The dips, turns, and curves of the area’s winding rural roads present a unique safety challenge for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Combined with factors such as limited lighting, fog, and heavy seasonal traffic, these conditions can pose a serious risk to drivers. Unlike passenger cars, commercial vehicles are massive and limited in maneuverability.
When a collision involves these kinds of trucks, the aftermath is more complex than a typical auto accident. If you have been injured in a crash, talking to a tractor-trailer wreck attorney about the common causes of truck accidents in Fresno can help you determine who is responsible so you can hold every negligent party accountable.
Driver error is a frequent contributor to Fresno commercial vehicle collisions. Pursuant to the California Vehicle Code § 22350, drivers are prohibited from operating at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent on the highway. The law requires drivers to have due regard for all factors affecting their commute, including weather, visibility, traffic, and the surface and width of the highway. When operating a commercial truck, factors such as the vehicle’s weight and extended braking distance heighten these requirements.
Examples of truck driver error under the state’s vehicle code include:
When a commercial trucker commits any of these driving errors, state law presumes the driver acted carelessly or with negligence.
Often, the trucking company that hired the truck driver shares responsibility for causing a wreck in Fresno. Trucking companies are required to instruct drivers on state safety laws and how to operate company vehicles. A hiring company cannot simply assume a driver is competent to drive a vehicle weighing up to 80,000 pounds solely based on a driver’s license.
It is up to the company to determine the experience level of its employees. The company’s duties include confirming that new hires have successfully completed behind-the-wheel training courses and providing continuous, route-specific, and equipment-specific training to ensure trucks can endure changing roadways and cargo conditions.
Third parties are another common factor in Fresno truck collision cases. For example, a manufacturer may make an engineering error that could affect the truck’s braking capability or cause the trailer of the vehicle to swing dangerously out to the side and fold at the pivot point. Even if the driver was maintaining an appropriate speed, the mechanical flaw could reveal itself on the road at any time, causing serious risk of harm. This grave miscalculation would be considered a flawed manufacturing design rather than driver error.
If a truck becomes highly unstable during transit through no fault of the driver, it may be due to a design flaw. The manufacturer can be held responsible for this mistake in accordance with California Civil Code § 1714(a). By defectively designing the truck through critical miscalculations, a manufacturer is responsible for the resulting injuries.
The aftermath of a serious traffic accident can be overwhelming, especially when it involves a massive commercial vehicle. If you have been harmed in a truck accident, do not navigate the financial and legal challenges alone.
Let a dedicated and compassionate lawyer who understands the common causes of truck accidents in Fresno guide you forward so you can focus on healing. At Dunnion Law, our lawyers have helped injury victims recover fair compensation since 1975. Give us a call today for your free case consultation.
