Accidents involving 18-wheelers are simply more dangerous given their size and weight. Other drivers who share the road are often the ones who sustain the greatest injuries. What is unfortunate is that these truck accidents can be avoided. Truck accidents are commonly a result of driver fatigue. At Maineri Law Firm, we work with clients to prove negligence and hold at-fault drivers and transportation companies accountable for injuries they cause.

Truck Driver Fatigue

In the United States, drivers should not operate a commercial motor vehicle if they are too tired or sick to drive safely. Operating a truck however is at the driver's discretion and sometimes drivers are pressured to make as many deliveries as possible in a specific period. After long hours on the road, it is understandable that a driver would be tired or sleepy. But it is the decision to drive despite being fatigued that is simply irresponsible.

Tired drivers pose a threat not only to other people on the road but to pedestrians. An accident involving a large truck can be disastrous. When a driver is tired their judgment and reaction time may suffer, making it more difficult to make last-minute decisions.

The great weather in California allows cyclists to ride their bikes nearly all year long. In addition to being the responsible choice for the environment, riding your bike can save you money and help you stay fit - that is, unless you get involved in a serious bicycle accident.

Cyclists are at great risk of catastrophic injuries and even death in car accidents. Their small size relative to other vehicles on the road, and their relative lack of protection, means that they are easily exposed to very severe injuries that can lead to a long and expensive recovery process. Fortunately, even if you were partly to blame for an accident, you may still be able to recover damages to help you pay for any injuries you acquired. And if you lost a loved one in a tragic accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. 

Common Bicycle-Auto Accident Injuries

Cars and other vehicles frequently do not see cyclists on the road, leading to a number of common types of accidents. These include sideswipes, t-bone accidents, crush injury accidents, and accidents that happen when a driver opens a door directly into a cyclist’s pathway. The injuries that a cyclist suffers from vary depending on the case, but very often include: 

As increasingly dramatic rain storms in California make national news, the rainy season is clearly upon us. Most Californians welcome this time of year and, despite the potential destructiveness of the rain, hope for an end to the ongoing dry conditions the state continues to suffer from. 

However, a major drawback of rainy weather is its impact on the frequency and severity of road crashes, especially relating to pedestrian accidents. Research shows that pedestrians suffer more from accidents with vehicles during rainy weather, and that the injuries they suffer are more severe. The likelihood of a fatal pedestrian-auto accident is also higher in rainy weather. If you have been injured or a loved one’s life has been tragically lost as a pedestrian getting hit by a car, you deserve to know your rights. A civil suit that obtains compensation for your injuries and losses cannot undo the accident, but it can help you on the pathway toward recovery. 

Rain Contributes to Adverse Driving Conditions

Bad weather makes pedestrian-auto accidents more likely for a number of reasons. Visibility is reduced, especially at night, making it dangerous for pedestrians to cross the street even at designated crossings. Furthermore, drivers are often distracted in bad weather, paying closer attention to other cars, the rain on the windshield, or the many other things that distract drivers even in good weather. 

A car accident is always a hassle to deal with, but if you were injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, managing the aftereffects of the accident can be even more difficult - especially if you need compensation for your injuries and car damage. When purchasing car insurance policies, however, many people do not anticipate the high likelihood of getting into an accident with someone who has insufficient car insurance coverage, and therefore opt out of paying for this important feature.

If you are wondering whether you really need uninsured motorist coverage, know the answer is yes - and then secure coverage before you need it. If you have already been in a car accident, having legal representation from an experienced California personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Here are four common questions about uninsured driver insurance. 

Will My Health Insurance Pay For an Accident with an Uninsured Driver? 

If you have health insurance, your health insurance coverage should cover any injuries you sustain in a car accident. But if you have an accident that causes long-term damage that makes it difficult or impossible to work, your health insurance will not help you recover lost wages. It will also not compensate you for things like wrongful death, loss of quality of life, and other non-health-related injuries.  

Being in a serious car accident is not only physically damaging, but psychologically traumatizing as well. Feelings of confusion, anger, fear, and even guilt are normal, especially if you suffered a traumatic head injury in the accident. You may want to put the whole thing behind you and just get on with your life, but are prevented by expensive medical bills and troubling symptoms that just do not seem to go away. 

If you have been in a bad California car accident, especially if someone else was responsible for the crash, it is essential to meet with a personal injury attorney. While legal action is not available in every case, you may be surprised to learn that you can take action to recover money for the pain, suffering, and financial losses you have suffered because of the crash. 

Steps to Take After a California Car Crash

The first thing you need to do after a crash is to make sure you are physically okay. If you are suffering from serious injuries, get medical help right away - do not stop to take photos or argue with the other driver. Depending on the seriousness of the crash, police may be on the scene right away. However, other accidents, while causing major damage, may depend on you to call the police - especially if the other driver is trying to negotiate with you. Whatever the circumstances, making sure you get a police report is absolutely essential, even if your injuries only seem minor. 

Every year, thousands of people die in truck accidents. Many tens of thousands more are seriously injured. After losing a loved one or suffering personal injury in a serious California truck accident, you may be overwhelmed and unsure of where to seek help. This might be especially true if you are unable to return to work because of your injuries, or if you are suffering from the grief of losing a parent, child, or spouse. If this sounds familiar to you, you have options. A California personal injury attorney can examine your case and work to get you the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. 

Meet with a Personal Injury Lawyer

Truck accidents are often complex events that have more than one cause. Determining which driver or condition was responsible for an accident can require extensive investigation by someone who is experienced in truck accidents, California personal injury law, insurance company negotiations, and courtroom litigation. A personal injury attorney is just the person who can help with all of these areas. Amassing evidence, reconstructing a crash scene with the help of accident professionals, and managing negotiations to make sure you get a fair payout are just some of the ways that personal injury attorneys can help after a truck crash. 

What Kind of Damages Can I Recover? 

The kind of damages (money) you can recover will depend on the seriousness of the accident, the losses you experienced, and the percentage of the accident for which each involved party was at fault. The answer is different in every case. However, many cases involve damages for physical pain and suffering, the cost of medical treatment, lost wages, and even other, harder to quantify categories, like loss of consortium (the loss of the benefits of a close relationship). Except for medical malpractice cases, California does not place maximum limits on personal injury damages.