Recovering After a California Truck Accident
California car accidents are complex events, and crashes involving large trucks only enhance the complexity and severity of accidents. Various elements can occur contemporaneously or hours, days, and months before an accident can result in an accident.
Some reasons may involve driver inexperience, vehicle defects, highway conditions, or weather conditions. Crash reconstruction experts generally find that accidents stem from a combination of reasons. For example, driver impairment, fatigue, and speeding are significant factors in many crashes; however, their existence alone is rarely the sole cause of an accident. Instead, a driver’s error in combination with another factor can increase the likelihood of an accident.
In combination with other agencies, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) determined that crash risk often involves three key variables: critical events, critical reasons, and associated factors. The three main types of critical events in California trucking accidents include:
- Veering out of the travel lane
- Loss of control resulting in erratic driving or skidding
- Colliding with the rear of another vehicle
For instance, news reports described a severe accident between a box truck and a light-duty Caltrans truck. The California Highway Patrol reported that the box truck rear-ender Caltrans truck. Two of the Caltrans workers experienced significant injuries; however, the box truck driver did not require medical treatment.
In addition to critical events, the critical reasons for a significant percentage of large truck accidents included driver error, vehicle issues, and environmental factors. Some common examples of driver error include the driver falling asleep, inattentiveness, risky decision-making, and poor performance. Associated factors include braking problems, traffic flow interruptions, roadway problems, and unfamiliarity with the roadway. In most cases, the combination of these factors can have deadly consequences.
Establishing causation requires the claimant to submit corroborating evidence. Physical evidence, such as video events, photos, and vehicle damage, can help substantiate a claim. Subsequent medical evidence such as diagnostic imaging, physical therapy logs and other medical records may show the type and extent of a claimant’s injuries. Finally, expert accounts may be necessary to supplement a claim, and eyewitness reports may bolster a case.
Issues may arise when an accident victim has a preexisting condition or illness. In these cases, they may experience challenges delineating their injuries. However, an attorney can gather appropriate evidence and present a compelling case to establish causation and fault.
Experienced California Car Accident Attorney
If you have suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligence, contact the experienced attorneys at the Neumann Law Group. The accident attorneys on our team have experience handling complex California truck accidents and have a long history of successfully representing accident victims in cases involving defective products, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and other similar personal injury claims. We have secured significant amounts of compensation for our clients for their medical expenses, property damage, ongoing pain and suffering, and reasonable funeral and burial expenses. Contact our office at 800-525-6386 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.
