Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Truck Accidents | The Mason Law Firm

Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Truck Accidents | The Mason Law Firm.

Truck accidents (i.e. accidents between a truck and a passenger vehicle) result in serious injuries due to the difference in the weight of the two vehicles.  For example, the legal weight of an 18-wheeler in the United States is 80,000 lbs. (i.e. 40 tons). while the average passenger vehicle weighs somewhere around 5,000 lbs.

The injuries can be significant, if not fatal.  In fact, studies gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, show that in 2005, accidents involving such large trucks resulted in 5,212 fatalities.  For these reasons, there are special safety rules and regulations that truck drivers must follow, regardless of whether the driver is an employee of the truck company or an owner-operator.

What are some potential causes of truck accidents?

1.  Driving too fast.

The length of time it takes an 18-wheeler to stop is generally about 40% greater than that of a passenger vehicle.  This estimate may vary depending on the weight of load the truck is carrying, weather conditions, road conditions and whether or not the truck is bobtailing (i.e. whether the truck is being driven without an attached trailer).

2.  Driving too close.

Often times, a truck driver is driving too close to the vehicle in front of him and when that vehicle stops, the truck may not have sufficient distance to stop before striking the vehicle.

3.  Driver Fatigue.

Pursuant to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, truck drivers must keep logs, showing their hours of operation (driving) and their off-duty hours.  These strict guidelines, created to reduce driver fatigue or to keep them to a minimum, must be adhered to by truck drivers.  When a driver fails to adhere to these rules, fatigue may set in, making him a dangerous driver.

4.  Driver Error.

Because of the height of his truck, a truck driver may fail to see a passenger vehicle in his blind spot or see a pedestrian crossing the street.  As a result, the truck may strike another vehicle or the pedestrian.

5.  Driver Distraction.

A truck driver can get distracted by using a cell phone, by conversing with his passenger or by being preoccupied with the radio.  These distractions can make him a danger on the road, resulting in a truck accident.

6.  Load Shift.

If a truck load is not tied down properly, it can shift during transport.  If that happens, the weight of the load can cause the driver to lose control of his truck, resulting in a truck accident.

7.  Driver Aggression.

Truck drivers are on strict time schedules, especially when they are delivering perishable goods.  If a driver is running late, he tends to become more aggressive, placing others at risk.

What Are The Legal Rights of Truck Accident Victims?

Due to the serious nature of such injuries, it is very important to contact an attorney familiar with both truck accidents and auto accidents.

The Mason Law Firm Truck Accident Attorneys is managed by Personal Injury Attorney Mason Rashtian.  Before opening his own practice, Mason Rashtian was an insurance defense attorney.  In that capacity, Mason defended truck drivers involved in catastrophic accidents, including cases involving fatalities, T-bone collisions, side-swipe collisions, and rear-end collisions.  Additionally, he handled cases with less serious injuries such as rotator cuff tears, herniated discs, whiplash and back pain.  Needless to say, he has seen it all.

Mason has litigated truck accident cases all throughout California, including, but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Palm Springs/Indio area.

If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, semi-tractor trailer or an 18-wheeler, it is important to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney, such as Mason Rashtian.  We will provide you with an honest and complete assessment.

There is never a fee unless there is recovery in the case.

Conveniently Located

For a free consultation on your injury case, please contact us at one of our five locations:

Beverly Hills
433 North Camden Drive, Suite 600, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
800-577-0149

Burbank
3500 West Olive Avenue, 3rd Floor, Burbank, CA 91505
818-533-1671

San Fernando Valley
15303 Ventura Blvd., 9th Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-533-1671

Santa Clarita Valley
27240 Turnberry Lane, Suite 200, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
661-362-0805

Woodland Hills
5850 Canoga Avenue, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-533-1671

You can also reach us by email:  mason@mrscvlaw.com

Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Truck Accidents | The Mason Law Firm

“We Meet Our Clients By Accident”

The information provided in the following articles is for information purposes only. If you feel you have a personal injury case, please contact us for a FREE case evaluation.

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Statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), reveals that in 2005, truck accidents (i.e. accidents involving large trucks and passenger vehicles) resulted in 5,212 fatalities.

