Orange County’s Foremost 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Commercial trucks, also known as semi trucks or 18-wheelers, are very common on the roadways in Orange County. More than 3 million semi trucks drive over 94 billion miles throughout the United States each year to deliver food and other goods but, while important to the economy, these large vehicles also pose a risk to other drivers.

There is no surprise that 18-wheeler accidents are often devastating and more likely to result in fatalities than car accidents. Semi trucks weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 pounds and account for almost 3,400 fatal traffic accidents and 60,000 traffic injuries every year. California has the country’s third-highest number of semi truck registrations and the second-most fatal commercial truck accidents in the country.

According to state data, about 1 out of 8 traffic deaths involve an 18-wheeler collision. While they account for only 4% of vehicles on the road, they are involved in more than 12% of traffic fatalities. About two-thirds of fatal accidents happen on rural roads where traffic is less, but one-quarter occur on interstate highways like the Santa Ana Freeway, San Diego Freeway, and San Gabriel River Freeway.

Common Semi Truck Accidents in Orange County
Collisions can occur in many ways, but the following are the most common commercial truck accidents.

• Jackknife. When the driver suddenly brakes, a jackknife can occur as the back of the trailer swings out of sync with the tractor. While the driver can sometimes regain control of the trailer, these accidents can be very serious.
• Rollover. The truck’s wheels can leave the road due to many factors like the height of the truck trailer, sudden braking, high speeds, and high winds. Rollover accidents are very dangerous as there is a high chance that nearby vehicles will become involved.
• Blowouts. A blown tire can cause an accident with any vehicle, but it can be especially serious with a heavy duty truck as the driver can lose control of a vehicle that weighs tens of thousands of pounds.
• Under-ride collision. Under-ride collisions are often fatal or very serious accidents. These accidents occur when a vehicle slides underneath the truck’s trailer during a collision. Depending on the speed of the vehicles, this can cause the windshield and top portion of the vehicle to be sheared off.
• Lane change collisions. Big rigs have large blind spots and commercial truck drivers must rely on their side mirrors alone to determine when it is safe to change lanes. Blind spots often prevent full visibility that can lead to unsafe lane changes and collisions.

Negligence is often a factor in commercial truck accidents in Orange County. Sometimes it is the driver, truck manufacturer, or trucking company that is liable, but it may be the motor vehicle driver as well. When the driver or manufacturer is at fault, reasons may include speeding, mechanical problems, heavy or unsafe loads, cell phone use, aggressive driving, unsafe equipment due to negligent maintenance or inspections, negligent hiring or supervision of drivers, or fatigue due to lack of sleep and overdriving.

Contact an Orange County Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in an 18 wheeler accident in Orange County, California, it’s important to seek legal representation as soon as possible to protect your rights and get help recovering fair compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact Rawa Law Group today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney in Orange County to discuss your case.

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