All motor vehicle accidents have the potential to be serious or even deadly. Truck accidents, though, carry a greater risk for devastating outcomes. Victims of truck accidents in Glendale can expect to face months, years, or even a lifetime of consequences affecting their physical abilities, emotional well-being, and financial stability.
Simmrin Law Group is here to help truck accident victims. By partnering with a Glendale truck accident lawyer from our firm, you put yourself in the best position to receive the settlement you need for your recovery.
Special Rules for Truck Drivers
All drivers owe other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or anyone else sharing the road an obligation called a duty of care. This duty of care requires drivers to avoid unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), or ignoring traffic laws, and to practice safe driving behaviors and prevent accidents.
Truck drivers must comply with even higher standards to meet this obligation. For example, while adult drivers of passenger vehicles can be charged with DUI if they register a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .80% or higher, truck drivers can be charged at a much lower level of .04%.
Along with detailing other responsibilities of commercial vehicle drivers, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) commercial vehicle handbook requires drivers to maintain safe distances between their vehicle and the one in front of them. These distance requirements change according to truck speed and weight. Since trucks are so heavy, they need a longer distance to come to a safe stop.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Glendale, call (310) 896-2723
Safety Regulations for Trucks and Commercial Vehicles
While all vehicles must undergo regular inspections and maintenance processes, trucks are subject to more frequent and extremely specific evaluations. These regulations, established by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), put inspection responsibilities on both the vehicle operators and the truck owners.
At the end of each driving day, truck drivers must complete daily post-trip inspection reports. In the report, they must identify the vehicle and any problems that could affect its safe operation noted by or reported to the driver. The motor carrier, or party responsible for maintaining the truck, must attend to these problems, certifying the problems have been corrected or do not require immediate repair, and must keep a copy of that certification for three months.
Along with daily inspections, trucks must undergo annual, at minimum, comprehensive inspections completed by a qualified inspector and carried out according to the FMCSA’s specific criteria.
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How a Glendale Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
When a truck accident occurs because the driver or motor carrier failed to comply with these regulations, that driver or carrier owes you compensation. However, it can be difficult for someone without a legal background and who is already in a vulnerable physical and emotional state to sort through the details of the accident and identify the negligent party. This is where a Simmrin Law Group Glendale personal injury lawyer can help.
First, your attorney is a skilled investigator with the connections and resources needed to identify the cause or causes of the accident. Second, your lawyer has the legal background to understand FMCSA regulations, connecting the details of the accident to failures in compliance. Finally, your truck accident attorney in Glendale knows what evidence your case needs and how to acquire that evidence.
Truck Accident Insurance Complexities
It is not uncommon for a truck operator to own their own “cab,” the part of the truck the driver sits in, and have their own insurance for the cab and their own driver’s insurance. If a truck driver works for a specific company, they may also be insured by that company. Further, the trailer attached to the truck is often covered by whatever company owns that trailer.
Through their investigation into the cause of your accident, your truck accident lawyer in Glendale will discern which insurance company or companies are responsible for paying your damages. If the accident is a strict case of driver error, the driver’s insurance is most likely responsible. However, if there was a trailer malfunction, another party may be liable.
Trying to navigate these complexities on your own is a mistake. Remember, insurance companies are not on your side and will take advantage of any opportunity to point the finger somewhere else, dragging out the process and leaving you confused, frustrated, and without financial relief. A Glendale truck accident attorney has the skills to untangle these complications, hold the appropriate parties accountable, and get you a fair settlement.
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Get the Fair Settlement You Need for Recovery
Sadly, for a recent full year of data collection, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 146,930 injuries and 4,965 deaths caused by accidents involving large trucks. Injuries sustained in truck accidents are often serious and frequently catastrophic, leading to significant life changes. Whether you have been injured or your loved one died in a fatal truck accident, you need a settlement to help you move toward recovery.
Since each case is unique, there is no “average” amount you can expect to receive. However, your Glendale truck accident attorney will assess your situation with detailed precision and seek a settlement to cover your needs, including:
- Medical Costs: For current and future accident-related medical needs
- Income Loss: For missed days at work as you underwent treatment and rehabilitation
- Future Earnings: For coverage of lost future earnings and benefits if your injuries make it impossible for you to return to your job or to work at all
- Property Damage and Other Expenses: If your vehicle or other property was destroyed in the accident, and if you face additional expenses resulting from your accident
- Physical Pain and Emotional Suffering: To hold those responsible for your suffering accountable and bring you a measure of justice
- Wrongful Death: To cover death expenses, income loss, and loss of relationship if a loved one is killed in the accident
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We Can Help Secure the Settlement You Deserve
The physical and emotional trauma following a truck accident is overwhelming. Unfortunately, this trauma is compounded by the ensuing financial fallout that comes with medical bills and lost income. Simmrin Law Group can help you avoid that fallout and put you on stable financial ground by fighting for a fair settlement.
To get in touch and schedule a free consultation, simply visit our contact page. A Glendale truck accident lawyer from our team will handle the legalities of your case so you can focus on restoring your physical and emotional health.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form