While virtually every collision has the potential to end in disaster, few crashes may be as dangerous as those involving commercial vehicles. With the increases to size and weight of most tractor-trailers, your vehicle may stand little chance of holding its own should the unthinkable occur.
There may be certain steps you can take to help reduce the chances of being involved in a truck accident while out on California roads. However, some factors could be beyond your control, and upon crossing paths with a negligent truck driver, you may have little to no time to escape to safety.
Safety risks
Truck accidents can occur under various scenarios, some of which tend to be more prevalent than others. Some types of negligence that may increase the chance an accident could occur might include:
- Drowsiness and fatigue: With demanding schedules that may lead to long hours on the road, truck drivers may be more likely to succumb to fatigue, and a drowsy truck driver may also be at greater risk of creating an unfortunate situation.
- Reckless driving: As commercial vehicles are significantly more difficult to maneuver, truck drivers who travel at excessive speeds or exhibit other forms of reckless behavior could also place your safety at risk in the process.
- Improper load management: Improper load management is another possible safety risk with commercial vehicles, as an imbalanced or unsecured load could create various hazards.
- Inexperience: Another common safety risk may pertain to a scenario in which companies fail to properly train truck drivers, as an inexperienced driver behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle could prove a recipe for disaster.
It is no secret that truck accidents can have devastating repercussions, and if involved in a similar incident, there is a chance you could suffer life-altering injuries in the process.
Seeking restitution
If a major truck accident leaves you with severe injuries and facing a variety of hardships in life, you might be wondering about the next steps to take to seek restitution. Since determining liability in a similar accident can be somewhat complex, it could be in your best interests to seek advice prior to initiating the process. Such guidance could help place you in a much better position to pursue the full amount of compensation you deserve and shift your focus toward entering the recovery period with peace of mind.