Santa Monica is home to some of the busiest freeways and roads in the nation. The high amount of traffic means a high number of large trucks and truck accidents. These vehicles may be the usual tractor trailers or semis, or they could be other trucks that require specialized skill and knowledge such as delivery trucks and vans, city maintenance and garbage trucks and more. When innocent victims are injured in an accident involving a truck, the situation can quickly become quite complicated as there are many different causes of truck accidents as well as many possible responsible parties.
So many things can happen to cause a truck accident, but a few of the more common ones include:
- Driver error including intoxication, night vision impairment, or fatigue.
- Truck mechanical malfunctions such as tire blowouts or brake failure.
- Trailer malfunctions such as overloading or improper connection.
- Items from the truck falling such as the carrying load or debris.
- Road hazards such as loose gravel, potholes, or disrepair.
In some cases, the responsibility will lay with the driver who either was personally driving dangerously, negligently or without regard for checking the safety of his truck properly. In other cases, the truck driver’s employer could be accountable particularly if they are responsible for the upkeep of the truck. Sometimes part of the fault can be that of the road companies who are supposed to maintain safe driving conditions of the roads. At times, the responsibility may be some combination of any or all of these parties.
Because the accountability must be proven in an accident and the situation can be very complicated, hiring a truck accident attorney immediately remains vital. A qualified truck accident attorney specializing in injuries resulting from truck accidents will have the type of experience necessary to not only determine the negligent parties but prove their negligence and help the injured party more successfully gain their rightful recompense. More importantly, they can make sure that every bit of evidence and expert knowledge required for the victim to win their case is preserved and presented.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck accident in Santa Monica or the surrounding areas, Ehline Law would like to help. Michael Ehline has extensive experience in the field of truck accident injuries and has successfully protected many victims from further victimization. His knowledge and drive result in much greater settlements for the victim each year. Ehline Law has offices conveniently located in Santa Monica for your convenience. For more information, please call (310) 237-6218.