It is no surprise that truck accidents can cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles because large trucks are often fast moving and disproportionately heavier that passenger vehicles.  In fact, an eighteen-wheeler traveling in the United States without an overweight permit can legally weight up to 80,000 lbs. (i.e. 40 tons).  In comparison, an average passenger vehicle (i.e. an average sedan) weighs about 5,000 lbs.

Because of the dangers involving large trucks, special safety rules and regulations have been implemented over the years.  These are rules which must be followed by truck drivers, regardless of whether the truck driver is an employee of the truck company or an owner-operator (i.e. owns his own rig).  It should be noted however that a truck accident can occur regardless of whether a truck driver adheres to or violates these safety rules and regulations.

What are some potential causes of truck accidents?

1.  Driving too close.

Often times, a truck driver is driving too close to the car in front of him and when the car stops, the truck does not have sufficient distance to stop before hitting the car.

2.  Driving too fast.

The length of time it takes an 18-wheeler to stop is much higher when compared to an average passenger car.  In fact, it takes an 18-wheeler generally 40% greater time, as compared to a passenger car, to stop.  This estimation can vary depending on the weight of load, weather and road conditions, and whether or not the truck is bobtailing (i.e. whether the truck is being driven without an attached trailer).

3.  Driver Fatigue.

Pursuant to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, truck drivers are required to keep logs, showing their driving hours (hours of operation) and their off-duty hours.  These strict guidelines were created to reduce driver fatigue or to keep fatigue to a minimum.  When a truck driver fails to follow these rules, fatigue can set in, making the driver a danger on the roads.

4.  Driver Error.

Sometimes, due to the height of the truck, a truck driver may not see a passenger car in his blind spot or see a pedestrian crossing the street.  This can lead to the truck striking the passenger car or the pedestrian.

5.  Driver Distraction.

A truck driver can get distracted by using a cell phone, conversing with his passenger or being preoccupied with the radio.  These distractions can be dangerous, resulting in a truck accident.

6.  Driver Aggression.

Truck drivers have strict time schedules, especially if the driver is delivering perishable goods.  If a driver is running late, he may act more aggressive on the road, placing other motorists at risk.

7.  Load Shift.

If a truck load is not tied down properly, it can shift during transport, and the weight of the load can cause the driver to lose control, resulting in a truck accident.

Legal Rights of Victims

Truck accidents can result in catastrophic and serious injuries.  Due to the severity of such injuries, it is very important to contact an accident attorney familiar with both truck and auto accidents.

The Mason Law Firm Truck Accident Attorneys is managed by Personal Injury Attorney Mason Rashtian.  Before he opened his own practice, Mason Rashtian was an insurance defense attorney.  In that capacity, Mason defended truck drivers and truck companies involved in catastrophic accidents, including cases involving fatalities, T-bone collisions, side-swipe collisions, and rear-end collisions.  He also handled cases with less serious injuries such as rotator cuff tears, herniated discs, whiplash and back pain.  Hence, he is very familiar with truck accidents.

Mason Rashtian has litigated truck accidents all throughout California, including, but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Palm Springs/Indio area.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, or some other personal injury event, and are seeking an honest and complete assessment of your case, please contact Mason Rashtian at The Mason Law Firm at (800) 577-0149, (661) 362-0805 or (818) 533-1671 for a free consultation.  There is never a fee unless there is a recovery in the case.

For more information, please visit our website at http://mrscvlaw.com

Santa Clarita Valley (SCV)

27240 Turnbery Lane, Suite 200, Valencia, CA 91355

San Fernando Valley (SFV)

15303 Ventura Blvd., 9th Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Burbank

3500 West Olive Avenue, 3rd Floor, Burbank, CA 91505

Licensed to practice law and serve clients throughout the State of California

Attorney Mason Rashtian | What is Personal Injury? | The Mason Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney

“We Meet Our Clients By Accident”

Attorneys often times use the phrase “personal injury”, without realizing that the general public may not fully understand this phrase.  What is personal injury?  Personal injury refers to any incident where a person suffers physical injuries and/or emotional distress.  Classic examples of personal injury cases include, but not limited to,

• Car accidents,
• Truck accidents,
• Bus accidents,
• Motorcycle accidents,
• Construction site accidents,
• Pedestrian accident,
• Bicycle accidents,
• Train accidents,
• Slip and falls,
• Animal attacks such as dog bites,
• Burn injuries,
• Nursing home incidents,
• Wrongful death,
• Amusement park accidents,
• Food poisoning,
• Electrocutions, and
• Using defective products.

