The cement truck on the roadway can create a serious risk for traffic and pedestrians around them and for the truck’s driver.
Cement trucks often involve unique issues. Cement truck accidents are unlike other accidents involving smaller vehicles and can result in severe injuries or death.
Rolling over is not uncommon for these types of trucks. The uneven weight distribution can cause a cement truck to roll over at just five mph while the driver is making a 90-degree turn.
Usually, this would sound like the truck driver could make turns slower, but that is not the case with cement. The drivers usually rush to reach their destination with the cement wet.
Cement can dry inside the truck, which the driver will avoid at all costs, which raises the risk the cement truck poses on the roads.
Cement Truck Licensing
In California, for example, the driver of this kind of truck must have a Class A driver’s license to operate a cement truck, which can weigh 26,000 pounds or more when loaded.
There are specific rules for this type of license, and the driver must pass testing, including:
- A CDL Road Test
- Air Breaks
- Pre-Trip Inspections
- General Knowledge Testing
- Combination Vehicle Testing
- Basic Skills Testing
- Testing for Applicable Endorsements
This testing does not provide experience. It ensures the driver knows the basics and the regulations to operate a cement truck or any large truck.
When the driver is not experienced, well-trained, or violates safety regulations learned during training, the chance of involvement in an accident or rolling over while turning increases greatly.
What Passenger Vehicle Drivers Don’t Often Comprehend
Drivers of passenger vehicles often do not realize that the most common type of cement truck accidents involves collisions and rollovers.
Most drivers do not understand or think about the high center of gravity with this type of truck, which makes the balance off when making sharp turns and can quickly flip over.
Cement trucks are difficult to maneuver, so the truck driver can fail to see obstacles from their direct line of vision and drift out of the lane into oncoming traffic.
The size and weight of the truck make it difficult for the cement truck driver to quickly maneuver back into their lane.
A collision with a cement truck can result in critical injuries or even death, and drivers that fail to obey traffic laws place themselves and those around them in danger when traveling near a cement truck.
Poor Vision Ability
Cement trucks are like other large trucks on the roadway, meaning the driver has blind spots.
The cement truck driver cannot see the vehicle that is in one of these blind spots, and that creates a hazard.
When a vehicle or construction workers are directly behind the cement truck, the driver cannot see the vehicle or person in the driver’s blind spot.
This places them at risk of the cement truck backing over people or colliding with the vehicle behind them.
Cement Trucks are Unstable
The design, with the high center of gravity and the weight of the wet cement, makes the cement truck unstable.
The mechanical parts to load and unload the wet cement can also pose a danger if a mechanical failure or malfunction occurs.
Several factors can cause it; the operator of the truck can be inexperienced, there can be a defective design, or the operator is intoxicated while operating the cement truck.
Seeking Justice for Accident Victims: Cement Truck Accident Lawyers Ensure Accountability
When a cement truck is involved in an accident that causes injuries or fatalities, the repercussions can devastate the victims and their families.
In such cases, holding the driver and the company accountable for their actions becomes crucial.
Cement truck accident lawyers play a vital role in seeking justice for the victims by employing their expertise in personal injury law and navigating the complexities of these cases.
The Unique Challenges of Cement Truck Accidents
Cement truck accidents pose unique challenges due to these vehicles’ size, weight, and characteristics.
Cement trucks are massive, unwieldy machines carrying heavy loads, making them more prone to accidents.
The sheer force of impact resulting from a collision can cause severe injuries or even fatalities to those involved.
Holding the Driver Accountable for Causing a Cement Truck Accident
Cement truck accident lawyers diligently investigate the accident’s circumstances to determine liability and hold the driver accountable for their actions by the following:
- Gathering crucial evidence, such as accident reports, and witness statements
- Obtaining expert analysis of the scene
By analyzing factors such as driver fatigue, intoxication, distracted driving, or negligence, these lawyers build a strong case against the driver to establish liability.
Vicarious Liability: Holding the Company Responsible
Beyond holding the driver accountable, cement truck accident lawyers delve into the legal principle of vicarious liability.
With the doctrine of Respondeat Superior, they aim to establish that the trucking company or employer shares responsibility for the accident.
By demonstrating that the driver was acting within the scope of their employment, the lawyers argue that the company should bear the legal consequences for their employee’s actions.
This approach ensures that the victim’s compensation is not solely dependent on the driver’s personal assets but also encompasses the company’s resources.
Advocating for Victims’ Rights
Cement truck accident lawyers are passionate advocates for accident victims’ rights.
They understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll such incidents can impose on individuals and families.
These lawyers work diligently to calculate the full extent of damages, considering medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
Through skilled negotiation or litigation, they fight tirelessly to secure just compensation for their clients, aiming to alleviate their burdens and help them rebuild their lives.
Encouraging Safer Practices
Beyond seeking justice on behalf of their clients, cement truck accident lawyers play a crucial role in encouraging safer practices within the industry.
By holding drivers and companies accountable, truck accident lawyers convey a powerful message that negligence and recklessness will not be tolerated.
Their efforts create a ripple effect, compelling trucking companies to prioritize driver training, vehicle maintenance, and adherence to safety regulations.
Through their efforts, these lawyers contribute to preventing future accidents and protecting innocent lives.
