accidents are often catastrophic or result in an occupant’s death, causing significant emotional, physical and financial challenges to those injured and their families.
Truck Accident Statistics
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 318 deaths and 4,614 injuries were reported as a result of truck accidents in California in 2008. Nationally, during the same year, 4,229 people died and 71,460 were injured due to truck versus vehicle accidents. However, truck accidents are not just about numbers. For the personal injury lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, truck accidents are about people – the seriously injured victims and the families of those killed – and the hardships they undergo in the aftermath of a devastating collision.
Truck Accident Causes
The most common causes of California trucking accidents are negligence and recklessness on the part of truck drivers and trucking companies. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, tailgating, lack of experience, overloading the trailer and poor vehicle maintenance often lead to truck accidents, which have tragic consequences for occupants of other vehicles. Truck driver fatigue is also a factor in many of these crashes. There are stringent state and federal regulations that govern commercial trucks for the express purpose of enhancing roadway safety. Unfortunately, sometimes trucking companies and their employees put profits over safety and fail to follow these laws, resulting in otherwise avoidable collisions.
The Need for Prompt Investigation
Trucking companies get their insurance companies and attorneys on the scene within hours after a crash. Preserving the physical evidence at the scene and gathering witness reports are critical to investigating truck accidents. Important pieces of evidence could be misplaced, lost or intentionally destroyed. Victims in such cases need a law firm with significant resources and experience in performing accident reconstructions, preserving evidence and gathering vital eyewitness testimony.
Successful Track Record
The Los Angeles personal injury accident lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP consult with clients nationwide on truck accident cases. We have investigators, accident reconstruction experts and other resources that we can employ immediately for our injured clients. To discuss your case, please contact Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. Our goal is to protect your rights and hold negligent parties accountable for their actions.
