Riverside California Trucking Accident Lawyer
Big Rig/18-Wheeler Accidents in Riverside, CA
The devastation caused by an accident with a large truck is often quite significant. A commuter car is just no match for the massive size and weight of these big rigs. We have seen an increase of these 18-wheelers on the roadways in the past few decades and the number of trucker accidents has also risen.
Have You Been Involved In an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident in Riverside?
An accident involving a commercial truck within Riverside is typically more complicated than a simple traffic accident. For one, there are more people involved, including both the driver and owner of the truck. Further, knowledge of the common reasons for trucking accidents, including restrictions regarding the truck, load, and the trailer, will all be helpful in determining the validity of your claim and presentation of your case.
Laws Pertaining to Truck Accidents in Riverside, CA
The trucking industry is controlled by federal regulations that establish a set of standards and can determine the responsible party in a given trucking accident. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains most applicable regulations. Fortunately, by working with a firm like the Duque Law Group you can put years of expertise in your corner to understand your rights under the law.
Who Is Responsible?
There is a large number of potential responsible parties in any truck accident. These include: the driver, the owner, whoever leased the truck from the owner, the manufacturer of the vehicle or any parts, shippers and loaders, etc.
Avoidance of Liability by Trucking Companies
In past years, trucking companies have tried to evade liability for accidents by distancing themselves from the drivers, equipment, and vehicles. They have the necessary permits to operate the vehicles, but they often do not own the equipment that is used to haul whatever is in the truck. They also hire drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. These practices enable them to shift the responsibility over to the people who owned the truck and who were driving them.
However, federal regulations have fortunately made it so that any company who owns a trucking permit is liable for any accident that involves a truck with its name or placard on the vehicle.
Accident victims historically had to rely on witness statements and police reports to understand the specifics of an accident. Now, data from high tech devices and information from government agencies are also available for greater understanding.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Riverside
The most frequent causes of truck accidents are driver error, mechanical failures, road design, weather conditions, and traffic signal failures.
Driver Error
This is by far the most common cause of trucking accidents; according to FMCSA, 88% of trucking accidents are caused by a driver’s action or failure to take action. The most frequent way that this happens is through driver fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Mechanical Problems
The second biggest contributor to truck accidents is equipment and mechanical issues. These can be design errors in the vehicles, manufacturing mistakes, or some other issue that interferes with the truck running smoothly. The majority of mechanical causes of these accidents are a result of a failure to maintain the equipment properly. These can include the following: jackknifing of a truck which is caused by the depowering or removing of the front brakes, failure of the brakes as a result of inadequate adjustments, blowouts of the tires because of wear and tear, truck rollover because of improper securing of the load distribution, defective steering, transmission failure, incorrect trailer attachment, defective lighting on the rears or sides of vehicles, and many more.
Getting Legal Help in Riverside, California
Truck accidents can be quite complicated because there are so many individuals involved. It can be quite difficult to navigate through the events and responsible parties without the help of someone who is knowledgeable and skilled with trucking law. If you have been injured in a truck accident in the state of California, the Duque Law Group has the expertise and experience to be able to help you figure out who exactly is responsible so that you can proceed with a strong case and get the reparations that you deserve for your suffering. You will want a personal injury attorney to help you in your case after a truck accident, and the Duque Law Group is here to help you.
Contact our Riverside County Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.
