Fresno Truck Accident Attorneys

Being involved in an auto accident involving a commercial truck can be a harrowing experience. Unfortunately, because of the large volume of motorists and the demand for commercial trucking services in the Fresno area, these trucking accidents are fairly common. Due to the size and sheer mass of large commercial trucks, these trucking accidents can have some of the most dangerous and drastic consequences to other vehicles sharing the road.

At Pacific Attorney Group, we are committed to helping victims of truck accidents, representing their interests and protecting their legal rights as we seek maximum compensation for their injuries. In addition to discussing your case with a Fresno truck accident attorney at our firm, you can find out more about these serious accidents by reviewing the subjects we have highlighted below:

Avoiding Truck Accidents

Interested in finding out what you can do to avoid being involved in a truck accident in the first place? Obeying traffic laws and following several safety tips can help you share the road with a large truck and may decrease the likelihood that you are involved in a serious collision.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Although each accident is unique and must be investigated on a case-by-case basis, there are a few common causes of truck accidents. These can include an overloaded cargo bed, inclement weather and road conditions, mechanical failure, limited maneuverability of commercial trucks, or incomplete truck driver training. Another potential cause is if the truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if the driver was under stress or overly tired.

Fresno Truck Accident Statistics

Did you know that there were 10 fatal truck accidents and 135 injury truck accidents in Fresno County in 2010? 12 people were killed and 238 were injured in these collisions. Reviewing truck accident statistics can help you understand how frequently these accidents occur and what contributing factors may lead to a collision. Our attorneys offer statistics for Fresno County, California and the entire U.S.

Overloaded/Imbalanced Trucks

When a truck is not loaded properly, this can make it more difficult to maneuver. An imbalanced load may cause a driver to lose control in otherwise safe circumstances, and an overloaded truck may take far longer to stop or may even cause brake failure or other hazards. Our lawyers help victims of accidents with overloaded trucks, imbalanced truck loads and improperly secured cargo.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers are sometimes required to work long hours in an attempt to meet a deadline, and this can prove extremely dangerous for anyone sharing the road with these tired drivers. Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to follow federal trucking regulations regarding hours-of-service, including regular breaks and rest periods.

Types of Truck Accidents

Head-on collisions, underride accidents, side-impact collisions and rear-end accidents – these are several of the common types of truck accidents. If you were injured in any type of truck accident in the Fresno area, you can find knowledgeable, friendly insight from a legal professional at Pacific Attorney Group. We can help.

Legal Help for Victims of Truck Accidents in Fresno, CA

As personal injury attorneys, we recognize the importance of offering knowledgeable representation to victims of truck accidents. If these victims are lucky enough to escape with their lives, they often survive with serious to catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and brain damage. It’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options, as you might be entitled to monetary compensation for physical, financial, and emotional injuries resulting from a truck accident.

Compensation can help you cover losses such as:

• Current & future medical expenses.
• Loss of wages.
• Loss of earning potential.
• Emotional trauma

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in the Fresno area, please contact the Pacific Attorney Group for a free case consultation. Our team is committed to providing aggressive representation through every step of your claim or lawsuit.

Truck Accident Statistics

It is a well-known fact that truck accidents can be serious, but just how frequently do they occur? How many people are injured and killed in these collisions? What factors may contribute to truck accidents? These are questions that can be addressed by reviewing truck accident statistics in Fresno and throughout California and the United States. If you are interested in learning more about these accidents and how they may impact you as a driver, pedestrian or cyclist, consider consulting a legal professional at Pacific Attorney Group. With a Fresno truck accident attorney to answer your questions and address any specific concerns you may have, you can get the insight that will help you make the right choices about your case.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS):

• n 2010, there were 214 fatal truck accidents and 5,065 injury truck accidents in California. 236 people were killed and 7,157 were injured in these accidents, a 175 increase in injuries and a 35 decrease in fatalities from 2009.
• There were 10 fatal truck accidents and 135 injury truck accidents in Fresno County in 2010, causing 12 deaths and 238 injuries.
• In fatal accidents where the truck driver was at fault, about 50% involved speeding. Other common causes of fatal truck accidents where the truck driver was at fault were: improper turning and failure to yield right of way.
• In injury accidents where the truck driver was at fault, 42% involved speeding, nearly 18% involved improper turning and 14% involved unsafe lane changes.
• Though injury truck accidents accounted for only 3.1% of all injury traffic accidents in California in 2010, fatal truck accidents accounted for 8.5% of all fatal traffic accidents in the state that same year.

