Armored trucks transport money and other sensitive, high-value materials within communities. Since it is frequently encountered in commercial spaces and highly urbanized areas, there are a few cases where this type of truck gets involved in an accident. If you are hit by an armored truck, you may file a claim against the driver or the company responsible for maintaining the truck.
Read on to learn more about armored truck accidents in Sacramento and what to do if you are involved in one.
What Is an Armored Truck?
An armored truck, also known as an armored car or cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle, is a specially-built vehicle that securely transports valuable things such as cash, jewelry, and other high-value items. Banks, businesses, and government organizations commonly utilize this to transport money and essential items.
Since armored trucks are frequently used in commercial spaces, armored truck drivers must have strong driving skills and a clean driving record. They should be able to manage an armored truck’s size and weight in various traffic and weather conditions.
How Dangerous is an Armored Truck?
Sharing roads with armored trucks may require extra caution due to the following reasons:
- Armored trucks have blind spots, making it challenging for drivers to see passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians in some areas.
- Most armored side windows cannot fully open. This can result in slight double vision, especially at night.
- They are significantly larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles. It usually needs ample space and time to react and move in certain situations.
- While armored truck companies are responsible for hiring qualified drivers, armored truck drivers are often underpaid. This means that some may be underqualified and inexperienced.
Traveling on roads with armored trucks entails practicing defensive driving to avoid accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries and other damage.
How Often Do Armored Truck Accidents Happen?
In a few cases, armored truck accidents happen due to the driver’s negligence or other factors, such as road and weather conditions. GardaWorld, one of the largest armored truck companies in the United States, has over 2,000 armored cars and trucks and employs over 3,000 drivers nationwide.
With the high volume of Garda armored trucks, there were an average of 100 company truck-related collisions per month from February 2014 to 2016.
What Do I Do If I’m Involved in an Armored Truck Accident?
Dealing with an armored truck accident may be challenging. Due to their weight and size, crashes with armored trucks likely lead to severe collisions with significant damage. However, there are specific steps you can take to ensure your safety after the crash and support your personal injury claim if you file one:
- Stay calm.
- Call the Sacramento Police Department to assist you.
- Check if you have injuries.
- Seek medical attention and contact the nearest hospital in Sacramento for treatment.
- Gather the necessary evidence at the accident scene, such as the negligent party’s contact information, the armored truck company details, photos of the damages, and witness testimonies.
- Stay at the scene and cooperate with the Sacramento police officers.
- Contact a truck accident lawyer who can help establish your truck crash case.
If you sustained injuries from the crash, hiring a truck accident attorney Sacramento is the best way to establish and prove your claim while you focus on your recovery. They can also assist in seeking the appropriate medical care for your injury.
Can I File a Claim for an Accident with an Armored Truck?
If an armored truck hits you, you may file a personal injury claim to receive compensation. While a settlement may not fully compensate for your losses, it may help cover the financial burden caused by the accident.
To establish your claim, you must demonstrate that the armored truck driver’s negligence caused the incident. Generally, negligence in truck accidents can be established through the following elements:
- The truck driver was responsible for ensuring everyone’s safety.
- They failed to fulfill this duty.
- An armored truck accident occurred resulting from the breach of duty.
- The collision resulted in injuries and property damage.
Who is Liable for a Sacramento Truck Accident with an Armored Truck?
Depending on the circumstances of the crash, an armored truck accident may result from a truck driver’s negligence, the armored truck company’s negligence, or another party’s negligence.
The Truck Driver is Liable for the Crash
Armored truck companies typically have strict standards and requirements when hiring a driver. Since the driver is responsible for transporting valuable items, they must possess a good driving history and excellent driving skills.
However, some armored truck drivers are underpaid. This entails that they could be underqualified and lack the driving experience necessary for the job.
An armored truck driver may be held accountable for the crash if their wrongful actions contributed to the collision. A driver may commit traffic infractions and other negligent behaviors resulting in a crash, such as:
- speeding,
- sudden changing of lanes,
- tailgating,
- driving when impaired by drugs or alcohol,
- driving while distracted and other traffic violations.
You may bring a claim against the truck driver if the evidence demonstrates that they were careless during the collision.
Armored truck Companies are Responsible for the Collision.
