Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer Attorney Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez, 800-816-1529
Bakersfield, CA has dangerous streets for automobile accidents. This is especially true when the injury involves a large commercial truck. Because of great number of trucks which travel up and down California freeways, truck accidents that severely injure and kill drivers are sadly too common.
Southern California’s interstates and roadways are truck routes, tens of thousands of people in the vicinity of Bakersfield are at a higher risk for these kinds of truck accidents daily. Whenever you’re involved with a truck accident, you want an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side whenever possible to ensure you’re treated fairly and provided swift payment.
How can semi truck accidents differ from Normal automobile accidents?
Truck accidents Are different is a result of the strict regulations which the drivers and owners of these trucks must follow as a result of the size and purpose of big-rig vehicles. Licensed drivers of commercial semi trucks need to adhere to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The constraints set forth by the FMCSR are meant to avoid driver fatigue and establish motorist liability. Limits like the amount of hours a truck driver can work each day per week, all
must be logged.
Insurance coverage for Semi trucks can also be much greater than standard vehicle insurance policy. Federal regulations require that truck businesses carry insurance of at least $750,000 per truck. If the trailer is towing toxic substances, the minimum insurance coverage is $5,000,000.
If you have been in a truck crash, please call The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez online or by phoning our Bakersfield truck crash attorney at 800-816-1529 now for a free consultation.
Frequent Causes of Bakersfield Truck Accidents
- Truck accidents seem to be the fault of the driver Fatigue
- Speeding or competitive driving
- Vehicle Failures
- Trucks veering off the road or running from their travel lane
- Failure to stop, Leading to rear-end collisions
Many of these Accidents could be avoided if those involved in all levels of the transport of products took a more active role in protecting the security of
everyone on the street. However, truck drivers are often made to satisfy unrealistic schedules that need they forgo sleep and might even induce them to
rate and use stimulants to make their deliveries on time.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Traffic accidents Which involve improperly loaded trucks are usually more devastating and complex than typical auto accidents. Bakersfield California truck accident attorney The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez has witnessed the effects of truck accidents and pursued justice for collision victims and their families for over 21 years.
Cases of Improperly Loaded Trucks being responsible in a truck accident is often complex. While many automobile accidents only involve two drivers, a truck accident could involve many parties. By way of instance, if an accident occurs because of faulty freight loading, the driver, the person who loaded the cargo and the trucking company could be held liable.
Safety Administration (FMCSA), freight must be firmly immobilized or secured with shoring bars, tie downs or other resources of equal strength. Improperly secured materials like appliances, furniture, timber or metal can make sudden, unavoidable roadway obstacles. Poorly secured loads may also move unexpectedly inside a trailer, causing rollovers.
Secured cargo, can still pose a possible threat if the weight of this trailer isn’t adequately distributed. Unbalanced loads may result in raised centers of gravity
or especially heavy sides.
Over Capacity, its danger of tipping over significantly raises.
Driver Fatigue
The National Highway Foundation states that Driving on too little sleep has been compared to driving while drunk, and with good reason. Fatigue reduces attention span and increases the amount of time necessary to react to fluctuations in traffic. Moreover, a lack of sleep may cause consecutive lack of consciousness, each one endangering the lives of everybody on the street.
- To Decrease the number Of truck accidents due to driver fatigue, the FMCSA has established a string of hours of service regulations:
- The maximum length of a driver’s change is 14 hours, and the driver can not exceed 11 hours of driving time during that change
- Drivers should take at least one 30 minute break within the first 8 hours of the shift
- Applicants must possess at least 10 hours off before beginning their next shift
- The maximum allowable work week for a truck driver is 70 hours at an eight-day interval or 60 hours in a seven day period
- After a driver reaches the maximum allowable hour total for a work week, he should take at least 34 hours off until the next shift
- Applicants must maintain an accurate log of the hours they spend at work, including the Amount of hours spent driving
- Service regulations are broken, and the driver causes a truck collision, he can be held responsible for damages.
Fatigued Truckers
Held accountable after a truck accident isn’t straightforward. The seemingly black and white dilemma of sleep-deprived truckers may prove more complicated than expected when you start to seek compensation. The only way to make sure you’re not cheated out of the full compensation you deserve is by working with an experienced California truck accident lawyer.
