TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER SAN DIEGO

Each year in California, unsafe driving by operators of big rigs leaves thousands of people injured or dead on California highways.  Exhausted drivers, overloaded trucks, unsafe safety systems, truck malfunctions, and poor road conditions are but a few of the possible contributors to truck-related accidents. 
Following are some important truck accident statistics you should be aware of:

• An average of about 5,000 trucks are involved in fatal traffic accidents each year.
• Tractors pulling a semi trailer are the most common truck model, accounting for about 60% of all trucks involved in a fatal accident.
• California, Texas and Florida had the greatest number of truck accidents over the period 1996 to 2000.
• The number of truck drivers killed in traffic accidents increased from 658 in 1998 to 713 in 2000.
• About 360 pedestrians and 70 bicyclists are killed each year in traffic accidents involving trucks

Federal law limits the hours a truck driver may operate a truck without taking time off for rest.  Laws have been set in place to promote safety and to help ensure that truckers are getting the rest they need in order to operate their big rigs safely.  Before these federal regulations were set in place truckers were often driving their trucks for long hours without breaks and endangering other drivers on the road by doing so.
Trucks are required by federal law to carry insurance for bodily injury and property damage when traveling in interstate commerce.  Anyone injured in a truck accident can sue those responsible for causing accidents as long as they can show that the other person or entity is at fault for the accident. This includes adults or children (who can sue through guardians or parents).  

Anyone (or any entity) who was at fault for causing the accident can also be sued. This includes the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the shipper, as well as any other driver, person or entity who in any way contributed to the accident.  Any other parties who contributed to the accident can also be named in suits, such as the manufacturer of one of the vehicles involved in the accident, the manufacturer of a faulty tire that contributed to the accident, or the owner of any public or private property whose negligence contributed to the accident.
Since truck accidents are often serious in nature, it will usually be advisable to hire a personal injury attorney knowledgeable in such matters.  It is rare to escape with only minor injuries when you have been involved in a collision with a big rig truck.   A skilled auto accident attorney can help you to maximize your damage recovery. 
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, call the law offices of Estey & Bomberger today.