Though trucks can vary in size, it remains true that trucks are the largest type of vehicle on the road. On the opposite end of the spectrum, motorcycles, other than bicycles, are the smallest vehicles on the road. When these two vehicles collide, the brunt of the damage and injury is almost always going to belong to the motorcycle. In Los Angeles especially, where there is an increase in truck traffic due to the vast number of businesses that call L.A. their home, truck accidents are prevalent.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that "according to the federal government, per mile traveled in 2006, the number of deaths on motorcycles was about 35 times the number in cars." Put bluntly, motorcycle riders already crash far more than any other driver on the road. While half of all motorcycle accidents do not even involve another driver, it is the half that does involve other drivers where trucks can play such a deadly role.
Motorcycles are often difficult for drivers of smaller passenger cars to see. Large trucks, being elevated off of the ground at such high level, have very large blind spots in regard to their rear-view and side mirrors. Therefore, it is very easy for an unsuspecting motorcyclist to be lost in the truck driver's path of vision. If truck drivers do not turn their heads before changing lanes and making turns, then their negligence can lead to side impact collision, including under-ride collisions where a motorcyclist would find him or herself pinned under the truck trailer, more than likely dragged some distance before the truck driver would even realize that an accident had even occurred in the first place.
Truck driver negligence is other areas can also lead to truck vs. motorcycle collisions. If a truck driver is weary from traveling long stretches of road without having taken a break, then that truck driver's negligence can ultimately cause an accident through inattention and/or lack of good judgment. If a truck driver fails to properly inspect a large truck before a delivery is started, then that large truck can have faulty mechanics that can lead also lead to accidents. Specifically, if a truck's brake lights are not working properly, or if its side reflectors are not warning motorists of the length of a truck's trailer, then unsuspecting motorists, motorcyclists included, can crash into the back of or the side of a large truck. Finally, if a truck driver fails to adhere to the rules of the road, then accident causation is likely. Running traffic lights and stop signs, attempting to take turns at too fast a speed, and failing to properly signal before changing lanes are all examples of truck driver negligence that can lead to accidents.
If you have recently been the victim of a truck vs. motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, please don't hesitate to call the skilled attorneys at Ellis Law Corporation. Our lawyers are experienced in cases involving crashes with trucks, and will get you the compensation you deserve to help cover the costs of medical bills, physical therapy, bike repair, and even lost wages. Call us today for a free consultation.
