Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson, Named A Top Lawyer for 14 Years in a Row and Now With Over 45 Years of Experience
Causes of Truck Accidents in Palm Desert and Throughout California
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson knows that strict deadlines put on truck drivers by their carriers and brokers can lead to dangerous driving, speeding and carelessness while operating vehicles that weigh as much as 10 or 20 times the weight of a car.
A truck driver and a commercial trucking company are required to make an inspection of their truck before setting out on the road. Such truck inspections can be superficial when facing a deadline to get goods delivered by a specific time. Truck brakes that seem mushy, balding tires, transmission or steering problems, truck lighting and other maintenance that need looking at are unfortunately put off until another time.
Commercial truck drivers operating on too little sleep and falsified rest periods, popping drugs to stay awake that only last so long, or relying on coffee to keep alert for merging or slow traffic can lead to disastrous consequences.
Trucking companies delivering commercial goods to businesses in California without sufficient assets, aging trucks or already facing fines or judgements for previous accidents can find themselves in financial trouble and only able to only hire truck drivers without the sufficient experience to drive safely on the roads you travel.
Commercial truck drivers from Palm Desert to Indio and Thermal, in the Coachella Valley and California have been known to take unjustifiable risks when pulling out into traffic. Driving a big rig, tractor trailer or 18-wheeler truck at sunset or at night that is unable to accelerate quickly enough to avoid traffic coming in the opposite lane or around a bend is a recipe for disaster.
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson has seen the consequences of these and other factors that cause catastrophic truck accidents in California and have the ability to obtain the compensation you deserve when you’ve suffered severe injuries in a California commercial truck accident.
As a skilled commercial truck accident lawyer, Sebastian Gibson will act immediately to preserve evidence and hire experts to reconstruct the causes of your truck accident in Palm Desert and to determine the responsible parties for causing your injuries.
Compensation You’re Entitled To Following A California Truck Accident That’s Not Your Fault
Once a determination has been made as to the responsible parties and their insurance carriers, Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson will seek to obtain compensation for your past and future medical bills and treatment, property damages for your car, motorcycle or truck, loss of wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life including loss of consortium and in instances when a truck driver has been drinking and is convicted of driving while intoxicated, punitive damages.
Commercial truck drivers operating big rig and tractor trailer trucks with the destructive capability of a tank have the highest standard to avoid a disastrous and tragic accident that can cause loss of life in an instant.
Driver fatigue caused by lack of sleep, substance abuse whether by alcohol or drugs, speeding to make deadlines or economic gain, insufficient inspections and truck maintenance, unsafe loading of trucks, and failure by a truck company to sufficiently train their truck drivers in safe driving techniques all contribute to the growing number of commercial truck accidents on California roads, highways and freeways in daytime traffic or late at night.
If you’ve been injured in a California commercial truck accident, call Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson without delay. Our office works on a contingency fee and we utilize experts in all phases of your case. We can refer you to medical specialists that work on a lien basis to ensure you obtain the medical treatment you need for your injuries. Our office also advances the court costs and our time and unless we’re successful in your case, you pay us nothing to reimburse us for costs we’ve advanced or for our legal fees.
What Happens After A California Truck Accident
After a commercial truck accident in California, a trucking company will immediately be on the line to their insurance carrier who will call out the troops to obtain, photograph or hide evidence. Truck drivers will clam up, records may become falsified, and maintenance records augmented. When such actions take place, it can be difficult to trace the actions that led to a truck accident disaster.
Fortunately, Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson is familiar with such tactics by truck drivers, their employers and commercial truck company insurance investigators as are most truck accident investigators from the California Highway Patrol and many Sheriff Officers who are called to the scene of truck accidents in Palm Desert and throughout the Coachella Valley and Orange County.
These Are Just Some Of the Biggest Trucking Companies Whose Trucks You’ll See On the Road
The number of trucks on the road is simply staggering. Today there are about 40 million trucks registered and used for business purposes (excluding government and farm).
There are nearly 1.2 million for-hire trucking companies on file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in addition to private carriers totaling over 800,000, and a further 80,000 plus interstate motor carriers.
The size and weight of these trucks is equally staggering. Big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. There are by some estimates, as many as 15.5 million trucks operating in the U.S. Of this, 2 million tractor trailers are being operated, and over 5.5 million semi-trailers are on the roads and highways.
Not surprisingly, with this number of trucks on the road, it is estimated that over 500,000 truck accidents occur each year.
The top biggest trucking companies include the following:
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. provides truckload transportation as well as logistic services. Knight operates a fleet of 4,000 tractors and 8,800 trailers and also provides brokerage and other freight management services.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services operates more than 12,000 trucks. Over 100,000 trailers and containers are in its fleet. It was one of the first large US truck companies to utilize a system of trucking containers straight from trains and ships.
XPO Logistics is a freight brokerage provider worldwide, with approximately 38,000 independent carriers operating over one million trucks
Old Dominion Freight Line provides truckload shipping and also offers truckload brokerage, supply chain consulting, and warehousing. It operates approximately 41,000 tractor and trailers.