According to statistics presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• In 2011, 287,000 large trucks were involved in traffic accidents across the United States. These caused 3,757 deaths and 88,000 injuries.
• Occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants (pedestrians and bicyclists) were far more likely to be killed in multi-vehicle truck accidents. In 2011, 93% of truck accident fatalities were occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants. Only 7% of fatalities were truck drivers.
• More than 80% of people injured in multi-vehicle truck accidents in the U.S. in 2011 were occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants. Only 18.5% of those injured in multi-vehicle truck accidents were truck drivers.
• In 2011, large trucks (weighing 10,000 pounds or more) accounted for 4% of registered vehicles in the U.S. and 8% of vehicles involved in fatal traffic accidents.
• 80% of fatal truck accidents involved multiple vehicles.
• The majority of fatal truck accidents occurred on weekdays (80%) and most of these occurred during the day (72%).

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

• The estimated cost of commercial motor vehicle crashes (including those involving large trucks) was $87 billion in 2011: $39 billion from fatal accidents, $32 billion from injury accidents and $16 billion from accidents causing property damage only.
• In 2012, there were 5.7 million commercial motor vehicle drivers licensed in the U.S.

Seek Guidance from a Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer

Getting helpful information and insight can make all the difference as you try to deal with the aftermath of a truck accident. Fortunately, our legal team can begin helping with a free and confidential consultation. All you have to do is call our offices; we’ll do the rest. We also handle truck accident claims in Fresno on a contingent fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call today!

Catastrophic Injuries From Truck Accidents

Truck accidents usually refer to large commercial trucks and big rigs. Because of the added mass of large trucks, truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries for pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, and other card drivers. Often times these truck accidents occur due to weather conditions, negligence, or wrongdoing of the truck driver or their company. This can include an overloaded cargo bed, inclement weather and road conditions, mechanical failure, limited maneuverability of commercial trucks, or incomplete truck driver training. Another potential cause is if the truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if the driver was under stress or overly tired.

How A Catastrophic Injury Attorney Could Help With Your Trucking Accident

Being involved in any truck accident can be a harrowing experience. Because of the size and sheer mass of large commercial trucks, these trucking accidents can have some of the most dangerous and drastic consequences to other vehicles sharing the road. If these victims are lucky enough to escape with their lives, they often suffer catastrophic injuries, including:

• • Brain Injuries
  • Head Trauma
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Multiple Bone Fractures
  • Internal Bleeding

• Crushed or Bruised Organs
• Nerve Damage

It’s important to consult with a Fresno catastrophic injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options, as you might be entitled to monetary compensation for physical, financial, and emotional injuries resulting from a trucking accident. These damages might include current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, emotional trauma, and maybe more.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident in the Fresno area, please contact the Pacific Attorney Group for a free case consultation.

Truck Driver Fatigue & Truck Accidents

Truck driver fatigue is a serious issue, one of such concern that there are federal regulations that set forth maximum hours of service for commercial motor vehicle drivers. In the absence of such regulations (or when these regulations are not followed), truck drivers may drive extremely long hours without sufficient breaks in an attempt to meet strict deadlines. This can lead to fatigue and decreased driving abilities. Extreme fatigue can affect judgment, reaction time and even vision, and in extreme cases a driver may actually fall asleep at the wheel and completely lose control.

Have you been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued truck driver? If you were involved in a collision with a large truck and noticed that the driver seemed extremely tired, confused or simply “out of it” you may have witnessed a situation where the driver was working too-long hours or was even under the influence of alcohol or drugs (even over-the-counter or prescription drugs may affect driving abilities). A Fresno truck accident attorney at Pacific Attorney Group can conduct a complete investigation into the matter to determine what happened.

Using hour logs, police reports, witness testimony and physical evidence, our team can work to recreate a collision in order to determine its cause. If driver fatigue was involved, we can look at what role the trucking company may have played and can work to hold any and all negligent parties accountable. Our goal will be to seek justice on your behalf so you can begin to rebuild and move on with your life.

