Large Truck Accidents

A “large truck” is defined as weighing 10,000 pounds or more. Due to their massive size and heavy weight, trucks can cause serious damage and death, when involved in traffic accidents. They can typically weigh 30 times more than a passenger vehicle, so most deaths in large truck accidents are passenger vehicle occupants. Our San Diego truck accident attorneys are experienced in bringing claims on behalf of people struck by large trucks.

Trucks account for 4% of all vehicles on the road but they account for 9% of all fatal vehicular accidents in the U.S. Fatal truck accidents occur nearly 10 times every single day in the nation resulting in nearly 4,000 deaths each year, and this number has been on the rise since 2009. The average cost of a fatal truck crash is well over $3 million.

More than 100,000 people are injured in approximately 88,000 large truck accidents per year. They are also responsible for 345,000 property damage crashes annually (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). Unfortunately, it is estimated that only about 10% of all trucks on the road have some kind of active safety technology (American Trucking Associations).

Most of the time (60%), when a truck is involved in an accident it is not the fault of the truck driver, typically accidents are caused by drivers in other vehicles. When there is truck driver error the top two causes of accidents are speeding and distraction/inattention. Big rigs require a much longer stopping distance, especially when fully loaded, so truck drivers need more time to react when they have to slow to avoid a crash. Speed is the common factor in truck rollover crashes in San Diego and elsewhere, although an attorney can investigate what caused your crash.

Driver fatigue is responsible for roughly 30% of all large truck accidents. Large truck drivers can drive up to 11 hours at a stretch and up to 77 hours over a seven-day period, and many drivers violate federal regulations and work longer than that. Drivers on the road for more than 8 hours have twice the risk of being in an accident.

Of the more than 3 million inter-state truck drivers on the road today, many should not be allowed to be there. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, almost 5% of drivers and 20% of vehicles were taken out of service for having too many violations in 2012.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a large truck or bus in the San Diego area, Walton Law Firm can help. Our lawyers can assist you in reaching a settlement with the other party’s insurance company, or if required, we can represent you in a lawsuit. If negligence is proven, you are entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, car damage, lost wages, pain, suffering and inconvenience.

Our firm has successfully represented individuals and families who have been victims of all types of car accidents for two decades. It is a service our lawyers love to provide. If you think you have a case following a crash in San Diego, we would be happy to provide a free consultation with an attorney and give you our honest opinion. Or, if you prefer, you can submit a confidential question online and we will promptly respond. You can reach us at 866-607-1325 or locally in San Marcos at 760-571-5500.