Bad road conditions can easily lead to serious accidents. However, when bad road conditions combine with negligence, accidents involving commercial trucks can easily lead to serious injuries or even death. If you suffered injuries with a commercial truck due to bad road conditions, learn how a Los Angeles bad road conditions lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 can help you with your case.
Reasons for Bad Road Conditions
Bad road conditions may occur for several reasons, including poor weather and lack of highway repair.
Poor Weather
In many cases, poor weather such as rain, sleet, snow, ice, or fog may lead to decreased visibility as well as slick road conditions. Truck drivers of commercial vehicles at some point in their career will have to drive in poor weather conditions. They should receive appropriate training and education regarding how to effectively and safely operate their large commercial vehicles in hazardous weather conditions. These truck drivers should always slow down or simply leave the roadways altogether if it becomes unsafe to travel due to poor weather conditions. Large commercial trucks weigh substantially more than passenger vehicles, making them harder to stop and more difficult to control in dangerous weather. All truck drivers should always use caution in any kind of poor weather, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulation 392.14.
Lack of Highway Repair
Bad road conditions can also result from the deterioration of the roads themselves. Uneven road surfaces, broken and crumbling concrete, potholes, exposed rebar, road cracks, and sinkholes on the roadways can result in serious injuries. If a truck driver hits any of these, they may lose control of their truck, or have a tire burst. When a truck driver loses control of their vehicle, the trailer may overturn, they may veer unexpectedly into another lane, and they may ultimately collide with another vehicle. In these circumstances, the liability may rest with the governmental entity responsible for ensuring that the roadways remain in a safe condition.
Negligence and Bad Road Conditions
There are many examples of when the negligent behavior of a truck driver in bad road conditions may lead to an accident resulting in serious injuries or death.
Continuing to Drive in Poor Weather
Many truck drivers feel pressured to get to their destination as quickly as possible in order to increase profits for themselves and the company. In these cases, truck drivers make the negligent decision to continue to drive in perilous weather conditions, regardless of the risk to themselves and others on the roadway. If a large commercial vehicle skids, slides, or is unable to stop due to poor weather conditions, accidents involving rollovers or jackknifing may occur. Victims of these types of accidents may suffer from catastrophic injuries in multiple-car pileups, as other drivers are also unable to stop or avoid the original accident quickly.
If a truck driver fails to slow down or stop driving their commercial truck due to poor weather conditions and an accident results, a victim may have the legal right to pursue a claim against the trucking company or the truck driver for negligence. A victim has the right to file a claim against the trucking company under the legal theory of respondeat superior, cited in the California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) at CACI 3701. This legal theory occurs when the employer takes legal responsibility for the actions of their employees when they are performing tasks related to their job and employment.
If you suffered injuries as a result of a truck driver speeding or operating a large commercial truck negligently on the roadways during poor weather conditions, visit with our legal team today to learn how a Los Angeles bad road conditions lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you with your case.
Negligence of a Governmental Entity
If a local, state, or federal government is in charge of ensuring that a particular stretch of roadway is safe and drivable, and serious injuries occur due to a commercial truck encountering significantly uneven road surfaces, potholes, broken and crumbling concrete, road cracks, exposed rebar, or sinkholes, the governmental entity may have liability and responsibility to compensate any victims resulting from their negligent caretaking of the roads in their jurisdiction. Filing a claim against a governmental entity is significantly different than filing a claim against a private entity. The rules and regulations are vastly different, as is the required paperwork and deadlines to file a claim. A lawyer may help you sort through these details.
For a free legal consultation with a Bad Road Conditions Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Types of Injuries Related to Trucking Accidents in Bad Road Conditions
As expected, many of the accidents that combine bad road conditions and large commercial trucks result in serious, life-threatening injuries. Some of the types of injuries related to trucking accidents in bad road conditions include traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, broken or fractured bones, paralysis, amputations, nerve damage, aortic dissection, internal bleeding, post-traumatic stress disorder, or even death.
In many cases, victims of serious trucking accidents must immediately go to the emergency room and have their injuries treated through medical care or surgery. Some victims may have to have extended hospital stays, multiple surgeries, extensive physical therapy, or a lifetime of medication and medical care. If you suffered injuries following a trucking accident and did not go to the emergency room, make sure to visit a medical professional as soon as possible. In many cases, certain serious and life-threatening injuries do not show or exhibit any symptoms until hours or days following the accident.
Los Angeles Bad Road Conditions Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Consider How a Los Angeles Bad Road Conditions Lawyer Can Help You
If you suffered injuries in a trucking accident related to poor weather or poor roadway conditions, consider how a Los Angeles bad road conditions lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you with your legal options and help you determine who is legally responsible for your injuries. Call (800) 794-0444 today for a free consultation.
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