Hours-of-Service Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has set forth strict hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicles, like large trucks. Trucks affected by these guidelines include any vehicles that are used for interstate commerce and that weigh more than 10,000 pounds. The following HOS guidelines apply to commercial truck drivers:

• There is an 11-hour driving limit for truck drivers. They may not drive more than 11 hours at a time, after 10 consecutive off-duty hours.
• In addition to this, a truck driver may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, after 10 consecutive off-duty hours.
• A truck driver may not drive more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or more than 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, though 34 consecutive hours of off-duty time may reset the 7/8 consecutive days.
• A truck driver must take at least one full 30-minute break every 8 hours. Truck drivers may not drive if more than 8 hours have passed since their last 30-minute break.

Driving cargo across cities and states can present a real challenge for truck drivers, specifically when they lose valuable time due to bad weather or traffic. They may be pressured to drive longer hours or may want to press on for their own reasons, to get home and see their families. Violating FMCSA regulations is dangerous, however, and it is often other motorists who pay the price when a fatigued truck driver causes a collision.

Get Experienced Help from Pacific Attorney Group

Occupants of passenger cars, pedestrians and bicyclists are far more likely to be injured in a truck accident than the driver of the truck. According to nationwide truck accident statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2011, truck drivers represented less than 7% of truck accident fatalities. Occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants (pedestrians and bicyclists) represented about 93% of truck accident fatalities. Similarly, truck drivers represented less than one in five truck accident injuries.

If you would like to find out more about your rights after a truck accident, call Pacific Attorney Group. We have more than 35 years of combined experience and are prepared to protect your interests in your case to help you recover fair financial compensation. Contact us today!

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Fresno, CA

What causes truck accidents?

As we already mentioned, the primary causes of truck accidents can be broken down into three primary categories: driver, vehicle and environment. Let’s take a closer look at these three issues:

Driver

Driver negligence is by far the leading cause of truck accidents and all traffic collisions throughout the U.S. Truck drivers have special licenses to operate commercial vehicles and must use their specialized training and knowledge to safely operate these large, heavy vehicles. Driving a large truck is far more difficult than driving a smaller vehicle, and truck drivers will therefore need to be more vigilant on the road. Visibility and maneuverability are greatly decreased in a large truck, which may weigh 10,000 pounds or more – even up to 80,000 pounds or more with an oversized load permit. Large trucks are also more affected by weather and road conditions, meaning a driver will need to take care in obeying the speed limit and other traffic laws to avoid losing control.

Some of the types of driver negligence that may lead to a truck accident include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Drunk driving
• Driving while distracted
• Texting or talking on the phone
• Following too closely
• Failure to signal when changing lanes
• Traffic sign/light violations
• Driving excessive hours, in violation of trucking regulations
• Encroaching into another vehicle’s lane

Vehicle

Large trucks need to be properly inspected, maintained and repaired to make sure they will operate safely on the road. Maintenance is required more often than in standard passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs because of the extreme strain that is put on braking, steering, suspension and other systems due to the large size and weight of the vehicle. Drivers and trucking companies share the responsibility to inspect and maintain vehicles; when they are negligent in undertaking these duties, they may allow an unsafe truck to take to the road. This is the equivalent of releasing a ticking time bomb on the road. An accident may occur as a result of brake failure, an improperly balanced load, an overloaded truck, steering system failure or other malfunction.

Environment

Large trucks are more affected by heavy weather and dangerous road conditions because of their size and weight. Strong wind, for example, may actually cause a truck to swerve into another vehicle’s lane on the road. In heavy rain, a truck will take even longer to slow down and come to a complete stop. A steep downgrade or sharp turn will be more difficult for a truck driver to maneuver, and if approached incorrectly may result in the driver losing control and causing an accident.

