If you live in Van Nuys, you’ve seen all sorts of commercial trucks rolling through and around your neighborhood. These trucks are essential to our economy, but the can also be a significant risk to Van Nuys residents commuting to work or running errands around town.

A fully loaded semi-truck weighs around 80,000 lbs, whereas a passenger car weighs from 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. When a passenger vehicle collides with one of these trucks, the results can be devastating for the car and its occupants.

Problems Drivers Face with Commercial Trucks

Van Nuys is a community in the heart of northern Los Angeles. Many of its residents have jobs in the city and are on the roads every day with the big rigs and other large commercial trucks. Because of the size difference, drivers face certain challenges traveling alongside these trucks.

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Some of the most common challenges are:

Blind Spots: A truck has many blind spots because if it’s size. Even with all those extra mirrors, the driver can’t see every car around the truck.

Difficulty Stopping: When the trucks are loaded, they can take almost twice as far to stop than a small passenger vehicle. Many drivers will dart in front of trucks, stop suddenly, and put themselves in harm’s way.

Turning: When a truck turns, it has to swing out the opposite direction to make room for the back tires. Many times a car will enter the open space thinking the truck is going to turn the other direction. Also, trucks can take much longer to execute a turn than a typical vehicle.

Lane Changes: Trucks need a lot of room to change lanes, and they have large blind spots. Car drivers should drive courteously when sharing the roads with trucks, allowing trucks the required space to change lanes.

Driver Mistakes: Drowsy driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, unbalanced/unsecured loads, and distractions are just some of the mistakes a truck driver can make that puts others on the road in jeopardy.

Types of Truck Accident Injuries

Truck crashes can do a lot of damage before the truck comes to a halt, and because of this, some of the injuries can be severe. Some of the most common types of injuries in a truck accident are:

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

Commercial Trucks and Liability

Because truck injuries can cause severe injuries, many times the bills and financial losses faced by the victim can outstrip the typical amount of insurance coverage. Fortunately, federal and California law both require larger insurance policies for large commercial trucks.

The typical passenger car driver in California is required to have insurance, but the minimum policy amount is only $15,000 for bodily injury and $30,000 for each accident. The required coverage for commercial trucks is much larger and the required insurance amount depends on the size of the truck and the type of cargo.

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.

Who is at Fault?

Statistics show that truck drivers are generally safer drivers causing fewer accidents than the average driver for the same amount of miles driven. However, when a truck does get into an accident, the risk of death and serious injury is also greater.

California law looks at the conduct of each driver prior to the wreck and assigns a percentage of fault based on the negligence of each driver. When it comes to determining truck driver negligence, the law gives truck drivers a greater burden because of the size of their vehicles and the weight of their load.

For example, they are required to be aware of their size and how difficult it can be to navigate a truck. They are also required to secure their load and make sure they operate their vehicle with the caution that is due to others considering the circumstances that exist on the road.

Call a Van Nuys Personal Injury Attorney Today

The best thing to do when injured in a commercial truck accident is to talk to Van Nuys Truck Accident Attorney. Even if you don’t hire one, you owe it to yourself to be advised of the law by an impartial professional. 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 truck accidents, 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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