Any accident involving a large commercial truck can result in devastating injuries and losses. However, steel is 2.5 times denser than aluminum, and any accident involving a commercial truck carrying steel may cause catastrophic injuries or death.
If you suffered any losses or injuries related to an accident with a steel truck, learn how a Los Angeles steel truck lawyer can help you with your legal rights. You can contact our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 for a free no-obligation consultation.
Dangers of Steel Trucks
There are several dangers inherent in the operation of a steel truck, and any negligence can lead to catastrophic injuries or death. Large trucks are becoming more involved in fatal crashes at an alarming rate: the National Safety Council reported a 51% increase from 2009 to 2018, when 4,862 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes. The causes of these additional risks and dangers include many factors.
Obstructed View
Due to the large and cumbersome size of steel trucks, many views remain obstructed for the driver, and the sheer size of the steel truck takes up a great deal of space on the roadways.
Oversized Loads
With little room to maneuver and the substantial cargo weight limiting the ability of the steel truck driver to stop quickly, any danger or hazard in the roadway could potentially lead to a serious accident. Any type of oversized load on a vehicle must meet California weight limitations but can still cause dangers on the roadways, especially if the cargo is not carefully and appropriately secured or is overloaded with cargo. Any shifting of steel beams while the commercial steel truck is in motion can result in the steel truck tipping over, sideswiping another vehicle, or the driver losing control of the vehicle.
Stopping Distance
Steel trucks carry large amounts of weight and therefore are unable to come to a stop quickly. Steel truck drivers must have proper training, experience, and skill regarding the additional weight of their steel trucks so that they ensure the safety of the other drivers on the roadway.
Clearance Issues
While steel trucks have most of their cargo laid flat, there is rarely an issue regarding height clearance issues. However, steel trucks typically do have cargo that extends much further than a typical 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer commercial truck. Therefore, steel truck drivers should take steps to ensure that the length of their steel truck does not create any dangers to other motorists on the roadway.
Additionally, because steel weighs so much more than typical cargo in a commercial truck, steel truck drivers need to make sure to carefully consider the bridges they will travel to ensure that the bridge will be able to safely hold the amount of weight of their cargo. Trucking companies have the responsibility as well to preapprove the routes of their steel truck drivers to ensure that the truck driver, the motorists, and others on the roadways remain safe.
Flatbed Design
Because of the design of the flatbed truck, any amount of rain could cause the area to become slippery due to the inability of the flat surface to allow water runoff, which could lead to steel beams sliding off the flatbed and injuring any person behind the steel truck.
If any of these issues led to a steel truck accident in Los Angeles, you may be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the accident. A Los Angeles steel truck lawyer may be able to help you with your case. You can contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to receive a free no-obligation consultation with a member of our team.
Types of Steel Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued detailed regulations with respect to how commercial trucks must operate on the roadways throughout the United States. Everything from maintenance schedules, rest requirements, and the securement of cargo is specifically addressed with guidance provided. Even with such specific guidance, though, steel truck accidents still occur. Many different factors can lead to these types of accidents, including truck driver negligence, trucking company negligence, or manufacturer defects.
Rollover Accidents
As previously mentioned, steel trucks are quite large and cumbersome. Because of their awkward shape, a truck driver may find it challenging to navigate the truck appropriately under certain circumstances. For example, if a driver of a steel truck is speeding and needs to make a sudden turn for any reason, that sharp turn can easily result in a rollover of the steel truck.
Jackknife Accidents
There are also situations where a driver needs to make a sudden stop. If a driver of a steel truck attempts to come to a stop too suddenly, there is a chance that the trailer part of the truck carrying all the steel could keep moving forward. When this happens, the cab of the truck where the driver sits and the trailer holding the steel or cargo fold together at a sharp angle—hence the term “jackknife.”
Just as any pocket knife would have a sharp, acute angle between its sections, the cab area and cargo area moving at different rates of speed cause the same folding together, only with catastrophic results. In many cases, a jackknifing accident is the result of driver negligence such as speeding, driving while distracted, driving while fatigued, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, limiting the ability of a driver to safely operate the steel truck.
For a free legal consultation with a Steel Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Consider a Los Angeles Steel Truck Accident Lawyer
If you suffered injuries or losses related to an accident involving a steel truck, you may have substantial medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. Contact the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation to learn more about how a Los Angeles steel truck lawyer can help you move forward with your claim.
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