By their very design, commercial trucks are much, much different than any other vehicle on the road. Truck drivers who are permitted to drive 18-wheelers and big rigs for their work need to be masters of their craft to help prevent truck accidents. However, as it might not surprise you, many truckers are not great at controlling their larger vehicles.
Indeed, it is not uncommon for trucking companies to put just about anyone behind the wheel of a big rig, even if they have no training or experience. Last year, a truck driver shortage began and it is still causing problems this year. To try to get vehicles onto the road again, trucking companies are hastily recruiting just about anyone with the slightest interest in becoming a commercial trucker. Training takes time, and it is time most companies are not willing to lose, so the result is more inexperienced and minimally truckers may be on the road now more than ever.
Inexperience behind a truck’s wheel may cause various truck accidents, such as:
- Jackknife accidents: If the brakes are slammed harshly in a commercial truck, then it is likely that all the momentum of the massive vehicle will overcome the strength of the braking system. The result is a jackknife accident, in which the trailer continues to swing forward and to the side as the tractor comes to a halt. The entire trucks fold up like a jackknife, often causing mayhem across all lanes of the highway.
- Rear-end collisions: Inexperienced truckers are not likely to understand their vehicle’s minimum safe braking distances. The result can be a preventable rear-end collision at a stop sign or red light due to trying to brake too late.
- Rollovers: Rounding a corner too sharply, or driving through a high wind area, while there is a top-heavy load in the trailer can cause a truck to flip onto its side. Rollover accidents are extremely dangerous for smaller vehicles in adjacent lanes.
- Underride accidents: Truck drivers must be careful to always check their mirrors when merging, turning, or changing lanes. All such motions must be made slowly, too, allowing other drivers time to get out of the way. An untrained trucker could be hasty and trap a smaller vehicle under their trailer in what is known as an underride accident.
In a Truck Accident? Get Real Legal Fighters On Your Side
Biren Law Group of Los Angeles has been fighting for the rights of truck accident victims and their families for more than 40 years. It is simply inexcusable for trucking companies to inadequately trained truckers to start hauling cargo, despite them knowing the immense danger it creates for others. It is our hope to provide representation to people in need, not only to help them get fair compensation for their damages but also to deter the same negligent mistakes from being made by trucking companies in the future.
When you work with our truck accident lawyers, we know to look at more than just evidence of the truck driver’s poor operation of their big rig that caused the crash. We also investigate the trucker’s history of training, or lack thereof. If it can be found that their training was significantly inadequate, as it is in many cases, then it can be argued convincingly as a contributing cause of the accident to benefit your claim and raise their liability.
Think you have a valid truck accident claim? Let our Los Angeles law firm know. Call (310) 896-4345 or contact us online now.