Pasadena streets are filled with thousands of vehicles on a daily basis. Due to the amount of heavy traffic congestion, it is important for a truck driver to drive with extra caution, especially in a vehicle with such large blind spots. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has conducted a truck and bus crash statistics report and revealed that there have been at least over 165,000 large truck crashes occurring from 2020 to 2023. With such staggering numbers occurring on an annual basis, the chances of getting into a trucking accident is more likely than one would have thought.
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Pasadena truck accident lawyers are ready to help you with your case and serve as your trusted legal counsel throughout this stressful time in your life. We are a personal injury law firm that handles and specializes in personal injury claims such as truck accidents and our lawyers are confident that they can get you the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.
We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our clients and we will continue to do our duty to guide our clients throughout the legal process. Whether you need help dealing with insurance adjusters or holding the trucking company responsible for their negligence, our truck accident attorneys are available 24/7 to address these problems for you.
We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700ย or by filling out our quick online contact form.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Pasadena
The FMCSA has determined in a large truck causation study that the most common causes of trucking accidents were correlated to driver fatigue, speeding, driving under the influence, mechanical failures, and environmental problems. As every cause can potentially create a catastrophic accident scene with serious injuries, it is important for those involved to understand how these accidents can happen so when they file a personal injury claim they can get fair compensation for their damages.
Speeding
According to the FMCSA causation report, about 23% of all truck operators have been in an accident due to speeding. As the act of speeding can occur due to people’s inattentiveness or neglect, a truck operator might feel compelled to speed because they may be falling behind in their schedule and feel obligated to try and make up for lost time.
While the scale of a speeding accident will vary based on the overall speed and impact of the truck, truck crashes will have a much more devastating impact on passenger vehicles and property due to their sheer size and what kind of cargo they are carrying. If the driver is guilty of speeding, then they can be held liable for all damages because they were neglectful in their duties and did not follow proper traffic rules.
Fatigue
It’s no secret that truck operators work long hours in order to transport their cargo to necessary locations and ports. Due to their work schedule, truck operators tend to become sleepy and tired and if they are not careful then they may end up causing an accident. The National Safety Council has reported in a fatigue report that about 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually and the FMCSA has reported that around 13% of truck operators have gotten into accidents due to experiencing fatigue on the road.
If a truck operator falls asleep at the wheel and causes an auto accident, it can potentially cause a severe incident where people can become injured or killed. This can open the door for a variety of truck accident lawsuits for the victims and trucking companies can potentially become liable for enforcing a schedule that causes these types of accidents to frequently occur.
Driving Under the Influence
It is common for truck operators to consume drugs or alcohol to relieve the stress of meeting deadlines or remain awake throughout their shift. However, driving under the influence is a negligent act that should not be done under any circumstances. According to a Global Road Safety report conducted by the CDC, it was revealed that more than 28% of all fatal crashes in the U.S. result from impaired driving. Should a truck operator drive while they are under the influence then they can cause catastrophic injuries to nearby passenger vehicles.
Defective Parts
Mechanical failures are surprisingly one of the biggest causes of truck accidents according to the FMCSA causation report. With 29% of all truck accidents experiencing some sort of mechanical failure, truck operators need to conduct a thorough maintenance check before starting their shift or else they risk the chances of a breakdown or malfunction happening in the middle of a highway or road.
However, if a truck accident happens due to an unforeseen mechanical problem then truck accident victims can potentially sue the trucking company and their affiliated maintenance departments for being neglectful in their duties. However, in these cases, there must be clear evidence that the cause of the accident was due to a mechanical problem that could have been foreseen by mechanics.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions such as poor weather, potholes, uneven pavement, debris on the road, and inadequate signage or lighting can all contribute to truck accidents because they can drastically affect how truck drivers operate on the road. In fact, about 20% of all truck accidents are due to environmental problems and while trucking companies cannot be held liable for accidents caused by an act of god, they can be held liable for not properly training their truck drivers and have them be prepared for such scenarios.
Types of Injuries Found In Truck Accidents
When it comes to determining the most common truck accident injuries, there are a variety of medical conditions that can occur. However, from what is typically seen, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and burn injuries are the most common and it is important for accident victims to understand the scope of these injuries when they file a claim.
If anyone has experienced any of these injuries in an accident, it is vital that they seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, it is vital for victims to hire a truck accident lawyer to recover damages, because the associated medical bills with these injuries are extremely costly.
Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury is defined as a blow, bump, or hit to the head and/or the brain. Brain injuries typically occur in traffic accidents due to the impact and force of a crash. In terms of the different types of brain injuries, they can range from mild concussions to severe brain hemorrhages. However, for a truck crash, the severity of the injury might be increased and can potentially cause a loss of motor or cognitive functions. In some of the most extreme cases, a traumatic brain injury can be fatal or cause long-term health complications.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury is when the back has suffered nerve damage due to the impact force of a car accident. As the spine is known for its limited ability to absorb sudden impacts and pressure, a severe spinal cord injury can potentially result in paralysis and loss of organ function depending on which part of the spine is injured.
In some of the most severe cases, neck injuries can also occur in a truck accident and victims may experience full body paralysis. As such, it is imperative that you hire a truck accident attorney to get a fair settlement that covers any future medical bills and quality of life adjustments you need.
Burn Injuries
A burn injury is defined as skin damage due to fire, friction, or corrosive chemicals and the severity of burn injuries is going to be dependent on the depth of the damage. While severe burns are rare in truck accidents, a victim can suffer catastrophic injuries if they are in a severe truck wreck that was carrying flammable or dangerous substances. With that in mind, severe burn injuries require extensive medical care and surgery in order for victims to fully recover and these medical expenses can arguably be just as costly as suffering a severe brain or spine injury.
Who Can Be Held Liable For a Truck Crash?
Generally speaking, whoever has caused the truck accident in question is typically liable for all damages and injuries. According to California’s negligence law, should a truck driver or a third party driver is found guilty of reckless driving then they will be held accountable for sustained damages. However, for more complex cases where the accident was caused by a technical aspect such as a faulty part, then the liability would fall onto the truck manufacturer or maintenance department.
According to Californiaโs strict liability law, designers, manufacturers, and even any trucking company involved in a productโs chain of distribution can all be held responsible. So if you are having trouble establishing liability then a Pasadena truck accident attorney can help determine who is responsible for all of your injuries and damages.
What to Do After a Truck Accident?
Should you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important to call 911 if anybody requires immediate medical attention. If nobody is in a severe medical condition, then proceed to document the accident scene for your own personal records and for when you make a claim with your insurance company. In the cases of multiple responsible parties for the truck accident in question, it is recommended to hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can represent your best interests in this case.
Need a Pasadena Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident you may be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries. As filing a truck accident claim can be a complicated process for those unfamiliar with the legal process, it is important to hire a truck accident attorney to ensure your chances of recovering compensation from those responsible.
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Pasadena truck accident lawyers are ready to represent you and guide you throughout the legal process. Our team of attorneys are well versed in the California court system and have truck accident claims from the simple to the most complex and they are confident that they can recover compensation for your sustained injuries.
We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to fight for them so they won’t be stuck with costly medical expenses and extensive property damages. No matter what kind of trucking accident you may have been in, our team of lawyers will fight until you receive the maximum compensation for your losses.
We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700ย or by completing our easy online contact form.