Many truckers forego sleep to fulfill unrealistic demands placed on them by their companies. This can produce a trucking company both liable when a exhausted trucker causes an accident. What is more, just because fatigue was a factor doesn’t mean it was the sole cause. Mickey Fine is ready to investigate your injury to uncover all its causes, identify each responsible party, and struggle for the maximum compensation you are due.
- Speeding
— automobile, truck, or bike — driving above the posted speed limit is an illegal practice. Trucks who participate in driving over the speed limit increase
the risk of an accident because of: - Driving above the Speed limit reduces the truck’s capacity to come to a complete stop when required. Because of semi truck’s massive size, the faster it’s going, the harder it is for it to stop.
- It much easier for the truck driver to lose control of the truck and the trailer it’s pulling. If the driver were to encounter a curve or a steep mountain, high
rates could make it very easy to get rid of control. - When drivers don’t take proper precaution above their pace when driving in poor weather, severe accidents can happen.
Distracted Driving
Driving distracted is Never wise. When a truck driver partakes in one of these practices, they place themselves and everybody else on the street around them in danger.
According to a study by the NHTSA, from all accidents That were caused by distracted driving, 6 percent of these involved a semi-truck.
Semi truck drivers Spend a whole lot of time on the open street, frequently driver cross-country. It’s estimated that a car driving 55 miles covers 300 feet in 5 minutes. So much can happen in that time frame and when a driver is distracted from the road, catastrophic events can happen.
Driving under the Influence of drugs or alcohol impairs the body’s essential engine functions. Drivers that are impaired lose the capacity to respond, see directly, and control a car securely. Anyone who decides to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs places themselves and others around them in great danger.
Federal law Establishes that truck drivers have a limitation of .04 BAC. This is half the authorized limit for ordinary drivers in most states. The reasoning for this is because of how harmful it is to run a car the size of a semi truck slightly impaired.
Stricter policy for BAC, there’s a zero-tolerance for medication use in commercial truck driving. In spite of these constraints, truck drivers nationally still
partake in these dangerous habits. A study from Reuters found that almost 30 percent of truck drivers use amphetamines.
Deficiency of Proper Training
Size and weight of most commercial trucks, injuries sustained in automobile accidents are often catastrophic. To decrease the risk of these serious injuries and
enhance safety for other drivers on the road, the federal government has established a set of regulations regulating the trucking industry. These laws cover a broad assortment of issues, including hours of operation, maximum vehicle weight, and security standards.
The trucking Regulations established by the FMCSA are meant to improve the security of everyone sharing the road. Failure to adhere to these regulations may cause the negligent party being held accountable for accidents caused by a truck accident.
- According to FMCSA Regulations, truck drivers need to:
- Pass a physical examination every 2 years
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs during their change, including any prescription medication that may impact the driver’s ability to operate a truck
- Confirm driving records and check references of truck drivers until they are hired
- Monitor all drivers’ documents on an annual basis
- Perform routine mechanical inspections of all trucks and make any necessary repairs prior to sending out the vehicle on a trip
Also, FMCSA Regulations prohibit trucks from carrying over 20,000 pounds of freight per axle, and the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of this truck can’t exceed 80,000 pounds.
If you have been injured In a truck accident due to the negligence of another, please The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez now to schedule your free consultation at 800-816-1529. The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez serves customers in Bakersfield, CA and all across the state of California.
Frequent Injuries in Bakersfield Semi Truck Accidents are very severe. If the crash doesn’t kill a victim, it can often leave them with lifelong or protracted injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives. According to the NHTSA, nationally, 1 percent of truck accidents end up being deadly.
Injuries that stem From truck accidents include, but aren’t limited to:
This includes anything The neck and back are crucial to regular functioning, so a neck or spine injury shouldn’t be dismissed. Serious neck and spine injuries can lead to symptoms such as:
- Partial to complete paralysis
- Numbness
- Moderate to severe daily pain
- Broken bones may cause long-term damages for example:
- Pain when moving the affected region
- Deformities
- Numbness
- Head trauma and Traumatic brain injuries happen in truck accidents and are frequently life-altering.
