Commercial truck accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury, both in the United States and California. According to the California Highway Patrol, 290 people lost their lives in truck-related collisions in 2015 and an additional 6,038 suffered injuries. If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries in Fresno following an accident with a commercial truck, contact the Fresno commercial truck accident attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger for a free initial consultation. Let one of our Fresno commercial truck accident attorneys demand fair compensation for your pain, injuries, and suffering.
Major Fresno Freeways and Traffic Information
Fresno is home to an enormous agriculture industry. As a result, heavy commercial vehicle traffic is the norm both on local freeways and county roads. The risk factors for major injury vehicle collisions both from vehicles on or exiting State Route 99 and Hwy 41 are ever present. The number of semi-tractors and agricultural trucks throughout the California Central Valley is well above average. Accidents are regularly occurring at highway speeds on:
- State Route 168, which heads to Clovis and Huntington Lake
- State Route 41, which leads to Yosemite National Park
- State Route 180, which travels to Kings Canyon National Park
Fresno is the largest city in the United States that does not directly connect to an Interstate Highway. As a result, trucks must travel along these state routes to pick up or deliver goods throughout the Central Valley. High speeds, coupled with the heavy weight of commercial vehicles, contributes to hundreds of truck accidents each year.
Contributing Factors in Commercial Truck Accidents Caused in Fresno, California
Commercial truck drivers and their employers and brokers must follow strict guidelines set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This federal agency sets rules regarding duty hours, mandated breaks, and even sleeping arrangements. It also collects data regarding truck accidents and their main causes. According to the FMCSA, the main causes of truck accidents are:
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Driver Error
Driver behavior is the number one cause of trucking accidents, both in Fresno and the country at large. Fatigue, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, logbook violations, impaired or distracted driving, and speeding can all play a role in serious accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.
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Improper Truck Maintenance
Trucking companies, load brokers, individual truck drivers and their employers must ensure their trucks, trailers, and tractors are safe to travel on bustling freeways. The FMCSA mandates that they regularly check tire wear and pressure, lights, accident avoidance technology and braking mechanisms, and take other safety precautions at regular intervals. Failing to adhere to these safety checks can lead to tire blowouts and other potentially disastrous complications.
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Improper Loading
Due to their sheer weight and size – California allows trucks with a gross weight of up to 80,000 pounds – trucking companies and loaders must distribute weight evenly. Improper loading can lead to jackknifing, inability to stop in emergencies and roll over big-rig collisions. The FMCSA states that improper loading is a major contributing factor to accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.
Have You Been in a Fresno Commercial Truck Accident?
Victims of accidents involving federally regulated interstate motor carriers as well as local commercial motor vehicles often sustain serious, life-threatening, and even permanently disabling injuries. The damages following a commercial motor vehicle accident are usually extensive. If you or a loved one are suffering the consequences of another party’s negligence, take the following steps:
- Seek appropriate medical care. Truck-accident caused injuries to require quality, intensive medical care. Don’t worry about the cost of rehabilitation or treatment; focus on making a full recovery.
- Contact a truck accident attorney. The attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger will work to help you receive fair compensation for the full amount of your injuries and intangible losses. We conduct a thorough investigation into every truck related injury or fatality. We use experts and consultants to determine the parties responsibly, and we negotiate aggressively on your behalf to get a fair settlement or jury verdict.
If you or a loved one recently suffered harm because of a truck accident, contact the Fresno truck accident attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, and Schoenberger to schedule a free case evaluation today.