Most often than not, accident victims tend to focus on the truck driver’s fault without realizing that armored truck companies can also be liable for an accident. There are specific factors that make armored truck companies responsible for truck accidents, including:
- The armored truck company hired a driver with a bad driving record.
Hiring a driver entails sufficient background checks. If the company fails to do a thorough background check and employs a truck driver with a bad driving record, they may be liable for the accident damage caused by the driver.
- The armored truck company failed to ensure the truck’s condition.
Truck companies can be held accountable for accidents if they fail to perform consistent routine inspections and maintenance. Additionally, failure to provide the necessary part upgrade if the vehicle seems defective can also hold the truck company responsible.
- The company failed to facilitate safety procedures and guidelines.
Companies should establish reliable guidelines and procedures to guarantee drivers’ safety. They can also be liable for the crash if they fail to facilitate safety training.
Establishing the negligence of a truck driver in an accident is often simpler than determining the liability of the truck company. This is because the driver is directly involved in the incident.
However, a skilled truck accident lawyer has the knowledge and expertise to investigate your case and justify liability in an armored truck accident.
For example, suppose authorities determine that the truck driver was drowsy, leading to the accident. In that case, the top truck accident attorney in Sacramento will likely uncover that the driver’s fatigue resulted from the company’s demanding and strict driving schedule.
Other Parties Caused the Crash
In some circumstances, neither the truck driver nor the truck company are to blame for an accident. Other negligent parties may be held accountable for truck accidents if:
- A third-party truck maintenance firm failed to repair or update the vehicle.
- A local government agency was unable to maintain the roads and streets under their authority.
- A manufacturer released a faulty commercial truck.
It is advisable to contact Sacramento accident lawyers who can explore the legalities of your case and determine the best legal choices for you.
How Can a Truck Accident Sacramento Attorney Help Me?
Truck accidents often lead to devastating injuries and extensive damage. In most cases, accident victims with significant financial responsibilities tend to accept settlement offers that hardly compensate for the total loss from the crash.
For instance, if you were in an accident involving an armored truck, the company may offer initial compensation that only covers your existing medical bills. Without assistance from truck accident lawyers, you may accept this without considering other applicable damages.
Generally, you may include the following in your truck accident settlement:
| Economic Damages (financial losses) | Non-Economic Damages (non-monetary losses) |
|
|
By hiring truck accident attorneys, you can maximize your compensation by adding other special damages that may be challenging to compute without the help of a legal expert.
Jacoby & Meyers has the best truck accident attorneys Sacramento can offer who can help protect your legal rights by assessing your case, proving liability, and communicating with the truck company.
We created an efficient legal procedure to ensure you are fully aware of your rights and receive the justice you deserve.
- Advocates transparent and open communication to keep you informed.
- Negotiates a fair settlement with insurance companies.
- Assists with the appropriate medical treatments you need based on your doctor’s recommendations.
- Offers assistance with any other car-related problems.
- Defends your legal rights by establishing liability, gathering evidence, and pursuing compensation that covers the total damage of your accident.
Our free consultation will offer you legal counsel from the most experienced truck accident attorneys in Sacramento. To learn more about your legal options, call us at 800-500-0000.
Jacoby and Meyers. Because You Deserve Justice.
References:
GardaWorld | Security Services, https://www.garda.com/. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“Are armored cars safer?” Old School Gamers, https://osgamers.com/frequently-asked-questions/are-armored-cars-safer. Accessed 7 July 2023.
Barnes, Bethany, et al. “GardaWorld built an armored truck empire while taking shortcuts. Mayhem followed. An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times.” Tampa Bay Times, 1 March 2020, https://projects.tampabay.com/projects/2020/investigations/garda-world/armored-trucks/. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“Best Hospitals in Sacramento, CA Rankings | US News Best Hospitals.” US News Health, https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/sacramento-ca. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“Police.” City of Sacramento, https://www.cityofsacramento.org/police. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“Sacramento Police Department | State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General.” California Department of Justice, https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations/sacramento-police-department. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“What Really Is An Armored Truck?” Armormax, 27 March 2019, https://www.armormax.com/blog/armored-truck/. Accessed 7 July 2023.
“When do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?” Jacoby & Meyers, https://www.jacobyandmeyers.com/faqs/when-should-i-call-a-personal-injury-attorney/. Accessed 7 July 2023.