How Often are Semi-Truck Driver Violations a Factor in California Crashes?

California has over 396,500 road miles, which makes semi-trucks frequent sights on our interstates, city streets, and rural roads. With direct access to Oregon to the north, Nevada, and Arizona to the east, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, which is dotted with important shipping ports, trucks are an integral part of our state and the nation’s economy.

At Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP, our Whittier truck accident attorneys know that when commercial truck drivers violate common traffic laws or their Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration counterparts, crashes often result.

Unfortunately, truck driver errors are the primary cause of collisions, injuries, and fatalities on our California roadways.

The Primary Cause of Semi-Truck Accidents in California is Driver Error

Much like driver negligence is a common cause of passenger vehicle collisions in California, semi-truck accidents are also commonly caused by drivers who are intoxicated, distracted, or speeding.

Other catastrophic semi-truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue, and Hours-of-Service violations, which are the result of skipping the required breaks necessary to ensure all truck drivers are well-rested before getting back behind the wheel.

Hours-of-service violations can occur for multiple reasons.

They include:

• Drivers pushing their service hours to wrap up deliveries/pick-ups to get home.
• Truck companies incentivizing more deliveries in less time, placing profits over safety.
• Increases in online shipping and delivery needs and fewer drivers to meet the

If you have been injured in a commercial truck accident in California, or have lost a loved one to driver negligence, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys in Whittier today to discuss who can be held liable for your full financial recovery.

Trucking Companies May Also Be Held Liable for Truck Accidents Caused by Violations of State and Federal Industry Guidelines

While semi-truck drivers are the first line of defense in preventing catastrophic accidents, their employers can also be held liable for violating California and federal truck industry guidelines.

Trucking companies are responsible for:

• Hiring a competent workforce of truck drivers who have valid Commercial Driver’s Licenses.
• Running background checks on potential employees to ensure drivers do not present a risk to the public.
• Administering medical, drug, and alcohol screenings for drivers to ensure they are physically capable of operating a potentially 80,000-pound vehicle.

The National Training Standards for New Truck and Bus Drivers, published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, requires all related employers to properly train their employees before they can operate these large vehicles. When they fail to do so, they violate federal trucking industry standards and may be held liable for any collision that occurs as a result.

Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Whittier, California

If you have been hurt in an accident caused by the truck driver or trucking company negligence in California, contact our skilled personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles County at Hanning & Sacchetto today by calling (562) 698-6446 to schedule a free consultation.