Rancho Murieta Truck Accidents
Rancho Murieta truck accidents are common along California’s busy roads and highways. Because of their large size and weight, when these big trucks are involved in a collision, it can cause serious injuries and fatalities. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that, over a one year period, 87,000 big trucks were in accidents that resulted in injuries. Knowing how to stay safer while driving near a big truck is important. If you or a loved one is injured by a negligent trucker, a personal injury lawyer experienced in trucking accidents can help.
Errors Made by Motorists
Drivers of motor vehicles are sometimes responsible for truck accident collisions. This is because many motorists do not understand that a big rig is much different than a car due to its size and has different performance capabilities. Following are some of the ways in which a motorist can be negligent and end up in a collision with a big rig:
- Driving in the no zone: All big trucks have no zones. They are the areas around a big rig where the trucker’s vision may be blocked. No zones occur on all sides of a truck, especially along the right of the trailer. Keeping your distance from a big rig can help prevent Rancho Murieta truck accidents. When passing one, don’t loiter along the side.
- Tailgating: Tailgating a big rig is a major reason for underride accidents, which are often fatal.
- Misjudging a big rig’s speed: Large vehicles that are approaching can be moving much faster than you think. Making a turn directly in front of a large truck can be disastrous.
- Improper merging: Merging onto a busy highway can be difficult. However, pulling out onto the road in front of a big rig is dangerous. Large trucks require twice the stopping distance of smaller vehicles.
- Driving between two large trucks: This is always a bad idea. Neither one of the drivers may be able to see your vehicle.
- Cutting off a large truck: As it was mentioned before, large trucks need a much longer stopping distance. Many Rancho Murieta truck accidents are caused by motorists pulling into the lane in front of one.
Errors Made by Truck Drivers
Motorists aren’t the only ones who cause truck accidents. In some cases, the trucker may be responsible or the company that employs that driver. In cases such as the latter, both the driver and company may be held responsible for damages. Some of the truck driver mistakes in which the trucker or company may be responsible include:
- Poor training: A driver must have adequate training to manage a big rig to avoid mistakes that can cause a rollover, jackknife or other Rancho Murieta truck accidents.
- Bad brakes are due to poor maintenance or need of replacement.
- Excessive speed causes about 23 percent of truck accidents.
- Road defects lead to about 20 percent of all accidents.
- Some trucking accidents are caused by tight scheduling by employers.
- Distracted driving such as texting or talking on a cell phone leads to about 8 percent of truck accidents.
- Fatigue behind the wheel was cited in about 13 percent of truck accidents.
- Over-the-counter drugs caused about 17 percent of collisions caused by big trucks.
Rancho Murieta Auto Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rancho Murieta auto accident and personal injury lawyer. Truck accidents with other motor vehicles often cause serious injuries and result in fatalities. If this happened to you or to someone special, I would be honored to offer you my free and friendly advice. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or through my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400.
I’m a California member of National Association of Distinguished Counsel. This group invites only those lawyers they believe promote high legal excellence. I also belong to Million Dollar Advocates, which allows only trial lawyers who’ve obtained in excess of one million dollars for a prior client.
Over my 37-year career as a personal injury lawyer, I’ve represented many cases that include all kinds of motor vehicle crashes, brain injuries, and wrongful deaths.
If you visit the following links, they will show you reviews and other comments by my clients and previous cases that my law firm has handled:
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_52394927_l-2015
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