Stockton Injury Lawyer Blog

Police are investigating a Hanford, California truck accident that left two people injured. According to the Hanford Sentinel, initial reports indicate that a driver who failed to stop for a stop sign may be responsible for the big rig accident. Heliodoro Padilla was driving north in his pickup truck as he entered the intersection when the big rig carrying a two-axle trailer went through the intersection travelling west. The pick-up collided with the 18-wheeler, and Padillla and his passenger sustained major injuries. The passenger was taken to Adventist Medical Center and Ruiz was flown to Fresno for treatment at University Medical Center.

In California and throughout the country, big-rig accidents are among the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, it is important to contact an experienced Stockton truck accident lawyer to provide critical guidance regarding your legal rights. In many cases, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.

Injuries from big-rig accidents may include, but are not limited to, neck injuries, spinal cord injures, traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death.

Several different causes of truck accidents exist, and when someone is injured as a result, in many cases not only is the truck driver found liable but the trucking company may also be held responsible. Trucking companies may also be held responsible if they negligently hire a truck driver who has a poor safety record. Truck accidents may occur for the following reasons:

• Speeding in an attempt to maintain a tight delivery schedule
• Fatigue as the result of long hours with little rest
• Overloading or unsafe cargo
• Mechanical or brake failure
• Driver error/failure to follow safety rules
• Difficulty seeing other drivers or obstacles in blind spots while backing up, making turns or changing lanes.

Continue reading "Hanford Big Rig Accident Injures Two" »

A truck carrying gravel slammed into a California bound Amtrak train Friday morning, killing five and injuring at least a dozen. The Amtrak train accident occurred about 70 miles east of Reno at the crossing of U.S. 95. The collision created massive flames and smoke, making recovery difficult.

Among the victims are the truck driver and a train passenger. At least 18 to 20 people were transported to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries such as brain and head injuries.

If you have been injured as the result of any serious accident, it is important to contact an experienced Stockton personal injury lawyer. Even if you're not considering a lawsuit, it is an important step to preserve your rights and to evaluate your next steps.

The investigation in this case is still under way. Initial reports indicate that the gates and lights on the tracks were flashing. The truck tried to slow down but could not. ABC news notes that collisions at rail crossings are not uncommon ... a train in the U.S. collides with a person or vehicle nearly every three hours.

Many factors could have played a role in this train/ truck accident, requiring an in-depth investigation. Issues include possible truck driver error, mechanical or brake failure, train or truck speed, and whether the train crossings were functioning properly.

Continue reading "California Bound Amtrak Train Accident Kills 5, Injures Dozens" »

Earlier this week aStockton big-rig accident caused havoc for thousands of commuters after an 18-wheeler carrying bales of hay overturned on a ramp, damaging the guardrail connecting Highway 4 and Highway 99.

Although the cause of the accident is unknown, preliminary reports indicate that the trucker was driving too fast on the ramp, which bends and has a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. However, whenever big rig accidents occur the potential for serious injuries and damage is great. Potential injuries include brain and head injuries, back injuries, wrongful death, cuts and lacerations, as well as severe property damage.

Continue reading "Stockton Big Rig Accident Affects Thousands Of Commuters" »

Highway 59, which connect State Route 152 to Merced, was closed Saturday after a fatal head-on collision between a semi-truck and a Honda. News reports indicate that the 18-wheeler was heading north when the driver of the Honda crossed into oncoming traffic. The Honda driver was killed on impact but the driver and the passenger of the big rig sustained only minor injuries.

If you have been injured or have lost a family member in a truck accident or car accident, it is critical to contact an experienced California truck accident lawyer immediately to begin investigating the incident and protect your right to seek compensation.

Often, even though the cause of an accident may initially seem clear cut, with further investigation additional factors and causes come to light. It is only after all the facts and circumstances are known that liability for a particular accident can be determined.

Continue reading "Highway 59 Near Merced Closed After Fatal Truck Accident " »

San Mateo news reports that a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a big-rig. Although the cause of the motorcycle accident is unknown, police suggest the truck and motorcycle both swerved to avoid an earlier accident and collided with each other. The truck driver did not stop at the scene.

If you or a loved on has been involved in a California truck accident or motorcycle accident, contact an experienced Stockton personal injury lawyer at once to investigate the accident and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Both truck drivers and motorcyclists face special considerations on the road. Due to the sheer size of an eighteen-wheeler, when trucks collide with another vehicle, the results are often tragic. Further, it takes longer and more space for trucks to maneuver. When an unforeseen obstacle - such as an accident - forces a truck to adjust, the truck driver and other motorists on the road need to allow enough space and time to make these critical adjustments.

Continue reading "San Mateo Motorcycle Crash Kills One" »

The federal government is considering a new truck driving rule that would reduce the number of hours a truck driver is allowed to stay on the road. The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed limiting the total hours allowed to work in a day to 14-hours including breaks and loading/unloading.

