Best Southern California Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers
Everyday we share the road with numerous commercial trucks. When fully loaded, a semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and requires a much longer distance to stop, making it far more difficult to control. When a truck driver fails to maintain safe vehicle control, it can result in serious or fatal injuries to others who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What Are The Different Types Of Truck Accidents?
When a truck driver is unable to control his or her vehicle safely, several types of collisions occur, including:
Jackknife Truck Accidents: This occurs when a truck driver speeds, drives on wet roads, or has an unevenly loaded trailer, causing the trailer to swing sideways and push the tractor pulling the load sideways. The vehicle is no longer under control, and the weight of the tractor and trailer continues to move, sweeping any vehicle in its path.
Rollover Truck Accidents: A large rig traveling at an unsafe speed on curved roads can cause the vehicle to become unbalanced and the trailer to tip over. The most common cause of a rollover is driver error, which includes negligent actions such as talking on the phone, being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, being fatigued, or failing to operate the vehicle safely.
Rear-End Truck Accidents: A driver who is driving a large commercial truck too fast for the road conditions or who is speeding, may not be able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop in time to avoid colliding with another vehicle.
Sideswipe Truck Accidents: This occurs when a truck driver operates the vehicle in an unsafe manner, allowing it to swing into an adjacent lane or changing lanes and collide with a vehicle in another lane, resulting in a serious or fatal collision.
Underride Truck Accidents: This occurs when another vehicle slides beneath the body of a truck, shearing off or crumpling the cabin and crushing the driver and passenger.
Who Can Be Held Liable In My Truck Accident Claim?
Filing a claim for compensation requires identifying all liable parties. In a truck accident, multiple parties may be liable, including:
The Truck Driver: A negligent driver who has failed to operate the vehicle safely, exceeded speed limits, or made a serious error in judgment could be named in a claim or lawsuit.
The Trucking Firm: The trucking firm that owns the vehicle and employs the driver may be held responsible due to failure to maintain the vehicle or train the truck driver as required by law.
The Truck Manufacturer: If a truck system failed, the truck manufacturer may be liable in a truck accident injury case.
The Truck Parts Manufacturer: If a critical truck part failed, the part manufacturer may be held liable.
Injuries Commonly Caused By Truck Accidents In California
Accidents involving large trucks can be devastating to individuals in smaller vehicles. A passenger vehicle involved in a car accident with another passenger vehicle is likely to have a very different outcome than a truck crash. Although some semi-truck accident victims can walk away with minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises, massive truck accidents sometimes result in catastrophic injury or, worst-case scenario, wrongful death. The following are some of the most common truck accident injuries:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Bone Fractures
- Wrongful Death
- Internal Bleeding or Punctured Lungs
- Whiplash, Road Rash, or Airbag Rash
- Chemical Burns From Hazardous Materials
At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, We Help You Stand Up To Insurance Companies
As with any other business, insurance companies must prioritize their bottom line. This implies they will hunt for any justification to dismiss or minimize your compensation claim. Without legal representation, you may fall victim to their techniques and accept a lowball settlement offer that is insufficient for your needs. This will not happen if The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker is on your side. We will assist you in documenting your losses so they can be appropriately recorded and paid.
Possible areas of compensation include:
- Past and Future Medical Costs
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Lost Income
- Lost Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Punitive Damages (in case of especially egregious behavior on the part of a trucking company)
California Truck Accident Victims’ Compensation
How much is my injury claim worth? The answer will be different for each client and their case. Still, the damages that can be awarded—including economic, non-economic, and punitive damages—remain largely the same from case to case. Depending on the specifics of your truck accident injury case, a settlement or judgment award may be able to compensate you for a wide range of losses. Our law firm will provide you with a free consultation over the phone to discuss your particular accident case.
You May Receive Compensation For:
- Medical Expenses
- Pain and Suffering
- Vehicle Damages
- Lost Wages
- Past and Future Losses
- Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
- Life-changing disabilities
- Punitive Damages
Significant instances involving catastrophic vehicle accidents will typically be compensated more than minor claims. More compensation may be granted by a judge or jury in cases of wrongful death or grave or severe physical injuries. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to non-economic, economic, and punitive damages as a truck accident victim. Punitive damages are an additional award you may get from a judge if the defendant caused your injury with egregious negligence or recklessness. If we think going to court will get the client a better settlement, our lawyers are not afraid to do so.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Please don’t hesitate to call us at 800-333-0000 if you have any concerns about a potential truck accident injury claim, or you may submit your case online using our case submission form. We can tell you if you have a case right over the phone. The earlier you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin working on your behalf.
