While people from all over the world venture to Napa, California, for the exceptional vineyards and beautiful weather, those involved in an accident with a large truck can have their day turn quickly. Because of the size and weight of these trucks, an accident can cause catastrophic personal injuries and property damage.

Large commercial vehicles can create further complications if the cargo is hazardous. At AutoAccident.com, we have represented injured individuals since 1982. If you have suffered injuries in an accident involving a large truck, we invite you to call our injury lawyers at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

When a truck is involved in an accident, the collision often involves a smaller vehicle, such as a minivan, SUV, or sedan. Because of the size disparity, the smaller vehicle can be absolutely destroyed, leading to significant damage to personal property and possibly fatal injuries for the passengers in the other car.

Those who survive this accident often end up with serious injuries requiring an extended stay in the hospital, perhaps in the ICU, and surgical procedures. This leads to large medical bills that can stress almost any family financially. The outcome is rarely good when a car accident involves a semi-truck or an eighteen-wheeler.

Accidents involving large commercial trucks in Napa can happen in various ways. Just like other motor vehicle accidents, truck collisions are often caused by the careless actions of one or more drivers. However, statistics show these incidents are often caused by a negligent trucker or trucking company.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Fatigued truck drivers
• Cargo that has been improperly secured
• Cargo that has resulted in an overweight truck
• A truck that has not undergone the proper preventative maintenance
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Drivers who are distracted by texting or cell phone use
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Driving negligently

In other cases, a lack of expertise in driving a commercial truck or training may be the cause. Our knowledgeable legal team will investigate to determine the cause of your accident and help you recover maximum compensation for all accident-related damages.

Because of the severe nature of a tractor-trailer, the government has imposed limits on how truck drivers can operate their vehicles. There are limits involving how many hours the truck driver can be behind the wheel in a given timeframe to ensure that these drivers get proper rest.

These limits have been imposed for the safety of the drivers and those around them; however, truck drivers are not unusual to drive more than these limits for product delivery deadlines or pay. This places themselves, their cargo, and other people on the road at serious risk when this happens.

Watch the following video to learn more about the types of damages that can be claimed in a truck accident lawsuit.

Because of the sheer size of trucks, these accidents often end in significant personal injuries and damage to personal property. If you have been injured in a truck accident, please contact our Napa injury lawyers at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. See a list of past cases on our verdicts and settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.22.23] Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash dr bw [cs 594] cha}