The total driving hours allowed would be reduced from 11 to 10 hours. The proposed changes were announced in December and a final determination will be made in July.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced Stockton truck accident lawyer.

Truck accidents are some of the most dangerous roadway accidents. Due to the sheer size of 18-wheelers and other big rigs when accidents do occur, they are often serious, even fatal. Driver fatigue as the result of long hours and employer demands are leading causes of truck crashes.

Continue reading "New Rules Aimed At Reducing California Truck Accidents Receive Mixed Support" »

Earlier this summer, a gravel truck crashed into the home of a Santa Barbara family, killing three family members. The accident occurred after a big rig lost control of its brakes while traveling down Highway 154 from San Marcos pass.

This truck accident wasn't the only one this year on the pass. 111 crashes involving trucks have occurred already this year, 7 of them fatal. Other dangerous roads for trucking and car accidents include Route 17, which runs across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Its narrow shoulders, sharp turns, blind curves and dense traffic, make Route 17 one of the most dangerous California highways.

In general, the roads that are most dangerous are those with severe curves that make it difficult to see far in front of you and narrow lanes with little margin for error. Steep inclines and declines often place an additional burden on worn or faulty brakes, especially where big rigs are involved.

In the Santa Barbara accident, it is likely the combination of faulty brakes and driver error, along with a dangerous stretch of road led to this tragedy. According to the Santa Barbara Noozhawk, primary cause of accidents on this stretch have been unsafe speed or unsafe turning movement.

Continue reading "County Evaluates How To Eliminate Truck Accidents " »

All too often, we feel our eyes becoming heavy and we lose focus on the road for just a moment. In that split second of time, a tragic accident causing life altering injuries can occur.

As stated in a recent Washington Post article, "Fatigue cannot be measured likely the level of alcohol in a person's system, but it is frequently cited by investigators as a factor in accidents in the air, on the water and on railways and highways."

In fact, 320 fatigue-related incidents have taken nearly 750 lives in airplane accidents over the last several years. Countless more lives have been lost in car, trucking, boating and other types of transportation accidents. In fact, in trucking accidents, fatigue is a bigger contributor to accidents than drug and alcohol use. Similarly boating, rail and car accidents have all been linked to exhaustion.

When people are tired, they react more slowly, struggle with attention lapses and take more unnecessary risks. Despite the universal recognition that fatigue and transportation is an issue that needs to be addressed, few National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations and proposals have been adopted.

As NTSB regulators explain, "The problem is compounded by a culture 'that places a lot of value on burning the midnight oil."

Safety advocates hope that in the near future, operating under the influence of fatigue will become just as unacceptable as operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is now.

Continue reading "Fatigue Linked To California Transportation Accidents" »

According to the Visalia Times-Delta, a Visalia big rig driver was seriously injured when he rear-ended a pick-up truck near Terra Bella. Both cars overturned.

Fortunately the pick-up truck driver sustained only minor injuries.

Truck accidents often result in serious, even deadly injuries. Because of the sheer force behind a truck, minor shifts in direction or speed may result in a loss of control of an 18-wheeler. It is often difficult for a big rig to maneuver in response to other drivers' abrupt changes in direction or unexpected conditions on the road.

In Tuesday's accident, the driver of the pick-up truck had slowed to make a left-hand turn when the big rig ran into her.

In order to keep our roads safe, a few tips for truckers/car drivers include:

• Maintain safe driving distances between cars and trucks
• Pass trucks with car. Remember that trucks have large blind spots so make sure you can see the truck in your rear view mirror before pulling back into the lane.
• Do not text and drive. Too often distracted driving is the cause of California car accidents.

Continue reading "Visalia Trucker Sustains Major Injuries In Accident " »

According to KTVU, 47 car and truck accidents have occurred on San Francisco's Bay Bridge since the curve was installed, including the fatal truck accident last November. In that crash, Tahir Fakhar was driving on the S-Curve when the truck went on two wheels and then over the side. The East Bay News reports that Fakhar's family filed a wrongful death suit against the State of California and Caltrans earlier this week.

The Bay Bridge links Oakland to San Francisco, with close to 300,000 vehicle crossings each day.

Fakhar's case raises several questions sure to be discussed in the coming months concerning the design and safety of the Bay Bridge's S Curve. Since November, the California Highway Patrol and CalTrans have been working together to slow down drivers and have also shut down lanes of traffic. Hopefully these measures will lead to greater safety when crossing the bridge.

Other issues raised by this matter include whether driver error - such as speeding as the result of a tight delivery schedule or exhaustion due to long driving hours with little rest - were contributing factors. Further, in some instances trucking companies push drivers beyond what is safe in order to meet deadlines. Whether trucking company demands were a factor will also likely be explored.

Continue reading "Bay Bridge S-Curve Involved In 47 Car And Truck Accidents Since Installed" »