The holiday season brings with it an uptick in highway traffic. Families travel up and down the freeway to see relatives while delivery trucks rush to meet holiday deadlines. Unfortunately, this surge in traffic can also make truck accidents far more likely. That’s why, as a driver, it’s important to know when it’s time to bring in a truck accident lawyer in California.

At Milligan Beswick Levine & Knox, LLP, we know how hard it can be to get justice after a truck accident. Trucking companies have their own legal teams fighting for them, and you deserve a truck accident attorney who advocates for you. Our team has several dedicated personal injury attorneys in California, including Patrick Milligan. He has spent decades fighting for accident victims, both in negotiations that lead to settlements and in the courtroom. Call us at 909-894-0812 to set up a consultation with our truck accident law firm now.

Peak Travel Times Are Coming

The combination of high traffic volume and pressure from trucking companies to complete deliveries creates the perfect storm for severe truck accidents that leave injured victims and property damage in their wake.

Several key highways run through this part of California, including I-10, I-15, and I-215. These highways can get backed up in the best of times, and in November and December, the congestion is even worse. Expect more sudden stops, lane changes, and obstacles requiring immediate reaction—all of which increase the likelihood of a collision.

Driver fatigue is a serious issue at this time of year. Truck drivers are under enormous pressure to complete their trips by their deadlines, whether or not those deadlines are realistic. Even though the FMCSA has strict hours-of-service regulations in place, trucking companies are known to push drivers past their limits to hit holiday goals. This means an increase in exhausted drivers on the road.

While California misses the worst of winter weather, we still see our share of rain, fog, and the occasional bit of mountain snow. These conditions, combined with tired drivers and heavy traffic, increase the likelihood of a truck collision.

Finally, even those in personal vehicles are a little bit more distracted at this time of year. Whether they’re traveling to a family member’s house, picking up gifts, or trying to get to work on time, they may be physically driving while their mind is on their to-do list.

Holiday Safety Tips

Perhaps you can’t affect how truck drivers choose to operate, but you can take steps to protect yourself and minimize your odds of needing a truck accident attorney.

First, leave trucks plenty of space. Take however much space you think they need, and then give them even more, just to be safe. Trucks have massive blind spots on all four sides, and hovering in those blind spots for too long dramatically increases your likelihood of a collision.

Stay calm in traffic. This may mean leaving earlier so you’re not rushing and choosing routes that might take a little bit longer but won’t stress you out quite as badly. Weaving between lanes and braking suddenly can put you and others in danger.

Adjust your driving to account for current weather conditions. A little bit of rain and fog might not feel too bad, but they can profoundly affect your ability to drive safely. Slow down when necessary, even if it means being late. It’s better to be late than to be involved in an accident.

Schedule your drives for less-busy times whenever possible. People often hit the road the day right before a holiday, so try to avoid times when you’ll be sharing the road with rushed, impatient, and anxious drivers. Make sure you have lots of rest and consider sharing driving duties to avoid fatigue.

Caltrans is a great resource for holiday drives. You can enter the highway number you plan on traveling to find out if there’s heavy traffic, a crash, slick roads, or other issues that may affect your drive.

Injured in a Truck Accident? Call Our Truck Accident Law Firm

At Milligan Beswick Levine & Knox, LLP, we are committed to helping accident victims hold negligent drivers accountable. If you’re ready to discuss your case with a truck accident lawyer, call us at 909-894-0812 or send us a message online.