Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents, a distressing reality on our roads, are alarmingly frequent in California. In 2022, the state ranked second in truck accident fatalities, as reported by the NSC.
The sheer size and weight of trucks make them a force to be reckoned with on the roads. When these giants collide, the aftermath is often catastrophic, leaving victims with long recovery periods, substantial medical bills, and emotional scars.
At Injury Justice Law Firm, we understand the profound impact such accidents can have on victims and their families. Our goal is to provide clear and empathetic guidance to help you understand your rights and the potential for compensation under California law.
Our team of experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyers, with a proven track record of success, is dedicated to helping victims who have been injured in trucking-related incidents, including those involving commercial trucks and tractor-trailers.
Thousands of large trucks are involved in injury crashes each year. We firmly believe that accident victims and their family members have a strong chance of receiving financial compensation for their injuries, and we are here to help you pursue it.
A wide range of factors can contribute to a California truck accident, including poor weather, driver fatigue, and poor truck maintenance and training.
Some common examples of truck accident injuries include head and neck injuries, back injuries, and broken bones. Note that a "negligent driver" is a motorist who fails to act the way a reasonably careful driver would in the same situation.
Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers can guide you through the legal process, including filing a trucking accident lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs and injury victims. Some of the common defendants in these cases include negligent drivers, trucking companies, and other members of the trucking industry.
When road conditions cause a trucking accident, the parties involved could also include truck manufacturers (product liability), property owners (premises liability), and governmental entities.
In addition to filing a lawsuit, your truck accident lawyer can provide comprehensive support, including managing medical care and ongoing medical treatment, gathering evidence to help identify liable parties, and filing personal injury claims with the insurance companies of at-fault parties.
What are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are thousands of large truck injuries and fatalities every year. 2015.
Several types of trucks, such as semi-trucks, big rigs, commercial vehicles, tractor-trailers, and moving trucks, are involved in truck-related accidents.
Truck accidents can occur due to a variety of reasons, often influenced by the complex nature of commercial trucking operations. Many accidents could be avoided if proper safety standards were followed. Below are some of the most common causes of truck accidents:
- Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often deal with tight schedules, forcing them to drive long hours with inadequate rest. Fatigued drivers are more prone to dangerous mistakes like delayed reactions, impaired judgment, or even falling asleep at the wheel. While federal regulations require rest periods for drivers, these rules are not always followed or enforced.
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is a leading cause of truck accidents. Drivers may become distracted by their phones, navigation devices, or other in-cab technology. Even a brief lapse in focus can lead to devastating consequences, especially when controlling a large vehicle.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: Truck drivers under pressure to meet delivery deadlines may drive faster than is safe, particularly on busy California highways. The added momentum from high-speed driving increases the severity of accidents and makes it harder for trucks to stop in time to avoid collisions.
- Improper Loading: Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks can become unbalanced, increasing the risk of rollovers or cargo spills. Federal regulations provide strict guidelines on weight limits and load distribution, but these regulations are not always followed, creating a dangerous situation on the roads.
- Mechanical Failures: Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their fleets, but budget constraints and negligence can result in poorly maintained vehicles. When trucks are not regularly inspected and maintained, brake failure, tire blowouts, and other mechanical issues can occur, leading to severe accidents.
You still may be eligible to recover damages after a truck accident if you were partly at fault. Under California's "comparative fault" law, the court would just reduce your monetary award by your degree of fault.
What are the Common Types of Truck Accidents?
There are several types of truck accidents in California, as discussed below.:
Truck Rollover Accidents. These accidents are one of the most common types and are very dangerous and frequently involve multiple vehicles. Due to the extensive number of semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other types of large trucks on the streets and freeways of Los Angeles County, drivers are at a much higher risk of being involved in a truck accident. Typically, commercial trucks are manufactured with a significantly higher center of gravity. Therefore, it's much more difficult to maneuver than cars, which can lead to rollover accidents.
