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Our Firm
KERN COUNTY TRUCK ACCIDENT Attorneys
Servicing the central valley from BAKERSFIELD TO FRESNO
The representation of individuals injured due to negligence, malpractice, or faulty semi-trucks, big-rigs, or 18-wheelers is one of the most challenging and rewarding specialties in the practice of law. At B&D Injury Law Group, APLC, we love what we do. This passion manifests itself in the dedication our California personal injury lawyers bring to our clients. Our outstanding results, including multi-million dollar verdicts, speak for themselves. If you are ready to seek justice after a serious truck accident or injury that was no fault of your own, trust our team to fight for you.
Accidents in large commercial trucks require a very different approach to issues than normal automobile accidents. The Kern County truck accident attorneys of B&D Law Group, APLC have decades of experience in understanding the nuances involved in semi-truck and tractor-trailer accidents. At B&D Law Group, APLC, we have the knowledge and resources necessary to pursue your truck accident case.
Commercial truck accidents are not quite as common as accidents among automobile accidents, but when these accidents do happen, the outcome can be catastrophic. According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), of the approximately 450,000 police-reported large truck crashes in 2017, there were 4,237 (1%) fatal crashes and 344,000 (23%) severe injury crashes. Catastrophic truck crashes tend to occur on Interstate highways, with the majority of fatal crashes occurring in rural area, like Kern County.
Types of Commercial Truck Accidents
Truck accidents mainly differentiate from car accidents because of the size of the semi-vehicle and by how they are used. Truck accidents normally involve commercial vehicles. The lightest commercial trucks can already weigh between 10,000 and 14,000 pounds, and the largest trucks can weigh more than 33,000 pounds! In comparison, the average passenger car only weighs 3,000 pounds, so you can imagine a collision between a car and truck can be disastrous. The following are some of the common types of Kern County truck accidents:
- Jackknife – This is when a vehicle such as a truck or tow trailer stops suddenly and the trailer swings out to the side, with the potential to turn and face in the opposite direction. Jackknifing vehicles may be caused by equipment failure, improper braking, or unusual road conditions such as an icy road.
- Underside – When a large truck stops without proper warning, a smaller automobile traveling behind may not have warning to stop as well. This can lead to the trailing automobile to end up underneath the rear of the truck’s trailer.
- Rollover – Trucks can rollover just like any other automobile. A truck can tip onto one side and roll from one side to another. Once the rolling starts, it is very difficult to stop and can cause severe damage along its path.
- Tire blowouts – The massive weight on big-rig trucks and semi vehicles makes tire blowouts very dangerous. It is impossible to maneuver or manage large trucks with tire blowouts. A blown tire can lead a truck to rollover or worse.
- Blind spots – Because large commercial trucks are so large, their blind spots are much larger too.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED KERN COUNTY TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURY ATTORNEY AT (559) 588-1000
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By Licensed Truck Accident Attorney
Top Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents
Factors that influence the occurrence of a truck accident may take place hours, days, or months before the incident. This includes insufficient driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway conditions and weather conditions. There are other factors that can affect the outcome of a truck collision that occur immediately before a crash such as braking suddenly, a tire blows out, or the roads are wet and slippery from rain. The FMCSA reports these top potential factors as causation for major truck accidents:
Brake Problems
Brake problems are some of the most common issues for vehicle owners. Brake systems have many parts that wear out over time and use and need to be replaced every few years. In a brake system, brake pads, rotors, brake shoes, and brake fluid require the most frequent replacements. Since brakes are such a common area in which truck experience problems, all drivers should familiarize themselves with the causes. If not caught in time, brake problems can put drivers at serious risk.
There are two general failure modes for brakes: They aren’t engaging well enough, or they aren’t disengaging. Then there are minor issues such as brake squealing, brake shudder/pulsing, burning smells, leaking fluids, pulling to one side, and more.
Soft Pedal – This is when the brake pedal is easy to push but there is less braking. This can be caused by:
- Low brake fluid
- Air in brake fluid
- Bad master cylinder
- Bad caliper/wheel cylinder
- Blown brake line
- Bad residual valve
- Fluid leak in system
- Boiled brake fluid
- Bad wheel bearing
Hard Pedal – This is when it takes much more pressure to get the same amount of pedal and braking force. This can be caused by:
- Bad power booster
- Vacuum hose leak
- Bad check valve
- Collapsed vacuum hose
- Seized caliper
- Extremely worn brake pads
Dragging Brakes – If there is a burning smell from the amount of heat a dragging brake generates, the brakes on the truck may be failing to disengage completely. Driving with the brakes dragging is unsafe and will result in more damage if not repaired.
