Collisions involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, delivery, and other commercial trucks can all cause devastating injuries. Due to their size and numerous blind spots, trucks are more likely to make unsafe lane changes and put others at risk of serious harm.
Truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Fresno can lead to unexpected medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, and other lasting damage. If you or a loved one sustained injury in a truck accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Valero Law Group today.
What Makes Truck Accidents Dangerous?
Due to their size, trucks operating at any speed can cause massive damage if they strike other vehicles on local highways or roads. Factors that make truck accidents especially dangerous include:
- Size and weight: Fully-loaded semi-trucks can weigh over 80,000 pounds, making their impact with a passenger car severe
- Long stopping distances: Heavy commercial trucks need extended stopping distances, especially at high speeds
- Difficult maneuverability: Trucks, particularly tractor-trailers, require more space to turn and cannot maneuver or return to their lanes as quickly as smaller vehicles
- Large blind spots: Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles have significant blind spots on all sides, meaning other smaller vehicles are unseen in these zones and in danger when the truck changes lanes
Even the smallest mistake by a truck driver changing lanes can lead to a crash and long-term injury to other Fresno residents. An experienced attorney at Valero Law Group can investigate the accident and pursue compensation when negligence is involved.
How Unsafe Lane Changes Cause Truck Accidents
When a truck driver is negligent, they can make unsafe lane changes that put others at risk. Careless behavior that makes changing lanes dangerous includes:
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Swerving
- Failing to yield
- Failing to check blind spots
- Miscalculating the distance between vehicles
- Road rage
- Distracted driving
- Driving while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications
If a dangerous lane change that led to a Fresno truck collision was caused by poor training, overworked drivers, or defective vehicle parts, a commercial truck company or manufacturer can be held liable for damages, as well as the driver.
Proving Liability in a Truck Accident Case
Many truck accident claims are settled through the insurance claims process. However, it is critical to seek legal guidance at this stage, as insurance companies typically make low offers to injured crash victims. An experienced lawyer can aggressively pursue a client’s best interests when dealing with insurers.
When a truck accident case goes to court, truck accident lawyers seek to prove the four elements of negligence. They must therefore show that a duty of care was owed to the victim, there was a breach of that duty by the truck driver, truck company, or others, causation exists between the breach of duty and the victim’s injuries, and the victim suffered actual damages such as physical injuries and lost income.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1714 follows a pure comparative negligence model, meaning truck accident victims can collect damages even if they were partially at fault for a collision caused by unsafe lane changing in Fresno.
Talk to a Fresno Truck Accident Attorney About Careless Lane Changes
Truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Fresno can cause devastating injuries. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys at Valero Law Group can help you recover financially while you focus on recovering physically and emotionally after a crash. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.