Types of Truck Accidents

Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers

While others should drive very carefully around big trucks, truck drivers must drive with extreme awareness and caution, as any wrong move can cause serious injury or death due to the truck's weight and size.

If your family has been victimized by a truck accident, Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, P.C. will aggressively pursue full compensation on your behalf. Contact our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers for a free initial consultation.

We can assist with the following truck accident cases:

Jackknifing - Eighteen-wheelers are prone to "jackknife" during sudden braking or turning. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, anti-jackknifing devices are no substitute for truck antilocks; they won't prevent wheels from locking up or provide equivalent handling stability. Defensive driving helps prevent jackknifing big-rigs.

Turning Accidents - Commercial vehicles are long and difficult to turn. A driver often must use two lanes of traffic to make a right turn to avoid running the rear wheels into parked vehicles or over a sidewalk.

Mountain Driving and Runaway Trucks - Truck drivers must utilize brake-check points at summits of grades. Brake failure and inexperience often result in runaway-truck accidents.

Truck drivers should use escape ramps when out of control on a downgrade. Although risking bodily injury or damage to their vehicle and goods, the alternative is unacceptable.

Long trucks driving in the mountains obstruct traffic and cause many fatal collisions when crossing both lanes to maneuver sharp curves.

Studies on accidents involving trucks with multiple trailers indicate that many truck drivers begin driving trucks with multiple trailers (doubles and triples) with little or no training.

As noted by the DOT, drivers must have adequate classroom and road training to control and maneuver multiple trailer configurations and semi-trailer combinations.

Construction Zone Accidents

Truck drivers must prepare to slow down or stop in highway work zones. Our firm has handled several fatal injury cases involving truck drivers unable to stop their truck in time after bending down to pick up a cell phone or other object.

Overloaded Trucks or Trailers

Overloading can strain brakes and tires. Towing a trailer with a weight heavier than the towing vehicle can cause loss of control, especially down hills.

Most preventable trucking accidents relate directly to driver performance. Trucking companies must select new drivers carefully, and adequately monitor existing drivers.

Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, P.C..