In a personal injury action, the victim can seek recovery for his/her past and future medical bills, property damage, past and future loss of income, pain and suffering, inconvenience, and emotional distress.

Attorney Mason Rashtian is an experienced Personal Injury Attorney.  After graduating law school in 1997, he worked for prestigious law firms in Orange County and Los Angeles.  In 2006, he decided to open his own practice and now manages The Mason Law Firm, with 3 locations:

Santa Clarita Valley (SCV)

27240 Turnbery Lane, Suite 200, Valencia, CA 91355

San Fernando Valley (SFV)

15303 Ventura Blvd., 9th Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Burbank

3500 West Olive Avenue, 3rd Floor, Burbank, CA 91505

If you have been injured in an accident, slip and fall, dog bite, or some other personal injury event, and are seeking an honest and complete assessment of your case, please contact Mason Rashtian at The Mason Law Firm at (800) 577-0149, (661) 362-0805 or (818) 533-1671 for a free consultation.  There is never a fee unless there is a recovery in the case.

For more information, please visit our website at http://mrscvlaw.com

Licensed to practice law and serve clients throughout the State of California

Mason Rashtian | Car Accidents and Uninsured Motorist | The Mason Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to carry uninsured motorist coverage.  How does uninsured motorist protect you?

Uninsured Motorist

If you get into an accident with a careless driver who does not have insurance, then you can use your uninsured motorist coverage in place of the other driver’s insurance.  If you are injured, you can seek recovery of your medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages.

Underinsured Motorist

Uninsured motorist coverage also protects you if the careless driver does not have sufficient coverage under his or her policy.  In such a case, your uninsured motorist coverage could kick in and protect you up to the limits of your uninsured motorist coverage minus anything collected from the careless driver.

For example, you are injured in an accident and your medical bills total $25,000.  The careless driver has a $15,000 policy limit but you have $30,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.  Under this scenario, once you collect $15,000 from the careless driver, then you can seek additional $15,000 in coverage under your uninsured motorist coverage:  $30,000 (your uninsured policy limit) minus $15,000 (collected from the other driver) leaves you with $15,000 in additional coverage.

You need to be aware that not all auto policies include this coverage.  So, even if you believe that you have “full coverage”, you need to check with your agent to determine if you have uninsured motorist coverage in your auto policy.

Disclaimer:  This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm.  This article is only for informational purposes and not meant to serve as legal advice.

With offices located in the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), the San Fernando Valley (SFV), Pasadena, and an office opening in Beverly Hills, we handle personal injury cases all throughout Southern California.  For more information, please contact us at (800) 577-0149, or (661) 362-0805, or visit us at http://mrscvlaw.com

Attorney Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Attorney Interviewed by SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce | The Mason Law Firm

Mason Rashtian manages The Mason Law Firm, a premier personal injury law firm located in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys.  In his recent interview with SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce, Mason discusses his background:

If you have been injured as a result of an accident or some other personal injury event, please feel free to contact us at (800) 577-0149 or (661) 362-0805 for a free consultation.  There is never a fee unless there is recovery in the case.  For more information, please visit our website at http://mrscvlaw.com

Attorney Mason Rashtian | A Warning About Signing Documents After An Accident | The Mason Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney

After an accident, insurance companies mail various forms to any party injured in the accident and ask that the forms be filled out and/or signed.  Should you, if injured in an accident, sign such forms without speaking with a personal injury attorney.  As discussed in this video: no.

The information in this video is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm.  This article is only for informational purposes and not meant to serve as legal advice.

For more information about personal injury actions, including accidents, please contact us at (800) 577-0149 or (661) 362-0805.  You can also visit our website at:

http://mrscvlaw.com

http://sfvalleylaw.com

Attorney Mason Rashtian | Attorney Discusses The Importance of Seeking Early Treatment After an Accident | The Mason Law Firm | Injury Attorney

As explained in the following video, after an accident, it is very important to seek early treatment.