If you have been injured in any type of truck accident, you can find knowledgeable support from a legal professional at Pacific Attorney Group. We represent clients throughout the Fresno area who have been injured or have lost loved ones in traffic accidents involving large, commercial trucks, and we are committed to securing maximum compensation in every case we handle. This website was built to offer helpful insight regarding truck accidents and all other types of auto accidents and incidents that cause preventable injuries and wrongful deaths. Here we will look at the different types of truck accidents that may occur:

Head-on Collisions

A head-on collision occurs when the front ends of two vehicles collide, as the vehicles are traveling toward one another. This is often an extremely serious collision when it involves a large truck, as the higher truck cab can literally crush the windshield and roof of a smaller vehicle, collapsing it in on its occupants. Because the force of impact will be equivalent to the combined force of the two vehicles, this can make head-on truck accidents particularly severe.

Side-Impact Crashes

A side-impact or T-bone truck accident occurs when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Whether the truck strikes a smaller vehicle in the side or is struck in the side by a smaller vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. The larger size and weight of the truck may mean that the occupants in the smaller vehicle will feel the force of impact more than the truck driver.

Rear-End Collisions

In a rear-end accident, the vehicles are typically traveling in the same direction. The vehicle in front may slow or stop and the vehicle in the rear may then collide with the rear-end of the forward vehicle. This can cause serious damage when a typical passenger car and a commercial truck collide. One possible scenario, when a car rear-ends a large truck, is that the car will actually travel underneath the truck.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents are frequently known as the most deadly of all truck accidents. These occur when a smaller vehicle strikes the rear of a large truck and becomes lodged beneath the truck bed. The height of the truck bed makes this possible, and depending on the height the top of the smaller vehicle may be crushed or even sheared off. The occupants of the smaller vehicle are likely to sustain catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Truck Rollovers

A truck rollover occurs when a large truck actually tips and/or rolls over. If another vehicle is in the way when this happens, it may be crushed underneath the truck. Considering that a fully loaded commercial truck may weigh 80,000 pounds or more, this can have deadly consequences.

Drunk Driving Truck Accidents

Truck drivers face an already difficult task of maneuvering their vehicles on busy roads and highways, trying to keep up with deadlines and long hours. If a truck driver consumes alcohol and then gets behind the wheel, this can impact his or her reaction time, reasoning, vision, and driving abilities. Our attorneys help clients in Fresno who have been injured in truck accidents involving drunk drivers.

Addressing an insurance claim after a truck accident can be difficult. The insurance company of the truck driver and trucking company may attempt to lay the blame of the accident on your shoulders, or you may be offered an unfairly low settlement that does not cover all of your expenses and injuries. Make sure you have a qualified attorney to protect your rights and help you get a settlement or award that will actually make a difference as you rebuild and move on with your life. Contact a Fresno truck accident attorney today.

Hiring a Local Truck Accident Attorney

Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer

The individual factors that may contribute to a truck accident are virtually innumerable, from an improperly balanced truckload to a driver who falls asleep at the wheel, but these can often be broken down into three primary categories: driver behavior, vehicle failure,, or environmental conditions. Understanding the causes of truck accidents can help you get a better idea of what you can do to avoid being involved in such a collision. It can also shed light on what may have caused your accident if you have already been injured.

At Pacific Attorney Group, we are committed to helping victims of truck accidents across Fresno. We realize that these collisions may be impacted by unique factors that do not affect other types of traffic accidents, due to the size, weight,, and nature of commercial trucks, and we use this knowledge to our clients’ advantage as we seek maximum compensation for their insurance claims and lawsuits. The best way to find out what you can do after an accident with a big rig, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer is to ask a knowledgeable professional. A Fresno truck accident lawyer at our firm can offer insight based on your unique case.

Injured in a truck accident in Fresno? Call our firm

Whether your accident was the result of truck driver negligence, vehicle failure or another factor, an attorney at our firm may be able to help you. We work with accident reconstruction professionals, investigators, and other experts to analyze the exact cause of our clients’ collisions to determine fault. This is an important part of seeking maximum financial compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, emotional trauma, future loss of earnings and other expenses or losses our clients have suffered.

You can find out more about your case by calling for a free consultation and case review with one of our attorneys. We also handle Fresno truck accident cases on a contingent fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call Pacific Attorney Group today!