Schneider National operates 10,120 company trucks and 33,830 trailers on the road and provides brokerage, supply chain management, and port logistic services, among other services.
Werner Enterprises is a transportation and logistics company that operates with more than 8,000 trucks and 24,000 trailers.
Landstar System has a network of independent agents consisting of more than 16,000 trailers, 10,000 owner operated trucks and nearly 60,000 other capacity vehicles.
US Xpress Enterprises today has more than 15,500 trailers and 7,000 tractors providing logistic services.
Daeske is one of the biggest flatbed trucking companies with a fleet of more than 13,000 specialized trailers and 6,000 tractors.
CRST International has a current fleet of about 4,500 trucks.
Trucks Operated in Private Fleets by Large Companies
However, there are more than 200,000 companies, excluding farmers, who operate private fleets of trucks in the United States as well.
Among those private fleets, some of the largest include the following:
Walmart – 6,500 tractors and 55,000 trailers
Amazon – 40,000 semi-trucks and 30,000 vans
Waste Management Inc. – 26,000 collection and transfer vehicles
PepsiCo – 36,000 trucks and over 14,000 tractors
Coca- Cola – 5,487 tractors, 1,354 trucks, and 7,500 trailers
Sysco – 7,800 trailers and 9,400 total vehicles
US Foods – More than 5,400 tractors, nearly 350 straight trucks and more than 8,400 trailers
UPS – Nearly 100,000 delivery trucks, over 27,000 truck tractors, and nearly 100,000 trailers.
FedEx – More than 100,000 trucks in its Express division and more than 170,000 vehicles in its ground transportation fleet.
A Staggering Number of Trucks Are Manufactured and Sold Each Year
Over 235,000 heavy trucks were produced in the United States in 2020. More than 4.3 million heavy trucks were produced worldwide. The most popular semi-trucks in America include these trucks:
Freightliner, which has about 40% of the commercial truck market share and which sells about 190,000-200,000 trucks per year.
Kenworth, which sells over 150,000 trucks per year and which has about a 14% market share.
Peterbilt which manufactures medium and heavy-duty trucks has about a 13% market share. Peterbilt is a subsidiary of Paccar which also owns heavy-duty truck manufacturer Kenworth. Peterbilt makes over 150 trucks each day.
International has about an 11% market share.
Volvo Trucks make up about a 10% market share. A Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer, it also owns Mack Trucks.
It’s no wonder when you see so many large trucks on the freeways, roads and highways these days why truck accidents are so frequent.
The Growing Number of Commercial Trucks On Freeways in California
More and more commercial trucks are on freeways not only in the slow lane, but in the lane next to the slowest lane and even occasionally in all the third lane from the right as big rig trucks are forced to the left by merging traffic or when seeking to pass slower trucks.
Even when traffic signs are posted prohibiting trucks from passing in mountains or hills, it’s not uncommon to see tractor trailer big rig trucks and 18 wheeler trucks passing slower commercial trucks late at night when truck drivers feel confident they won’t be seen by a California Highway Patrol officer.
As truck drivers are as a rule better trained than the average driver of a car, the cause of a truck accident on the freeway can be the result of the failure by the driver of another vehicle failing to yield the right of way to a commercial truck unable to move to another lane while merging into traffic. In such an event, the driver of the car merging without looking will commonly be found to be the primary cause of the truck accident.
When two or more commercial trucks are involved in a truck accident, one of the most common causes of such an accident is fatigue that causes the driver of one 18-wheeler truck to run into the rear of a second big rig commercial truck.
If you’ve been involved in a commercial truck accident, on the freeway, on a rural road or around town, or by a landscaping truck, garbage truck or delivery truck, call the offices of Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson immediately. Our office will go into motion without delay to preserve evidence crucial to your case. Whether your accident is in Palm Desert, Coachella, Orange County or anywhere in California, the right choice for you and your family after a truck collision resulting in injuries or loss of life is California Truck Accident Attorney Sebastian Gibson.
The Right Choice in Personal Injury Attorneys
When you’ve been injured in a truck accident in the Coachella Valley or anywhere in California, finding the right Palm Desert accident attorney is essential to protect your rights and to make sure you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and all you’ve been through.
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson offers over 45 years of experience representing traffic accident victims and clients who deserve the best in legal representation and is ready to provide immediate assistance to you and yours after an accident.
When you work with Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson, you’re working with a Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer named a Top Lawyer in Palm Springs Life Magazine year after year after year, and an attorney you can count on who has the determination to obtain a result you can be proud of.
Tired of trying to reach an attorney who will actually answer your calls or respond to your emails? Call us and see the difference when you’ve chosen the right Palm Desert truck accident lawyer for your case.
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson has now been named a 2024 Top Lawyer by the prestigious Palm Springs Life Magazine for the 14th year in a row. You can feel confident you’ve made the right choice when you retain Sebastian Gibson as your truck accident lawyer.
It’s The Right Thing To Do, Call Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson
If you’ve recently injured in a Palm Desert car, bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycle or truck accident and you want to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, it’s essential you get the best Palm Desert truck accident lawyer you can find.