Attorney Mason Rashtian is the managing partner of The Mason Law Firm, dedicated to protecting victims rights in personal injury actions.  If you have been injured because someone else acted negligently or carelessly, and are looking for an honest assessment, please feel free to contact us at (800) 577-0149, (661) 362-0805 or (818) 700-8422. We do not charge a fee unless there is recovery in your case.  Also, please free to visit our website at:

http://mrscvlaw.com

http://sfvalleylaw.com

Attorney Mason Rashtian | Pedestrian and Car Accidents | The Mason Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney

Statistics gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations reveal that in 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the United States.  During the same time period, another 69,000 pedestrians were injured in accidents across the country.   When these numbers are broken down, they reveals that on average, 1 pedestrian is killed in traffic accidents every 2 hours and 1 pedestrian is injured every 8 minutes.

What are the major causes of these accidents?  What rights do pedestrians have when they are injured?

Pedestrian Accidents at Marked and Unmarked Crosswalks

Several Vehicle Code sections have been enacted to protect pedestrian rights.  One of those, California Vehicle Code Section 21950, was enacted to protect pedestrians in crosswalks.

As set forth under this section, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.  The right is given to all pedestrians within a “marked crosswalk” and within an “unmarked crosswalk”.  So, under the law, a pedestrian using an “unmarked crosswalk” at an intersection is given the same rights as a pedestrian using a “marked crosswalk.”

Pedestrians Struck on Sidewalks

Under California Vehicle Code Section 21952, pedestrians on sidewalks generally have the right-of-way over motorists.  So, when a motorist gets too eager and tries to enter or exit a shopping center and in the process strikes a pedestrian, the pedestrian is the one with the right-of-way.

Vehicles Stopped at Crosswalks

Sometimes, a motorist will fail to see a pedestrian in the crosswalk because there is another car stopped in front of the crosswalk that blocks the motorist’s view of the crosswalk.  Under California Vehicle Code Section 21951, when a vehicle is stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross, any motorist approaching the crosswalk must not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.  So, drivers approaching an intersection where another car is stopped, should slow down and be aware of possible pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Attorney Mason Rashtian is the managing partner of The Mason Law Firm, dedicated to protecting personal injury victims.  If you have been injured because of someone else acted negligently or carelessly, please feel free to contact us for an honest assessment of your case.  There is never a fee unless there is recovery in the case.  You can contact us at (800) 577-0149, (661) 362-0805 or (818) 700-8422.  You can also visit our website at:

http://mrscvlaw.com

http://sfvalleylaw.com

Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Attorney | Who Was Involved in the First Car Accident?

Ever wondered when the first car accident occurred?  How did it happen?  Who was the driver?

According to some source, the world’s first car accident occurred in 1891 in Ohio City, Ohio.  The driver given this distinction was named James William Lambert.

Mr. Lambert has apparently driving a single-cylinder gasoline automobile.  He had a passenger named James Swoveland.  The accident occurred when Mr. Lambert struck a tree root, causing his car to careen out of control and smash into a hitching post.

The injuries in this accident were apparently minor.  Mr. Lambert went on to patent over 600 inventions, mostly affiliated with the auto industry.

For questions about accidents, please feel free to contact us at (800) 577-0149, (661) 362-0805, or (818) 700-8422.  There is never a fee unless there is recovery in the case.

Also, please feel free to visit my website at:

http://mrscvlaw.com

http://sfvalleylaw.com

SCV and SFV Personal Injury Attorney | Mason Rashtian | The Mason Law Firm

Mason Rashtian is an experienced litigator who has represented clients since 1997.  As an attorney, Mr. Rashtian has successfully represented clients throughout the State of California including, but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Kern County, Orange County, Santa Barbara County, San Francisco, the Inland Empire, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

Mason Rashtian is also “AV” Rated with Martindale-Hubble, which is the highest possible rating an attorney can achieve in both legal ability and ethics.  Mason Rashtian now manages The Mason Law Firm, a litigation firm that specializes in personal injury matters, including, but not limited to,

• Car accidents;
• Truck accidents;
• Bus accidents;
• Construction site accidents;
• Motorcycle accidents;
• Pedestrian accidents;
• Bicycle accidents;
• Slip and falls;
• Dog bites;
• Burn Injuries;
• Train Accidents; and
• Wrongful Death.

For more information, please contact us at (661) 362-0805 or (818) 700-8422, or visit our website at:

http://mrscvlaw.com

http://scvinjuryattorney.com

http://sfvalleylaw.com