Avoiding Truck Accidents

Avoiding Truck Accidents: What You Can Do

Safety Tips for Sharing the Road with Large Trucks

You may be wondering what you can do as a driver to avoid becoming yet another victim of an accident with a large truck. As Fresno truck accident lawyers, we have seen the considerable amount of damage that these accidents can cause; we are committed to helping victims and their families seek justice against negligent truck drivers, trucking companies and other responsible parties. We also hope to help motorists avoid serious collisions by offering some safety tips for sharing the road with large trucks:

Be particularly aware and cautious as you approach a large truck, whether this is to pass the truck or if you are sharing the road in any capacity. It is far more difficult for the driver of a truck to see you than for you to see a truck, so do not assume that the truck driver can see you.

Avoid driving in a truck driver’s blind spots. If you cannot see the truck’s side mirrors, the driver probably cannot see you. Large trucks have large blind spots, and though you may have to travel through these when passing a truck or in other scenarios, be sure that you do not linger in such a spot – and give yourself space to maneuver out of the way if the truck swerves or turns.

Never try to pass a truck on the right while the truck is turning right. Trucks swing wide to the left when turning right, but this does not mean that you can pass on the right. You may be struck if you attempt this.

Do not cut in front of a commercial truck or other large vehicle. If you cut off a large truck, you run the risk of causing an accident that leaves you catastrophically injured. Trucks take longer to slow down and stop than smaller vehicles, so you may be putting yourself at unnecessary risk.

Take care when passing a large truck on the highway, using your turn signal and waiting until the entire cab of the truck is in view in your rearview mirror before signaling and pulling back in front of the truck.

Observe a truck’s turn signals and brakes and react accordingly. If you notice a truck is about to change lanes, do not try to speed up and pass the truck before it has a chance to move over. The driver may not be able to see you, and you may be placing yourself in unnecessary danger.

During heavy weather, give trucks more space. Place at least four to six seconds (or car lengths) between your vehicle and a large truck when it is raining, foggy or in other potentially dangerous weather conditions.

If you notice a truck driving erratically, call 911 and report this. The driver may be drunk, tired or otherwise unable to drive safely. Getting the driver off the road may save lives.

Fresno Truck Accident Attorney

Following the above safety tips cannot guarantee that you will not be involved in a truck accident, but it may decrease the likelihood. After all, it is best to do whatever you can to avoid traffic collisions, particularly those involving large trucks, as you are more likely to be injured than the truck driver. A big rig carrying a full load may weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds and may even be carrying hazardous cargo. In a collision, your vehicle may literally be crushed and you may sustain catastrophic injuries. Obey traffic laws and take particular care around large trucks and buses and you may be able to avoid a collision.

Looking for more information? Contact a Fresno truck accident attorney at our firm.

Commercial Trucks And Auto Accidents

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today

Commercial trucks play an important role in shipping and distributing goods throughout the country, but they also pose a potential hazard to other drivers on the road if they are negligently operated or maintained. At Pacific Attorney Group, we are committed to helping people who have been injured in auto accidents involving commercial trucks. We can offer knowledgeable counsel in these cases, which are often complicated not only due to the serious injuries involved but also because a commercial trucking company may be liable. Our Fresno car accident lawyers do not back down from even the most formidable opponents in these matters.

A commercial motor vehicle is a type of motor vehicle used for transporting passengers or goods. A commercial truck is a vehicle used to transport goods. To operate a commercial truck, a driver must have a special license, a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Commercial trucks can be more challenging to operate than regular motor vehicles and therefore require special training and skills. Some examples of vehicles that may be considered commercial rucks include tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, big rigs, fuel trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, and tanker trucks.

Some of these vehicles may weigh 80,000 pounds or more when fully loaded, and this makes them more difficult to maneuver and operate in a safe manner. They take longer to come to a complete stop, cannot make extremely sharp turns, and are more affected by strong winds. This level of weight also places far more stress on the engine, brakes, tires, steering system, and other parts of the vehicle, making proper maintenance of the utmost importance. The larger size of commercial vehicles can interfere with visibility as well. All of these factors can increase the likelihood of a collision – especially when the driver is negligent.

Fresno, CA Truck Accident Statistics

In Fresno County, California in 2010, there were 10 fatal truck accidents and 135 injury truck accidents. 12 people were killed and 238 injured in these collisions, meaning that these were likely to cause injury to multiple parties. Some of the causes of these collisions, when the truck driver was at fault, included:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Unsafe lane change
• Improper turning
• Failure to yield right of way to an automobile or pedestrian
• Traffic signal violations
• Unsafe starting or backing
• Following too closely

Speeding was by far the most frequent primary collision factor in fatal truck accidents, comprising nearly half of the violations. Unsafe lane change and improper turning were also frequent factors.

