Big Rigs roar through the east end of Panorama City both north and south on the 5 Freeway. Some of those roll though the streets dropping off or picking up goods from local stores and businesses. While these big trucks are vital to the local economy, they can also be dangerous.

At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we know how much damage a big rig can do to vehicles like motorcycles, cars and pickup trucks or even cyclists and pedestrians. Studies show that truck drivers are less likely than other drivers to cause an accident, but all it takes is one mistake to put your whole life on hold.

What Makes a Truck so Dangerous?

The biggest risk to others on the roads and highways is the size and weight advantage that a big rig has over just about everything out on those roads. Passenger cars and trucks, cyclists, and pedestrians all have certain risks that are associated with these big commercial trucks, some of which are:

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  • Blind Spots: The bigger the truck, the more blind spots there are, and the bigger they are. This makes it risky for anyone around a truck who isn’t vigilant.
  • Difficulty Stopping: It takes a truck almost twice the distance to stop than a typical passenger vehicle. Where most vehicles can avoid an accident, sometimes a truck’s weight and size make that impossible.
  • Right, Hook: When a truck turns right, it has to swing out to the left to make room for the back tires. Many times a car or a cyclist will enter the open space thinking the truck is going to turn the other direction and get crushed.
  • Lane Changes: When a truck changes lanes, it’s blind spots become an issue, and a truck needs a lot of room to safely execute the move.
  • Driver Mistakes: Truck drivers suffer from fatigue, distractions and sometimes they have problems with impairment. While statistically low, any one of these can be the cause of an accident.

Commercial Trucks and Liability

In California, each driver has to have a minimum coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury and $30,000 for each accident making it one of the lowest coverage requirements in the U.S. This doesn’t cover all the bills and damages for many accidents, but when a commercial truck driver is at fault, then the law requires the truck to be insured for much higher amounts.

While no one wants to get into an accident, this does allow for more of the losses to be compensated. By federal and state laws, smaller trucks with lighter loads are required to have around $300,000 in coverage, while larger trucks with hazardous loads can be required to carry up to $5 million. Most truck policies are in the $750,000 to $1 million range of coverage.

Types of Truck Accident Injuries

At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we understand how serious an accident with a truck can be, and we have helped many victims recover financially from a collision with a big rig. We know that each accident is different, and the injuries that the victim endures can make a significant difference in how the claim is handled.

We don’t have a one size fits all approach when making a claim for compensations, rather we look at how the victim’s injury will impact him or her now and in the future.

Over the years we’ve helped clients with many types of injuries from a truck accident, and some of the more common those are:

  • Blunt Force Trauma
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Broken/Displaced Ribs
  • Compound Fractures
  • Chest Compressions
  • Organ Damage
  • Nerve Damage
  • Internal Injuries
  • Deep Lacerations/Bleeding
  • Airbag injuries

Call a Panorama City Personal Injury Attorney Today

The best thing to do when injured in a commercial truck accident is to talk to Panorama City Personal Injury Attorney. Even if you don’t hire one, you owe it to yourself to be advised of the law by an impartial professional. Then if you decide to get representation, choose someone who is experienced and understands the law.

Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with every type of motor vehicle accident, and we get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve.

 

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