Alameda Truck Accident Lawyers

Alameda Truck Accident Lawyers

Massive semis are the largest vehicles that we regularly share our roadways with, and as such, they are involved in some of the most dangerous accidents. When a big rig off tracks and hits a bicyclist or pedestrian and is sprawled across the road in a traffic accident, it endangers everyone who travels on that road and not just the people involved in the primary accident itself. If you have been injured in a truck accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced Alameda truck accident lawyer on your side. 

Truck Accident Statistics

Truck accidents are not uncommon, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shares the following statistics (based on the most-current findings involving large trucks and buses), which demonstrate exactly how true this is:

• There were nearly 5,000 fatal truck accidents in 2017, which is up 9 percent from 2016 and is 42 percent higher than the fatal accident low of 3,432 deaths in 2009.
• Between 2009 and 2017, large truck fatalities increased by 40 percent.
• From 2009 to 2015, injury-causing truck accidents increased by 62 percent – from 60,000 to 97,000. 

These numbers indicate how serious truck crashes can be. 

Truck Driver Negligence

While many factors can contribute to truck accidents, truck driver negligence often plays a pivotal role, and such negligence can take any of the following forms:

• Distraction – Trucking can be a grueling job, with many long hours spent behind the wheel. When truckers allow their attention to wander from the critical task of driving safely, it can lead to dangerous truck accidents. Trucking is complicated work that involves considerable record keeping, and there are any number of additional distractions that continually vie for the attention of truck drivers.
• Impairment – Truck drivers are professional drivers who are held to more stringent professional safety standards, and one of these standards is a much lower tolerance for drug and/or alcohol usage. Impaired truckers are exceptionally dangerous truckers.

• Exhaustion – To drive safely, motorists must be alert and well-rested. The trucking industry is extremely fast-paced, and this is one of the reasons there are strict hours-of-service restrictions in place. When truck drivers take it upon themselves – or are pushed by their employers – to drive outside these limitations, dangerous accidents become more likely. 

• Speed – As mentioned, the 18-wheelers that we share our roads with are massive, and when you mix their immense size with excess speed, it not only makes accidents more likely but also makes them more dangerous. Speed plays a critical role in many of the most devastating accidents on our roads.

An Experienced Alameda Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you’ve been injured by a truck driver’s negligence, the truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Scott Righthand in Alameda are committed to working closely with you – in protection of your rights and in pursuit of the compensation you need. Our decades of experience informs our work, so please don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation by contacting us today.