Who is more likely to be injured in a commercial truck accident?

The injuries that an occupant of another vehicle or a non-occupant (bicyclist or pedestrian) are more likely to be severe in a commercial truck accident due to the size discrepancy between the two vehicles or the vehicle and the victim. An 80,000-pound truck can literally crush a typical passenger car or motorcycle. A car can become stuck under the trailer of a large truck, in an underride accident. The principle at work here is this: in a collision, the smaller of the two objects will sustain the brunt of damage. While the driver of the truck may sustain no or minor injuries, the occupant of a smaller vehicle may experience catastrophic injuries.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics from 2011, 93% of the people killed in accidents involving large trucks (weighing more than 10,000 pounds) were occupants of other vehicles or non-occupants. Occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants accounted for more than 80% of injuries in truck accidents.

Now is the time to seek legal counsel if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a commercial truck. Contact a Fresno auto accident attorney today to get started.

Overloaded Trucks / Imbalanced Truck Loads

Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Fresno, CA

Large trucks are responsible for the transportation and distribution of goods across the United States, from lumber to gasoline to fresh produce. The manner in which trucks are loaded can have a considerable impact on their maneuverability and whether they are involved in or cause traffic accidents while transporting goods. Overloaded trucks, imbalanced truck loads and unsecured loads can present serious hazards for all motorists who share the road with these large vehicles.

If you were injured in an accident with a commercial truck in the Fresno area, call our firm. We take pride in offering only the highest quality representation to clients who have been injured in truck accidents, using our resources and knowledge to seek the best possible result. Whether we negotiate a settlement on your behalf or take your case to court for bad faith practices on the part of your insurance provider, we will do everything in our power to help you recover the compensation that will help you rebuild and move on. Schedule your free case review today and find out how a Fresno truck accident attorney at Pacific Attorney Group can help.

Truck Load Issues Can Cause Serious Accidents

An issue with the load a truck is carrying can place everyone on the road at serious risk, particularly if the cargo is toxic or volatile, like gasoline. Extremely large cargo can also present a risk if it is not properly secured or is imbalanced, like lumber or steel piping, because it could cause catastrophic collisions if it comes loose. The following are the three primary types of truck load issues that can

Cause Accidents:

Overloaded Truck

If a truck is carrying a load that is too heavy, this may compromise braking and maneuverability. The load a truck is carrying should not weigh more than federal regulations permit and should not exceed what the specific vehicle (based on make, model and number of axles) can safely carry.

Imbalanced Truck Load

Truckloads should be properly balanced. This directly impacts maneuverability, as a load that is too heavy on one side or that shifts during transport may cause a driver to lose control. In extreme cases, an imbalanced load could cause a truck to tip over, possibly on another vehicle.

Unsecured Cargo

The cargo a truck carries needs to be properly secured, in accordance with state and federal regulations. Unsecured or improperly secured cargo may cause the truckload to shift dangerously or may result in objects falling from the truck. Unsecured cargo can cause another vehicle to swerve and strike another vehicle or could actually penetrate the windshield and collide with the driver or passengers.

Contact a Fresno Truck Accident Attorney

Trucks may be carrying lumber, metal coils, concrete pipe, automobiles, heavy machinery, consumer goods, and other products that could cause considerable harm if they are not properly loaded and secured. The truck driver, trucking company, and/or loading company may be held accountable for negligence or wrongdoing in the loading of a truck that ultimately results in an accident. Trucking safety standards are in place for a reason, and when they are not followed to the letter other motorists and pedestrians may pay the price.

For experienced help with a truck accident claim or lawsuit, call our firm. It can be difficult to go up against a large trucking company when seeking compensation for a truck accident, and having a competent attorney by your side will show your opponent that you mean business. Instead of being taken advantage of through a low settlement or even having the blame for the accident wrongly placed on your shoulders protect your interests. Contact a Fresno truck accident lawyer today.

516 W Shaw Ave #200
Fresno, CA 93704-2515
(559) 734-6666