Truck Accident FAQ

Answers from a Chico Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have recently been involved in a truck accident, you may be feeling overwhelmed and nervous about going head-to-head with the trucking company and their insurance company. At the Law Office of Adam Sorrells, we have over 25 years of experience handling complex truck accident claims and welcome the opportunity to represent you on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don't charge any upfront fees and we don't get paid unless we recover compensation for you.

As a member of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a prestigious professional organization which represents less than 1% of attorneys nationwide, you can be rest assured that attorney Sorrells is qualified to handle your truck accident case. For your convenience, we have complied a list of frequently asked questions about truck accidents.

How many people are killed in truck accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports that in 2012, 3,921 people were killed in truck accidents and another 104,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks (gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 pounds).

Are most fatal truck accidents single vehicle or multi-vehicle crashes?

According to the NHTSA, in 2012, large trucks were more likely to be involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash as opposed to a fatal single-vehicle crash (81% of fatal crashes involving large trucks are multiple-vehicle crashes, as compared to 58% of fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles).

Are truck accidents more common in urban or rural settings?

In 2012, 63% of fatal truck accidents occurred in rural settings, compared to 37% in urban areas. (NHTSA)

When are truck accidents more likely to occur?

According to 2012 data, a whopping 78% of fatal truck accidents occurred on the weekdays compared to 22% on the weekend.

Who is in charge of regulating truck drivers?

Truck drivers are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Are drivers limited to how many hours they can drive?

Yes they are. Drivers must adhere to the "hours of service" rules established by the FMCSA. For example, under Section 395.3, covering maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles, no driver shall operate a property-carrying commercial vehicle after having been on duty for a 60 hour period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier doesn't operate motor vehicles every day of the week.

How much does a loaded semi-truck weigh?

The maximum weight for a semi-truck and fully loaded trailer is 80,000 pounds, spread over 18 wheels.

Are truckers allowed to text while driving?

The FMCSA has published new rules that restrict texting and using hand-held cellular phones by truckers and bus drivers while operating a commercial vehicle. According to the FMCSA, texting means manually entering a text or reading a text from an electronic device. As of 2014, a truck driver is subject to up to $2,750 in fines and employers may be fined up to $11,000 who allow or require their drivers to use hand-held devices for texting while driving.

Can truckers be held liable for truck accidents?

Absolutely. While truck accidents are less frequent than passenger vehicle accidents, truckers are people too and prone to human error just like everybody else. Unfortunately, truckers can cause major accidents because of faulty brakes, fatigued driving, drugged or drunk driving, speeding, texting while driving, or simply driver inattention or driver recklessness.

Injured in a truck accident? Contact the Law Office of Adam Sorrells!

Due to the massive size of semi-trucks, when they are involved in an accident with a smaller passenger sized vehicle or truck, they can cause massive property damage and catastrophic if not, life-threatening injuries for the drivers and passengers of other vehicles.

We offer free case evaluations and take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means, no recovery, no fee. We won't charge you any upfront fees and you don't pay for our services unless we win your case. You deserve maximum financial compensation, let us use our 25+ years of experience to fight the insurance company so you don't have to!