Defining Catastrophic Injuries
Unlike injuries that heal over time, a catastrophic injury is one that permanently alters a victim’s life. The immense force involved in collisions with large commercial trucks often leads to these life-changing outcomes. By definition, catastrophic injuries from truck accidents are severe, long-term, and prevent a person from performing gainful work or living as they did before. They require a lifetime of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and personal assistance, making the calculation of future damages a critical part of any legal claim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
The violent jolt of a truck crash on the I-5 or 91 Freeway can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even a “mild” TBI can have severe consequences, including chronic headaches, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. More severe TBIs can lead to permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, loss of motor function, and a permanent inability to live independently. These injuries are often invisible but completely alter a person’s life and relationships.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The spinal cord is the communication superhighway between the brain and the rest of the body. When it is damaged or severed in a high-impact truck accident, the results are devastating. Depending on the location of the injury, a spinal cord injury can lead to paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) or quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs). Victims face a lifetime of challenges, requiring mobility aids, extensive home modifications, and round-the-clock medical care.
Amputations and Severe Burns
The crushing force of a truck accident can cause a limb to be traumatically amputated at the scene or damaged so severely that it requires surgical removal later. Similarly, fires or chemical spills resulting from a crash can cause disfiguring, third-degree burns over large parts of the body. Both injuries result in permanent disfigurement, chronic pain, and require extensive rehabilitation, including prosthetics and multiple skin graft surgeries. An experienced truck accident lawyer understands the immense physical and psychological toll these injuries take.
Top Causes of Major Truck Accidents on Southern California Freeways
While many factors can contribute to a collision, most devastating truck accidents are not accidents at all—they are the predictable result of negligence. The intense pressure of logistics and delivery schedules can lead trucking companies and their drivers to cut corners on safety. Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents on high-traffic corridors like the I-5 and 91 Freeway is essential for holding the right parties accountable after a crash.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal law strictly limits the number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road without rest. These Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which impairs judgment and reaction time as much as alcohol. When trucking companies pressure drivers to violate these rules to meet deadlines, they knowingly put everyone on the road at risk, making them liable for the resulting harm.
Speeding to Meet Deadlines
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and takes the length of a football field to come to a complete stop. When a truck driver speeds, they dramatically reduce their ability to react to sudden traffic changes. This dangerous behavior is a frequent cause of rear-end collisions and jackknife accidents that lead to catastrophic injuries from truck accidents.
Unsecured Cargo and Tire Blowouts
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring cargo is properly loaded, balanced, and secured. When cargo shifts or falls onto the freeway, it can cause the driver to lose control or create a deadly obstacle for other vehicles. Similarly, a tire blowout on a large truck, often caused by poor maintenance and inspection, can send a truck veering uncontrollably across multiple lanes of traffic.
Distracted or Impaired Driving
Like all motorists, truck drivers can be susceptible to distractions from cell phones, dispatch radios, or GPS devices. However, the consequences are exponentially greater due to the size and weight of their vehicles. Driving a commercial truck while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a catastrophic breach of duty that almost guarantees a tragic outcome. A skilled truck accident lawyer will investigate all these potential causes.
Top Causes of Major Truck Accidents on Southern California Freeways
While many factors can contribute to a collision, most devastating truck accidents are not accidents at all—they are the predictable result of negligence. The intense pressure of logistics and delivery schedules can lead trucking companies and their drivers to cut corners on safety. Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents on high-traffic corridors like the I-5 and 91 Freeway is essential for holding the right parties accountable after a crash.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal law strictly limits the number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road without rest. These Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which impairs judgment and reaction time as much as alcohol. When trucking companies pressure drivers to violate these rules to meet deadlines, they knowingly put everyone on the road at risk, making them liable for the resulting harm.
Speeding to Meet Deadlines
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and takes the length of a football field to come to a complete stop. When a truck driver speeds, they dramatically reduce their ability to react to sudden traffic changes. This dangerous behavior is a frequent cause of rear-end collisions and jackknife accidents that lead to catastrophic injuries from truck accidents.
Unsecured Cargo and Tire Blowouts
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring cargo is properly loaded, balanced, and secured. When cargo shifts or falls onto the freeway, it can cause the driver to lose control or create a deadly obstacle for other vehicles. Similarly, a tire blowout on a large truck, often caused by poor maintenance and inspection, can send a truck veering uncontrollably across multiple lanes of traffic.
Distracted or Impaired Driving
Like all motorists, truck drivers can be susceptible to distractions from cell phones, dispatch radios, or GPS devices. However, the consequences are exponentially greater due to the size and weight of their vehicles. Driving a commercial truck while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a catastrophic breach of duty that almost guarantees a tragic outcome. A skilled truck accident lawyer will investigate all these potential causes.
Kohan & Bablove: Fighting for Your Future
The aftermath of a severe truck accident is a journey that lasts a lifetime, and you should not have to face it alone. At Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys, we understand that claims involving catastrophic injuries from truck accidents are fundamentally different. Our mission is to secure a future where your medical needs and financial stability are protected, allowing you to focus on adapting to your new reality.
We Work with Life Care Planners and Economic Experts
Proving the full scope of future damages requires more than just legal skill; it demands a team of specialists. Our truck accident lawyers collaborate with renowned life care planners to create a detailed, evidence-based roadmap of your future medical needs. We also work with leading economic experts to calculate the total loss of your earning capacity. This expert-driven approach ensures we present an undeniable case for the full compensation you will need for life.
Our Commitment to Securing the Resources You Need for Life
Our commitment goes beyond just winning a settlement; it’s about ensuring you have the financial resources to live with dignity and security. When you are facing the consequences of a crash on the I-5 or 91 Freeway, we fight tirelessly so you and your family have the support system you need, for life.
Is it just the driver, or can the trucking company be held responsible for the crash?
In almost all cases, both the driver and their employer (the trucking company) can be held liable. The company is responsible for its driver’s negligence, as well as its own failures in hiring, training, and properly maintaining its fleet. Our truck accident lawyers will investigate all responsible parties to maximize your recovery.
Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys was founded by three former defense attorneys who were tired of helping insurance companies and big corporations save money by paying the least amount possible to resolve claims. We wanted to open a law firm where we could use our years of experience handling the toughest and largest claims to benefit the individual. Each of us were tired of being cogs in the wheel that focused on paying the least amount possible to injured persons regardless of injuries or the validity of their claims.
