Sepulveda Boulevard is a major lifeline across western Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. It runs for around 40 miles from Manhattan Beach up north nearly to San Fernando. It carries thousands of motorists daily.
It’s also a route for bigger trucks as they mix in from Freeway 405. These big rigs help keep the supply chain flowing by restocking store shelves and moving valuable crops in and out of Southern California. Unfortunately, with a careless driver at the wheel, a semi-truck or delivery van can become a dangerous weapon in traffic.
After an accident, victims with a serious injury must often act quickly to ensure they are covered by the at-fault truck driver’s insurance policy and perhaps the policy supplied by the driver’s employer.
Big Rig Accident Dangers on Sepulveda Boulevard
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and those in smaller vehicles must work to stay out of the way of these enormous trucks and vans. Because too often, truck drivers on Sepulveda Boulevard are focused on anything but the road.
Truck drivers and delivery workers often focus on their phones and computers to find new destinations and get order updates. They can also simply be looking at a text or email and missing the traffic light turning from green to red ahead.
Sepulveda had countless intersections along its snake-like route. Crossing over busy thoroughfares like Ventura Boulevard and the Wilshire Boulevard provides countless opportunities for an out-of-control truck to initiate a multi-vehicle accident.
These accidents often leave the injured to beg commercial insurance companies for help with recovery costs. Victims are encouraged to take advantage of a free consultation with a skilled Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer to find out what they can do to help secure injury compensation.
Common Injuries in Sepulveda Boulevard Truck Accidents
The weight and shape of these enormous trucks make them a definite hazard on the narrow lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard.
A fully loaded big rig with a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000lbs. An empty box truck can weigh between 14,000 and 16,000lbs and carry an additional 10,000lbs of cargo. These trucks weigh so much that stopping for a red light or construction delays can require an incredible amount of open road.
Inattentive big rig drivers missing just a few seconds of warning by turning their attention from the lanes can lose their chance to make a full stop before ramming another car. The impacts at any angle will be at elevated forces, putting the well-being of occupants of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists in jeopardy.
Emergency rooms see the effects of these collisions on a regular basis. These are some of the most common outcomes for patients:
- Bone Fractures: Legs and arms often absorb the most impact force in a big rig collision. Broken hands, wrists, and ankles are common.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): A blow to the head can lead to seizures, amnesia, and a loss of control over body parts.
- Spine Injuries: Thoracic Spine Injuries occur in the upper middle part of the back and involve nerve damage. Damage here may cause a loss of sensation in the legs and a loss of control over urine and stool.
- Back injuries: Muscles and discs take damage and can cause mild pain or debilitating symptoms that can linger for a lifetime.
- Chest Damage: Injuries to the chest wall are common in truck accidents where victims face crushing force from many different directions. The bones and muscles protecting your heart and lungs can take serious damage. This would include breaks in the ribs and sternum.
- Permanent Physical Disability: Victims with a permanent disability often have to relearn how to manage home life. They could need training for a new career or they may be unable to return to a full-time job ever again. A Los Angeles Big Rig Accident Attorney works to make sure victims and their families receive full injury support no matter how long a victim may need it.
Determining Who to Sue After a Big Rig Accident and When
Your Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer would also help you determine just how many insurance companies should be providing you with economic support. You’ll have commercial insurance policies to draw from if truck drivers work for themselves. A claim might also target a local trucking company or national corporation that hired the driver. A claim against both policies might be required in order to get every medical bill and your lost time at work fully reimbursed.
You’ll have two years from the date of your accident to file an injury claim. However, you shouldn’t wait too long because evidence disappears and witnesses move away or become hard to locate. Speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to give your case the best chance of earning what’s fair for your injury.
Another way to help your lawyer secure the maximum compensation for you and your family is to collect evidence at the scene. Make sure to take photos of all vehicle damage and show logos from the company the driver works for. Take time to discuss what happened with witnesses and get their contact information.
Contact a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury due to the careless actions of another Los Angeles big rig driver, don’t allow an insurance company to determine what you should receive in compensation.
A devastating truck crash along Sepulveda Boulevard might leave you off your feet, unable to work, and with no way to pay your growing medical bills. You must take action to secure compensation for each hardship you and your family have faced.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family. We want to make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover and rebuild your life.
