Grass Valley sits at the convergence of three major area highways, and area residents know these roadways often see a lot of traffic. If you have spent time driving on these highways, you’ve almost certainly noticed the high volume of large commercial trucks carrying food, consumer products, livestock, and other goods across the state. You are also likely to be familiar with the massive damages that these vehicles can cause when they are involved in a crash.

Because Grass Valley is located on three highways, residents who frequently drive on these roads have a significantly higher chance of being involved in a crash that includes a large truck. These vehicles’ massive size means that even accidents at low speeds can cause significant damage and leave people with severe or even deadly injuries. My job is to help people injured in accidents involving large trucks to recover compensation for the damages they have suffered.

Almost all large trucks are owned by companies that operate multiple large vehicles. These companies are very familiar with the risks of driving large vehicles and know that their vehicles are likely to cause major damages in the event of an accident. Because the possibility of a severe accident is a risk of doing business, these companies are typically prepared to respond to crashes right away. Their insurers will usually send a quick-response team to the accident site immediately. These teams will conduct their own investigation, including collecting evidence and taking statements from witnesses to protect the company from having to pay for any damages in the event of a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit.

Because these companies respond so quickly, having a lawyer on your side right away is often a critical part of seeking compensation for trucking accident damages. The sooner an attorney can begin working on your case, the better he or she can prevent companies from obscuring evidence and disclaiming responsibility for accidents.

Your Grass Valley truck accident lawyer should have extensive experience handling trucking cases and in-depth knowledge about how these cases work. Trucking accident lawsuits are not the same as collisions that involve only passenger vehicles because there are both state and federal regulations that truck drivers and companies need to follow. These regulations aim to keep truck drivers safe and alert and ensure that their vehicles are operating the right way. Violating any state or federal trucking regulations means that these companies are putting lives at risk.

Most truckers are not negligent drivers and do everything they can to ensure the safety of everybody on the road. However, it only takes one negligent driver to disregard safety regulations and cause an accident that leaves people with significant injuries. The trucking crashes that you hear about on the news are typically caused by a driver who neglects to properly follow safety regulations.

In many cases, drivers are pressured by their companies to push unrealistic schedules to reduce expenses. When drivers are pressured this way, they often can’t get enough rest and spend extended periods driving with very little sleep. Because sleep deprivation can affect the brain in a way that is similar to alcohol or drugs, this is hazardous driving behavior.

Other everyday negligent actions that can cause trucking accidents include:

• Not checking blind spots
• Driving over the speed limit
• Failing to maintain truck equipment
• Failing to screen the records of drivers
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Failure to inspect the vehicle
• Lack of training and/or supervision
• Poor route selection

The occupants of regular passenger vehicles are usually the parties that suffer the worst injuries in trucking accidents. Injured in trucking crashes often suffer trauma that leaves them with chronic pain, limited mobility, emotional distress, and more. In the worst cases, families can be devastated by the loss of someone they love. Some of the most common injuries involved in trucking accidents include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Organ Trauma
• Amputation Injuries
• Severe Burns
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Bone Fractures

Finding the right lawyer can be challenging. With so many ads on the internet, billboards, and television, knowing how to trust an attorney to effectively represent you can be challenging. However, there are a few key ways to ensure your Grass Valley truck accident lawyer has the necessary experience and skills to handle your case.

To find out how to make sure you can trust your attorney, check out this helpful YouTube video:

The injuries people suffer in truck accidents can be devastating. If someone you love has suffered a fatal crash involving a truck, please contact us at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400 so we can provide you with our free, friendly advice. See our past verdicts and settlements.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.7.23] Photo: ab ms cha [cs 823]}