Truck Jackknife Accidents. Many large trucks come equipped with a pivoting joint that allows sharper turns. If the towed vehicle skids during a sharp turn, the trailer will slide all the way around until acting in the other direction. In some truck accident cases, the trailer will skid past the front of the vehicle, crashing into other vehicles as it continues down the highway. Other truck accidents could be a result of quick, unexpected braking, which causes the loaded trailer to skid out of control and jackknife into the cab.
What are the Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents?
California truck accidents can lead to serious injuries, including catastrophic injuries, for truckers, drivers of passenger vehicles, and victims of motor vehicle accidents.
Truck accidents often result in a range of serious injuries, given the size and force involved. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): The impact of a truck collision can cause the brain to move violently within the skull, leading to concussions or more severe brain injuries.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, significantly altering the victim's quality of life.
- Broken Bones: The force of a truck accident can easily fracture bones, leading to long recovery times and potential long-term issues.
- Internal Injuries: The blunt force trauma of a collision can cause internal bleeding and damage to organs, which may not be immediately apparent but are life-threatening.
- Burn Injuries: If a truck accident results in a fire, victims can suffer severe burns, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Who Can Injury Victims Sue?
If you are injured in a trucking accident, many different parties could be held responsible for your injuries. For example, the truck driver might be liable if he was speeding or committing some other type of traffic violation at the time of the accident.
The truck owner could also be held liable for the acts of their employees. The trucking company might be liable for your injuries if it fails to maintain the condition of the truck properly or fails to have the truck driver comply with safety regulations.
Liability in truck accidents can be complex due to the number of parties potentially involved. Determining who is responsible is essential for pursuing compensation. Key parties that may be held liable include:
- Trucking Companies: Companies can be responsible for the actions of their drivers or for failing to maintain the trucks properly. They are also accountable for ensuring drivers are not overworked. Overworking their drivers, such as encouraging them to drive more than 12 hours in a row in 24 hours, is a violation of VC 21702.
- Truck Drivers: If the driver's negligence, such as distracted or impaired driving, led to the accident, they might be held liable.
- Manufacturers: If a mechanical failure due to a defective part caused the accident, the parts manufacturer might be held liable.
- Cargo Loaders: Those responsible for loading the truck can be liable if improper loading leads to an accident.
- City or County Government: If bad roads or signage contributed to the crash, they may be liable for damages.
As noted, California's comparative fault laws allow injured parties to seek compensation even if they were partially at fault for the accident. By establishing liability among all responsible parties, truck accident victims can maximize their chances of receiving fair compensation.
What Are the Types of Available Compensation?
If successful in a suit or claim, truck accident victims can receive compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Lost earning capacity,
- Property damage,
- Vehicle repairs,
- Pain and suffering.
If someone was killed in a truck accident, the party's surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for causing the accident.
Damages can include burial and funeral expenses, income the deceased would have earned, and compensation for the loss of the deceased's companionship and support.
What is the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A personal injury attorney will interview accident victims to assess their medical needs and learn the facts of a case. They can then help injury victims receive immediate medical attention and manage their ongoing medical care.
Truck accident lawyers play a crucial role in gathering evidence in a case to help identify liable parties. They can also use experts to assist in interpreting this evidence or explaining it to a judge or jury.
When an at-fault party is insured, a truck accident injury attorney can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company and negotiate the claim with the applicable insurance adjuster.
Simply put, in truck accident cases, a skilled personal injury attorney will gather evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, and expert testimony, to determine liability in the accident and to build a strong case for helping you receive the full amount of compensation to which you're entitled.
They know and understand the true value of these cases. This means a lawyer will fight until all liable parties have paid their fair share for a client's damages.
Injury attorneys can also find hidden value in a case by gathering overlooked evidence. Thus, they can help maximize the payout in a given case. Finally, if necessary, trial attorneys can file lawsuits in personal injury cases and work to receive favorable verdicts on behalf of their clients.
If you or a loved one was injured in a trucking accident, contact our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys at Injury Justice Law Firm. We provide free consultations and legal advice you can trust.
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