Residents of Corning often have to contend with sharing the road with big rigs when traveling south to Sacramento or heading north toward Redding. Usually, their trips are safe, but when you or a loved one have been injured by a commercial vehicle, a Corning truck accident lawyer can help. Many 18-wheelers travel along the interstate. As more commercial trucks drive on public roads, there has been an increase in truck-related accidents.

To get the compensation you deserve following an accident involving a big truck, you must contact an attorney experienced in handling these cases. Considering that big trucks are subject to state and federal regulations, injuries will likely extend beyond the driver to the company that employs them, the truck manufacturer, or even a government entity. Determining who is responsible is essential so an injured party can acquire the compensation they deserve.

The attorneys at our firm can help you seek compensation if you are hurt in a big truck accident. Many Corning residents have been successfully compensated by the injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com, which has provided quality representation and service since 1982. As Corning truck accident lawyers, our office understands that hiring an attorney can be challenging, and we want you to know that we have the experience and legal talent to handle your case.

Our staff and legal team understand how difficult this situation is for you, including mounting medical bills and the inability to work on top of your pain and suffering. By filing a claim for financial compensation, you can heal from trauma without worry, knowing that you can recoup the losses.

It is not surprising to see serious injuries and fatalities when a big rig that weighs up to 80,000 pounds collides with an average vehicle that weighs less than 4,000 pounds. Truck drivers are subject to background checks and drug tests as part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Act. In addition to the number of driving hours, rest breaks and intervals between drives are also regulated.

The vehicle must also be inspected before heading out on the road, and the load must be checked. It may be possible to establish liability for the at-fault driver and the company that employs him/her if these regulations have been violated. However, establishing a solid claim for damages requires the assistance of an attorney specializing in truck accidents.

Truck drivers, their employers, or both are at fault for these accidents. An attorney in Corning can provide assistance to help an injured person obtain compensation in the following situations where negligence contributed to an accident:

• Driver shortage: Inexperienced drivers may be hired by some companies due to the massive shortage of truckers in the country. There is a problem with this since big commercial trucks have different handling characteristics and special considerations like no-zones. Inexperienced drivers are often more likely to be involved in accidents.
• Speeding: Truckers who speed to complete a delivery on time are often involved in all types of accidents, especially if they don’t have enough time for the trip or a traffic jam occurs.
• Tiredness: Truck drivers are on the road for long periods, which can lead to fatigue. Sometimes, the company may pressure the driver to deliver packages faster, causing fatigue and stress.
• Distracted driving: Distracted driving can occur when drivers spend much time on the road using their cell phones, fiddling with radios, and becoming mesmerized by gazing into the distance. A collision can be caused by any of these distractions.
• Drug use: Although few truckers drink while driving, some use drugs to keep alert during long hauls. Drug use can include illicit substances or prescription and over-the-counter medications. A driver’s reflexes and vision may be harmed by drugs, which interfere with their ability to make explicit judgments. It is possible to prove drug use caused a collision with the help of a Corning truck accident lawyer, which enables you to collect compensation.
• Maintenance problems: A truck accident can be caused by bad brakes, tires, or other problems. These types of problems can be caused by the trucker if he/she is the owner/operator or the company that employs the driver.

Truck accidents can include head-on or broadside collisions, like crashes involving passenger vehicles. A big rig accident may be hazardous in some circumstances. Among the various types of truck collisions are:

• Jackknife collisions: A jackknife accident occurs when a driver is inexperienced or does not brake properly. Jackknifed trucks can cause their trailers to slide around to one side, impacting other vehicles, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and others.
• Underride/override accidents: An override/underride accident occurs when a big rig runs over the top of a smaller vehicle, or a car goes underneath the semi. Many of these accidents prove to be fatal to those in smaller vehicles. Despite the requirement that big rigs have underride protection in the back of their trailers, they sometimes don’t operate properly. At times, the protective barriers are too old and no longer effective in keeping other motorists safe. When passengers in the smaller vehicle do survive, they often suffer severe trauma, such as brain and spinal cord injuries.
• Collisions in no-zones: Big blind spots are found around a big rig, especially down the trailer’s sides. If a truck driver doesn’t notice a vehicle pacing them on the side and tries to change lanes, it can cause a severe accident with injuries or fatalities.

Working with a Corning truck accident attorney can compensate you for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To support your injury claim, our investigators go to the accident scene as soon as possible to collect the needed evidence. Investigators examine the logbook for any indication the driver cheated or failed to follow federal or state regulations. Those records will be reviewed to determine whether a lack of maintenance contributed to the accident. In addition to looking for inaccuracies in the police report, investigators speak with witnesses.

The accident is reconstructed along with a search for traffic and business surveillance cameras that may have captured the event on video. We start working on building a solid case for our clients once the evidence has been gathered and analyzed. A lawyer can use evidence to prepare a case to present in a civil court case or to conduct negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf.

In this video, attorney Ed Smith explains how the company and others may share liability for a trucking accident:

If you have been injured in a truck accident, call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. Online inquiries are welcome as well. You can schedule a free, no-obligation review of your case with us, ask questions and learn about available recovery options.

Find out how our injury lawyers have helped others obtain fair compensation following a trucking accident by viewing our cases of Settlements and Verdicts.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.8.23] Photo attribution: by falco from Pixabay cd llo [1232]}