Involved In A Trucking Accident In Fresno, CA?
You’re not alone. Trucking accidents have been on the rise since 2018…
Trucking accidents are on the rise across the United States. By 2030, it is estimated that the trucking industry may be the fifth-highest cause of death in the United States. Much of that additional mortality can be traced to new companies, whose crash and injury rates are distressingly high.
2018 saw a sharp increase in trucking registrations, which peaked during the pandemic. While registrations have only just recently started to slow, their crash rate, on the other hand, has done anything but. 2018’s trucking industry entrants alone were responsible for 1.3% of all accidents in just their first year of operating, which rose to 3.5% after 2021 (and hasn’t fallen since).
Trucking Companies Contracting & Subcontracting Drivers
Another part of the recent rise in registrations has been the nationwide tendency for trucking companies to turn to contracting and subcontracting, with individual drivers nominally operating independently – even if in practice they work exclusively for one carrier.
Commercial trucking companies may be using contracting to avoid liability, implementing a tactic designed to add a layer of legal distance between themselves and expensive lawsuits. It is also possible that this is just a savvy business decision to lower costs and raise profits. Whatever the reason behind this trend, it is not to protect other drivers or pedestrians that these trucks encounter every day on the road.
What Does This Mean For Victims Of Truck Accidents?
Trucking companies contracting and subcontracting drivers not only means more accidents – but also more complex personal injury litigation. Trucking accidents are not the best fit for every personal injury lawyer, but the attorneys at Carter Law Group have the experience needed and are poised to hit the ground running.
California, in particular, has seen some of the worst truck accidents in the United States. A tractor-trailer or eighteen-wheeler can weigh 20-30 times more than a normal passenger car. Due to their sheer size and weight, commercial trucks are dangerous and are virtually guaranteed to crush smaller vehicles and cause severe life-altering injuries.
What Damages Am I Entitled To If I Was Involved In A Trucking Accident?
If you were injured in a truck accident that was caused by the truck driver’s negligence, you have the right to obtain compensation for your losses. Victims of trucking accidents may be entitled to damages for:
- Past and Future Emotional Distress
- Past and Future Lost Wages
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Past and Future Medical Bills
- Loss of Consortium (if you are legally married and your spouse was injured)
- And More…
Determining liability after a truck accident can be quite difficult and become a logistical nightmare for an inexperienced truck accident lawyer. Not only do truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries, but they are also very complex from a legal standpoint because multiple parties can be held liable.
Truck accident injury claims involve commercial trucking companies and commercial insurance policies (sometimes several). For this reason, it is crucial for truck accident victims to take the right steps after an accident to ensure they receive fair and full compensation for their losses. The two most important things to do after a truck accident are to obtain immediate medical attention and retain an experienced trucking defense attorney to represent them.
Did You Sustain A Truck Accident Injury?
Carter Law Group is here to provide you with the legal resources you need to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Our firm understands the challenges that come with a truck accident injury. For this reason, we make it our priority to provide our clients with personalized legal services so that we can resolve their claims quickly and efficiently. This client-centered approach has helped countless individuals obtain fair and full compensation for their losses – and we’re prepared to do the same for you.
Are you ready to put your accident behind you? Contact Carter Law Group today by calling (559) 485-1212 to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate team of truck accident compensation lawyers!
