While commercial trucks are a critical element of America’s industries, they can be hazardous on the road. With California having its fair share of industries, commercial trucks are common on the state’s roadways, including in Sacramento, CA. Truck accidents account for approximately 10% of all annual accident deaths in the United States.

Truck accidents are some of the most dangerous road accidents, primarily due to these vehicles’ immense size and weight. Generally, truck accident victims, mostly occupants of other smaller vehicles, suffer severe injuries or even die. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento truck accident, we are here for you. Our Sacramento trucking accident attorneys at Heidari Law Group will help you recover compensation for your damages.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

While most truck accidents are caused by driver error, there are other causes of truck accidents, including mechanical failure and defective trucking products. Some of the common causes of Sacramento truck accidents include:

• Negligent Driving

Negligent driving involves situations where a driver acts recklessly on the road. It includes over-speeding, driving under the influence, and disregarding general traffic rules. Trucking companies may be responsible for some forms of negligent driving, including pressuring drivers to speed to save money and time. Negligent drivers also endanger other road users by carelessly overtaking and tailgating.

• Distracted Driving 

Distracted driving is another driver error and a common cause of truck accidents. It occurs where a driver is using the phone, adjusting the navigation system, tuning the radio, eating/drinking, or even grooming while driving. The driver may also be distracted by other road users, other objects, or activities on the road, including another road accident. 

• Poor Vehicle Maintenance

Despite federal requirements for truck companies to maintain their trucks and undertake regular inspections, mechanical failures due to poor vehicle maintenance are common. Due to their un-roadworthy state, the poorly maintained trucks often experiences mechanical breakdowns that increase the likelihood of a traffic accident, especially for other motorists.

• Defective Vehicle Parts

In addition to poor maintenance, trucks may also experience a mechanical failure due to defective parts or defective manufacturing. The defective parts or equipment, including faulty brakes and defective steering wheel, increases the potential of a truck being involved in a traffic accident.

• Overloading and Improper Loading

Truck accidents due to too much or an improper trailer load are a common occurrence on California loads. This is despite the existence of federal and state loading guidelines. Essentially, overloading or improper loading makes the truck unstable and hard to operate hence the increased likelihood of an accident.

• Bad Weather and Road Conditions

Truck drivers may find it hard to operate in poor weather conditions, including snow and heavy rains. Additionally, bad road conditions such as poorly maintained roads, potholes, and improper road signage can also hinder proper driving and increase the risk of a truck accident.

• Fatigued Drivers 

Fatigued driving is a huge problem for truck drivers who usually have to work long hours and cover long distances. According to studies, most truck drivers in the United States are sleep deprived, with most getting less than 5 hours of sleep per day. The lack of sleep increases the truck driver’s likelihood of causing an accident.

Additionally, most truck drivers work under immense pressure to deliver. To manage the effects of working long hours without sleep and under immense pressure, some truck drivers use stimulants and other addictive substances. These substances not only leave them fatigued but also impaired hence increasing their likelihood of causing serious accidents.

The government requires truck companies and drivers to comply with some laws to combat the issue of fatigued drivers. These regulations require commercial truck drivers to:

• Take a 30-minute break after driving for eight hours straight;
• Only drive 11 hours of any 14 hours and take 10 hours to break after 11 hours on the road has been reached;
• Operate a commercial truck no more than 60 hours in 7 days;
• And drive no more than 70 hours in 8 days and take a 34-hour break before starting their next work week after hitting that limit.

However, despite these and other industry regulations, truck drivers still operate beyond set hourly limits to get incentives for faster delivery. Accordingly, truck companies and drivers greatly endanger other drivers when they disregard these regulations.

Truck Accidents versus Car Crashes

Due to the truck’s enormous size and weight, truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, increased risk of death, and more property damage than a typical car accident. A truck accident involving a collision with a smaller vehicle usually leaves the other vehicle’s occupants with serious injuries or even kills them.

With victims of truck accidents suffering severe injuries and potentially requiring lifelong rehabilitation, their medical care costs also tend to be higher than a regular car crash. Consequently, truck accident claims involve large settlements and are likely to be more adversarial than typical accident claims.

With trucks carrying commercial loads of up to 100,000 pounds, accidents involving these vehicles tend to result in worse property damage than normal car crashes. Typically, a fully loaded truck has momentous force that increases property damage if it collides with another vehicle or slams into an object, including a building. 

What to Do After Being Involved in a Sacramento Trucking Accident

After a truck accident, the first and most important thing to do is to request an emergency response, including medical treatment and police assistance. Besides ensuring your safety, medical and police assistance will be critical when pursuing a truck accident claim, including providing evidence from the scene and a record of your injuries.

If you can, take pictures of the crash scene, including the position of the vehicles. You should also try to get the contact information of people who might have witnessed the accident. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you should not leave the accident scene, or move your vehicle before the police arrive. 

You should consult a truck accident attorney before talking with insurance companies or as soon as possible. A skilled truck accident attorney will help you get fair compensation for your damages. 

Contact a Sacramento Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has sustained severe injuries in a Sacramento truck accident, the at-fault party is liable to compensate you for damages. Despite the complexity of the truck accident claims process, there is no need to worry. Our skilled Sacramento trucking accident attorneys at Heidari Law Group have extensive experience helping victims of truck accidents. We are committed to helping you get the compensation you and your family need and deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about our services.

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