Every year, over a hundred serious road crash injuries occur in Oakland, California. Some are even so severe they result in deaths. That makes the city one of the most dangerous in the Golden State for motorists and pedestrians.
The sheer number of trucks on Oakland roads, in turn, contributes to those hazards. After all, it's home to the fourth-largest US port, the Port of Oakland, which 6,000 to 7,000 trucks call on regularly.
But what makes a truck accident so dangerous, though, and which one was the city's deadliest? Is there anything you can do if you ever find yourself involved in one?
Keep reading, as this guide answers all those questions (and more).
Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Consumer vehicles weigh between 1,500 and 5,500 pounds. The most massive commercial vehicles, including loaded tractor-trailers, weigh 80,000 pounds. The latter can also go up to 80 feet long.
That heavier weight causes trucks to have a much longer braking distance than small cars. It's also why they have more force, causing more damage in a collision. The impact can also dislodge loads, further raising the risk of wreckage, injury, or death.
What Was Oakland's Deadliest Truck Accident?
There are many, but one of the most recent took place on November 27, 2020, on West Oaklands's Interstate 880. The crash, which involved a big rig, killed a 16-year-old boy whose car stalled in the middle of the freeway. The officers who rushed to the site pronounced him dead at the scene.
Another fatal crash occurred in February 2020, involving a car and a truck trailer. The small vehicle crashed into the trailer illegally parked on Middle Harbor Road. The 39-year-old woman driving the car died at the scene following the collision.
The month before that, on January 14, 2020, a semi-truck collided with a car. It happened in East Oakland, at Foothill Boulevard and 68th Avenue. The truck crashed into the smaller vehicle, killing one and injuring three others.
Worse, the semi-truck ended up crashing into a building. That resulted in both catching fire, causing even more damage.
Speaking of trucks crashing into buildings, one just happened on February 28, 2022. It was a firetruck accident; the vehicle swerved to avoid a car that turned left right in front of it. The good news is that no deaths occurred, but it still injured three firefighters.
Moreover, officials deemed the firetruck totaled, and the crash also damaged utility lines. It also displaced the building's occupants after leaving a gaping hole in the wall.
What to Do After a Truck Accident?
Stop, switch your hazard lights on, and check if you or your passengers have any injuries. After that, see if anyone else sustained injuries and if they need emergency help. Then, dial 911 and call the local police department or the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
What If There Aren't Visible Injuries?
Whiplash injuries, brain injuries, and organ damage don't always show symptoms right away. So, visit a doctor soon after your Oakland truck accident, even if you don't have apparent injuries. The healthcare professional can run tests on you to confirm whether you have injuries or not.
If you do, please undergo treatment immediately to prevent long-term effects. Take good care of your medical records, too, as you need them when filing a claim with your insurance company. They can also serve as evidence if you decide to sue the parties at fault for the accident.
Should You Get Legal Help?
Yes. An Oakland truck accident attorney can build your case on your behalf as you recuperate. That includes collecting evidence, talking to witnesses, and looking into the accident's cause.
Moreover, you can expect your lawyer to fight for your rights as a victim by doing the following.
Establishing Fault
One of the primary goals of your truck accident lawyer is to establish fault. They do that as per California's pure comparative negligence system. It's the method used to determine liability in personal injury claims.
The compensation you get, in turn, depends on the at-fault driver's extent of liability. For instance, suppose the other party was 100% at fault for the accident. Then by law, there should be no deduction to the payment you receive for the damages you sustain.
That's what your truck accident lawyer should aim for; the highest amount you deserve.
Protection From Common Insurance Ploys
Your attorney also protects you from low-ball offers from the other party's insurer. Those are common tactics employed by insurance companies to protect their interests.
If the other party doesn't want to pay or puts the blame on you, your attorney counters their claims with facts. Then, if the at-fault driver (or their insurer) is still unreasonable, your lawyer can file a lawsuit.
If necessary and feasible, your legal team may also take your case to trial.
Free Consultation and Contingency Fee Arrangement
Reputable Oakland accident lawyers offer a free consultation. They can review your case and give you input on what to expect during the appointment. It's at no cost to you, so take advantage of this if you're still on the fence about hiring an attorney.
Moreover, the most reliable Oakland truck accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. So, you don't have to pay them until they win your case. If they don't, then they also get nothing.
That alone should tell you how hard you can expect them to work on your behalf.
Get Legal Help for Truck Accidents
As you can see, truck accidents can be so deadly they don't even have to be moving to cause fatalities. Their size, weight, and structure alone are enough to injure or kill people in smaller cars.
So, if you or a loved one was in a truck accident in Oakland, consider hiring an attorney as soon as possible.
Are you ready to seek professional legal advice for a traumatic truck accident? If so, our experienced lawyers at Kerley Schaffer LLP can help. Please don't hesitate to call us now to request your free consultation.