Now is the time to retain a Palm Desert auto accident attorney before an insurance company tries to take advantage of you or lumps your case into their lowest ranked groups of cases handled by adjusters who specialize just in dealing with people who don’t have car accident attorneys representing them.
Accident Statistics for Palm Desert
In 2012, Palm Desert, had 296 victims killed or injured in accidents. 19 were accidents in which alcohol was involved. 9 were motorcycle accidents, 7 were pedestrian accidents, and 15 were bicycle accidents. The rest were car accidents.
74 of the accidents in Palm Desert were speed related accidents, 16 were accidents which took place at night and 10 were hit and run accidents.
Palm Desert Bicycle, Car, Motorcycle, Truck and Pedestrian Accidents
There are a number of factors which contribute to the risk of a traffic collision. They include the vehicle design, speed, the design of the road, road conditions, the skill of the driver, the condition of the car, motorcycle or truck, a driver’s impairment, and the behavior of the driver such as whether the driver was texting, changing the radio station or dealing with kids or a dog.
Research has shown that the risk of a crash increases both for drivers who travel slower than the average speed as well as for drivers who travel higher than the average speed.
However, the risk of a car collision and injury rises exponentially as the driver travels at higher and higher speeds as does the severity of injury and lethality.
Most crashes related to speed involve drivers speeding too fast for conditions.
Driver error, intoxication and other human factors contribute in whole or in part to 93% of all crashes.
A survey of British car drivers found that most thought they were better drivers than average drivers and that after being in a crash, nearly all did not believe themselves to be at fault.
While younger drivers have good reaction times, young male drivers have a disproportionately higher number of accidents. While older drivers have slower reaction times, they tend to drive less and more cautiously.
Teens and early twenty-aged drivers have the highest incidence of accidents and fatalities. The highest accident incidence rate occurs within the first year of licensed driving.
A location that may not look dangerous may have a high crash frequency while drivers who perceive a location to be hazardous may take more care.
In rollover accidents, 83% of ejections during the rollover are fatal when the driver does not wear a seat belt, compared to 25% when they do.
Motorcyclists are more than twice as likely to suffer severe injuries after a collision than drivers of cars.
Palm Desert Truck Accidents and Insurance Companies
If you’ve been injured in any type of truck accident, while riding your bicycle, walking as a pedestrian in or out of a crosswalk, riding a motorcycle or in an accident with a big rig or tractor trailer truck, now is the time to retain a Palm Desert truck accident lawyer before an insurance company tries to take advantage of your situation.
If you’ve suffered a dog bite or been the victim of an animal attack, the injuries can be so severe you may need to be treated with antibiotics for weeks or months to prevent the need for more extensive treatment. If you’ve lost a loved one in a wrongful death accident with fatalities, the calculation of the damages you’re entitled to for your loss are in many cases complex beyond belief and a Palm Desert wrongful death attorney is essential.
If you’ve been seriously injured in your car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian or motorcycle accident, we can refer you to medical providers who will treat you on a lien basis where they wait to be paid until your case is settled. As your Palm Desert truck accident attorneys, we’ll advise you how to get paid for the damage to your auto or other motor vehicle and be reimbursed for a car rental. We may even be able to obtain your traffic collision report online from some police departments.
At the conclusion of your accident case after we’ve negotiated a settlement that provides the compensation you deserve for your injuries, your pain and suffering, wage loss and out of pocket expenses, our car accident lawyers will make a concerted effort to get your medical bills reduced in order to put more money in your pocket when all is said and done.
Although you have the choice to try to handle your auto accident or other personal injury by yourself, should you decide to do so, the insurance company in question will view your case in an entirely different light. Without any need to offer a settlement that includes a sufficient amount in pain and suffering for attorney’s fees, to an insurance company, your case will have only a nuisance value.
Realizing you’re unrepresented by an experienced Palm Desert truck accident lawyer, they’ll offer you only a paltry amount. Their meager offer will either include nothing or only a nominal amount for your pain and suffering. And their offer is likely to include nothing for your future medical treatment, your wage loss, your out of pocket expenses or the loss of use of your car while it was being repaired or totaled.
An insurance company won’t refer you to medical providers for treatment, won’t pay for your medical expenses up front, and in many cases won’t even tell you what you’re entitled to in the way of car rental expenses or for the loss of use of your car. And, unlike an experienced Palm Desert personal injury attorney, they won’t seek reductions of medical expenses you owe after your treatment or amounts you may owe to your health insurance company.
Palm Desert Truck Accident Lawyer Sebastian Gibson can advise you how to get the most for the damage to your car, truck or motorcycle, what you’re entitled to in the way of car rental expenses or the loss of use of your vehicle should you decide not to rent a replacement vehicle and our law firm won’t take a penny from your property damage settlement.
In fact, you pay us nothing unless we’re successful in obtaining a personal injury settlement or a mediation, arbitration or judicial award in your case. Personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis by our office, which means we advance the costs of your case for such things as obtaining the police report and medical records and we are reimbursed for those costs only at the conclusion of your case and only if we’re successful in getting you a settlement or award for your damages.
Retaining an experienced Palm Desert truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Sebastian Gibson is one of the best things you can do for yourself after a truck accident in Palm Desert.
