Truck accidents typically result in much more serious injuries than automobile accidents. In the Central Valley, Stockton residents know full well the amount of tragedy can be reduced by a truck accident whether it is on Interstate 5, Highway 99, frontage roads or smaller state highways. According to the California Highway Patrol, nearly 300 people lost their lives in accidents involving commercial motor vehicles in 2015 and an additional 6,000 incurred injuries. Residents of Stockton, Modesto, Manteca, Merced and the entire San Joaquin Valley witness the huge numbers of trucks that are on their city streets of local freeways every day. Both Highway 99 Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 are regularly jammed with commercial motor carriers hauling goods and materials up and down the state through the Central Valley. The death and injury that these vehicles produce when they lose control, rollover, spill their loads, get sideways on wet roadways or travel too fast in the fog are annually occurring events. These the citizens of Stockton, Modesto, and the San Joaquin Valley who are the victims of these serious accidents often require lifetime medical care intensive rehabilitation and nursing care and vocational rehabilitation. Oftentimes lives are changed forever and not for the better.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of truck driver negligence and sustained injuries in an accident with a commercial motor carrier traveling locally or a semi-truck on Highway 99, Interstate 5, Interstate 205, or a local rural Road, contact the Stockton truck accidents attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger today and schedule a free review of your legal options.
Stockton Truck Accidents and Traffic Information
Stockton is at the “crossroads” of the San Joaquin Valley. With Modesto and Merced to the south agricultural loads head to and from Southern California. To the north, the Sacramento Valley and the northern part of the state are accessible for agricultural products shipped via truck Stockton is home to an extensive network of both interstate and state highways which make its agricultural products accessible to virtually the entire country. Two of California’s primary state thoroughfares, Interstate 5 and State Route 99, pass through the city of Stockton. State Route 4 also runs through Stockton and its suburbs leading to Contra Costa County, the East Bay the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada. Finally, State Routes 26 and 88 lead to the Nevada border.
Is the major agricultural producing area in the state, vegetables, produce and manufactured goods travels throughout the San Joaquin Valley view trucks large and small. In fact, 78% of the state’s communities rely exclusively on highway freight to move goods in and out of their cities. This increasing the number of truck accidents that occur throughout California.
Unfortunately, logbook violations are a contributing factor in many Stockton truck accidents. Whether a driver is fatigued from driving for too many hours or he or she fails to check tire pressure before a shift, failing to adhere to FMCSA regulations can lead to dangerous and potentially catastrophic scenarios.
Rules Governing the California Trucking Industry
Truck drivers in California must abide by both federal and state laws. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets certain guidelines regarding driver conduct and vehicle maintenance. For example, truck drivers must take mandated breaks, can only drive a certain number of hours per day, and even have rules regarding the amount of rest they must receive each night. They also must keep up with routine vehicle maintenance and record all of this activity in a logbook, which a police officer may request to see at any time.
Unfortunately, logbook violations are a contributing factor in many California truck accidents. Whether a driver is fatigued from driving for too many hours or he or she fails to check tire pressure before a shift, failing to adhere to FMCSA regulations can lead to dangerous and potentially catastrophic scenarios.
Truck accidents in California have many causes, but some are statistically more likely than others. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which governs both intra- and inter-state trucking, collects data on truck accidents and root causes. According to their research:
- Driver errors account for the majority of trucking accidents nationwide, including California. Behaviors like texting, distracted driving, and impaired driving all contribute to serious truck accidents.
- Since large trucks are so heavy, loaders must use proper weight distribution when putting cargo into a trailer. Failure to load a trailer properly can result in jackknifing or other dangerous scenarios that would lead a truck to lose control of a vehicle.
Who Is Responsible for Your Trucking Crash in Stockton, CA?
One of the most important aspects of receiving fair compensation for your injuries is determining the negligent parties. While driver error contributes to the majority of trucking accidents, an employer may be responsible for negligent hiring, or a manufacturer of a truck may be responsible for a vehicle malfunction. Often, many parties may share fault in a trucking accident.
The Stockton truck accident attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger thoroughly investigate the root cause of your accident and hold all parties responsible – whether it is one, or three. We are committed to securing our victims the compensation they deserve for their injuries, pain, and suffering.
When Should I Call My Stockton Truck Accident Attorney?
If you or a loved one suffered harm in a trucking accident, contact the Stockton truck accident lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger for a free case evaluation. Let our Stockton truck accident lawyers help you receive fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional losses following your truck accident. Don’t pay the price for someone else’s negligence. Schedule a free review of your legal options with our firm today. We offer our legal services on a contingency-fee basis, which means you won’t owe us any attorney’s fees unless we secure you a settlement or court judgment.
