Malibu Truck Accident Lawyers
After Texas, California holds the dubious distinction of having the nation’s largest number of truck accident fatalities and injuries. If this has happened to you in Malibu, it’s important to remember that the lives of truck accident victims, and their families can change forever. Some victims succumb to injuries, possibly paving the way for a wrongful death lawsuit by family members. Other truck accident victims will need months or years of rehabilitation; they may never live independently again, be gainfully employed, or even work in the same field. You need to contact Los Angeles personal injury lawyers.
A Los Angeles truck accident lawyer conducts an investigation of the truck accident, including reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, and inspecting truck maintenance records. We fight hard so our clients receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries and long-term care.
Truck Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 2,910 people lost their lives in combination truck accidents in 2017. A combination truck is another term for a tractor-trailer, or big rig. Another 1,430 individuals were killed in single truck crashes that year. The USDOT defines single truck as “a medium or heavy truck in which the engine, cab, drive train, and cargo area are all on one chassis.” Nationwide, there was a total of 4,237 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2017.
For 2016, the latest year for which data is available, 76,000 people were injured in combination truck crashes and 70,000 were injured in single truck crashes.
Where Truck Accidents Happen
According to the USDOT, truck crashes most often occur on interstates and in rural areas. Most crashes happen Monday through Friday, with roughly one-third occurring at night. Such collisions are most likely to happen where traffic flows two ways without a divider, followed by two way traffic that is divided but with an unprotected median. The third most common site concerns two-way traffic with a median barrier, while the fourth is undivided two-way traffic with a continuous left-turn lane.
Truck Accident Causes
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, most truck accidents are due to driver error. That includes:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Inexperience
Other common causes of truck accidents include Inadequate maintenance, cargo overload, inclement weather or poor road conditions which can result in tire blowouts, jackknifing, rollovers and a driver’s inability to control the vehicle.
Catastrophic Injuries
A truck accident victim is lucky to be alive because it is likely the injuries they suffered were catastrophic such as severe injuries to the brain, spine or spinal cord. Spinal or skull fractures are also considered catastrophic as well as well as loss of limbs and severe burns. The bottom line is that catastrophic injury changes the victim’s life permanently.
Contact a Malibu Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a truck accident, you need the services of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney at Ellis Injury Law. Call us today at 888-784-4307 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation. While most cases are settled, we do not hesitate to go to trial if necessary.