Shudder or pulsing brakes – This is caused by warped or bent rotors. Rotors are normally flat and smooth, and as the brake pads clamp down on them, the truck’s wheels stop. When the rotors are warped, brake pads can’t clamp the rotor as easily.
Squealing brakes – Loud, high-pitched noises coming from the brakes is in indicator that there is less than 25% of the brake pad left and that pads and the rotor are making metal-on-metal contact. Squealing brakes could also mean that the rotor is warped.
Traffic and Flow Interruption
Traffic is a major cause of truck accidents. Many people today are always rushing to get from point A to point B. Both trucks and cars speed, tailgate, swerve, make unsafe lane changes, and take risky routes. Becuase commerical trucks are so heavy in weight, it makes it extremly difficult to correct a mistake made on the road. Additionally, if there is a sudden congestion or flow interruption up ahead, it is very difficult for a large semi-truck to make a sudden stop.
Prescription and recreational drug use
Truck drivers have very challenging jobs that involve driving long distances with little to no rest. A recent study done by Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil found that 30% of truck drivers admitted to taking stimulant drugs on the job, 20% reported they used marijuana and 3% used cocaine. These drugs might give temporary relief to tiredness, but can eventually increase sleepiness, decrease concentration and could lead to accidents.
Many common medications and over-the-counter drugs that truck drivers take regularly also can cause impairment. These medications regularly come with warnings about driving while on them. Some legal drugs that can affect the alertness of truck drivers include:
- Stimulants
- Sedatives
- Antidepressant medication
- Seizure and Epilepsy medication
- Antihistamines/Allergy medicines
- Sleep-aid medications
- Anxiety medication
- Narcotic analgesics
- Diet pills and natural weight loss supplements
- Energy drinks
- Medication to reduce cholesterol
- Cough, Cold, and Sick Medications
Types of Commerical Truck Accident Injuries
These types of truck accidents can be disastrous. If the wreck doesn’t kill the victim, it often leaves victims with horrific injuries that take years to recover from, or even death. Many Kern County truck accident victims that come to B&D Law Group, APLC have found that their quality of life after their accident has greatly decreased. Common truck accident injuries include:
- Back and Neck injuries
- Broken Bones
- Head Injuries
- Internal Injuries
- Lacerations
- Rib and Torso Injuries
- Seat Belt Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
- Wrongful Death
If you or a loved one have been involved in a tractor-trailer or truck accident, please contact the skilled Central Valley tractor-trailer accident attorneys at B&D Law Group, APLC. We will work to ensure that you get the recovery you and your loved ones are entitled to.
KERN COUNTY
Kern County is one of the fastest-growing areas in California in terms of population. The county covers the southern end of California’s Central Valley. Its northernmost city is Delano, and reaches down to the Grapevine and eastward towards Antelope Valley. Kern County encompasses the entire Bakersfield Metropolitan area. Kern County is also known as “The Golden Empire,” because of its history rooted in California’s gold, oil and agricultural production. All of those traveling transversely through California will pass through Kern County, as it hosts the major California freeways of Interstate 5 and Route 99.
GET THE HELP YOU NEED FOR YOUR KERN COUNTY TRUCK COLLISION CLAIM
Successful truck accident claims must take into account highly technical state and federal regulations applicable to trucks and commercial vehicles. In addition, liability often rests on others, such as the trucking company, its management, or mechanical problems. Our experienced Kern County truck accident lawyers understand that trucking accident liability cases are often much more complex than simple automobile collision cases or other types of personal injuries cases. Insurance companies fight these claims harder than any other claims, and you need aggressive attorneys on your side to protect your rights. Our staff is prepared to investigate, and aggressively pursue your truck accident case. We don’t shy away from “problem” cases as other firms may.
If you have been involved in a tractor trailer accident or lost a loved one in a collision with a large truck please contact B&D Law Group. Our experienced Kern County truck accident attorneys have a wealth of experience helping victims of semi tractor-trailer rollovers, 18-wheeler accidents, semi jackknife accidents, and other accidents. We can assist you in getting the maximum recovery for your lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and other related costs resulting from your accident.
Call (888) 977-2238 or contact us online to schedule your free case consultation now.
THE B&D LAW GROUP, APLC
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