These accidents typically occur when the mind experiences a blunt force in an crash. These injuries don’t always show immediate symptoms. When symptoms
do start to show, victims may experience:
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Impaired vision
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Internal Trauma
Very common in automobile accidents. Such injury can cause internal bleeding to organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, etc.. These injuries are often very
tough to treat and must be cared for immediately.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Truck accidents can Have a disastrous impact on a human’s spinal column structure. Many times, the enormous force generated by these mishaps leave their victims with paralysis. Exactly like using a TBI, spinal damage isn’t always apparent to begin. A spinal injury may manifest into larger problems as time passes, so you must always seek medical care if your spine was hurt in a truck accident.
Wrongful Death
Truck accidents are near ten times more likely to kill a victim that regular automobile accidents. The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez can not replace a loved one, but he will help your family get the compensation required to start to move forward.
The moments following A truck accident can be one of the most frightening in your lifetime. However, the actions you take after your injury may have a substantial influence on your ability to collect damages for all your damages.
If You Can, Contact 911 immediately, even in cases where there appears to be only minor damage.
Get the contact, insurance, and employment advice of the truck driver.
Contact your insurance company to report the collision.
And EMTs arrive, be certain to file a police report and permit for a medical examination. Do not acknowledge or even suggest you’re at fault when discussing your injury with anyone on the scene.
Many truck accidents Result in traumatic accidents which might create on-the-scene action on your part hopeless. When this is true, Bakersfield truck accident attorney The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez can get necessary information via an extensive investigation in your accident.
Even if you happen to be helped by EMTs, you still want to make an appointment with your doctor. Brain injuries, particularly, might not show any immediate signs but can be discovered in a followup evaluation. Your physician’s evaluation will be essential for identifying any probable consequences of your injury that went undetected at the scene. Make certain to have a copy of your physician’s findings.
Bakersfield Truck Accident Attorney The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez and his legal team will assess the information you’ve gathered, start to establish accountability, and determine what course of action is most likely to result in full compensation for all your damages.
Compensation Following a Truck Accident
The compensation you Receive in a truck crash claim in Bakersfield will be dependent on the conditions of your case. Bakersfield truck accident attorney, The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez will assess fault on your case and take the necessary actions to valuing your own injuries.
Accident Claim?
Following a Thorough review of police reports, logbooks, eyewitness testimony and other vital evidence, our Bakersfield California truck accident attorney may seek reimbursement for damages such as:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
Based on the Circumstances of your situation, we might have the ability to pursue compensation for punitive damages against a negligent trucking company, truck driver or other responsible parties.
Who is Responsible in a Truck Accident?
Accidents, Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez has chased compensation from:
The motorist: the Same as car drivers, those who function Trucks have duties on the street. If a truck driver is reckless or negligent and causes an accident that results in significant accidents, they can be held accountable.
The trucking firm: Many trucking firms set competitive Programs for their drivers, and that’s why driver fatigue is this a frequent cause of truck accidents. If our truck accident attorneys determine the trucking company was negligent or engaged in misconduct and that this negligence caused your injury, we can pursue reimbursement from them.
A frequent cause of truck accidents. We can investigate to find out whether the truck that hit you was carrying too much freight, and when it was, our Bakersfield truck accident attorneys could hold accountable the company which loaded the cargo.
Truck producers: A badly designed or fabricated truck Is a threat to everyone on the street. Our Bakersfield truck accident lawyers are not afraid of bringing a claim against the big companies which manufacture defective trucks.
We believe passionately that Bakersfield residents who’ve been injured in a truck accident which was caused by someone else’s negligence shouldn’t be
alone in this challenging time.
What’s Comparative Fault in a Truck Accident Case?
Monetary damages which you may recover will be determined by your percentage of fault in the collision. This is what’s called comparative fault. Typically, the insurance company of the defendant will try to show that you were partially at-fault — if not entirely at-fault — at the collision. Based on the jury’s decision, your claim may somewhat diminish or decrease entirely. It is because liability is so complex that you ought to be certain you find a truck crash attorney whose ability, experience and standing you trust.
Bakersfield truck accident lawyer The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez has Over 21 years of experience helping victims of injuries obtain maximum
damages. The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez will investigate your truck accident, your injury, identifying all accountable parties, and hold each accountable for their activities. Additionally, our legal team will work with you to defend you against the predatory tactics of insurance companies, see you get the medical treatment you need, and fight tooth and nail for every penny you’re due. For more information or to schedule a complimentary free consultation, please call 800-816-1529 today.
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