Every driver owes to other drivers what attorneys call the “duty of care.” Driving on our public streets and roadways requires drivers to observe traffic signs and signals, road conditions, and other factors to maintain the public’s safety. Taking seriously that duty of care is even more important for truck drivers. The speed and weight of 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers virtually guarantees disaster in the event of a truck accident. If you’ve been injured in a collision with a truck anywhere is southern California, speak with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney promptly.
Truck crashes are increasing, and a truck crash is much more likely to involve a fatality than a car crash. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than 3,400 people died in accidents involving large trucks in the year 2010; 72 percent of those deaths were occupants of a different vehicle. In response to the dangers that trucks pose on our highways, the federal Department of Transportation is putting a new rule into effect in October (2014). Trucks weighing over 13 tons that travel where speed limits are 55 miles per hour or higher will be required to have electronic control modules – speed limiters. The top speed for the limiters has not been decided, but earlier DOT proposals have suggested 68 m.p.h.
Many heavy trucks already have electronic control modules. Safety advocates claim that the devices could conceivably eliminate as many as 1,000 fatal truck accidents annually. The American Trucking Association (ATA) wants speed limiters on all new trucks, and the safety group Road Safe America (RSA) proposes retrofitting all big trucks made since 1990.
If you suffer a personal injury in a truck accident, get medical treatment immediately. If possible, take pictures of your injuries both before and after treatment. Keep copies of all medical, police, and insurance paperwork. Compensation for your injury is your legal right. A good personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case and give you the legal guidance you need. In southern California, if you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a truck, or if you are the survivor of a family member who has perished in a truck accident, speak to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.