Seek Compensation After A Commercial Truck Accident

Truck accidents are especially challenging because of the laws and regulations involved — especially with interstate trucking. In addition, the injuries are likely to be serious. Although commercial truck drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a safe driving record, truck accidents still take place and require experienced truck accident attorneys.

Truck accidents are a real problem because they usually cause serious injury or death due to the sheer size and weight of trucks. With few exceptions, whenever someone is injured or killed in a truck accident, the driver and the employer or owner of the truck may be held responsible. Victims or family members involved in truck accidents may wish to consult with a big rig truck accident attorney about their case.

Causes Of California Truck Crashes

There are many potential causes of big rig truck accidents, but some of the more common include:

• Excessive speed. This becomes a problem when truck drivers are going downhill and speeding to begin with. Their speed can increase quickly and cause them to rear-end another vehicle.
• Driver fatigue. Many times, truck drivers are required to work long hours. If they fail to follow federal regulations regarding the number of hours they can work without rest, they may become drowsy and cause an accident.
• Poor truck maintenance. Truck owners must properly maintain their trucks and a driver should fully inspect the truck before leaving on any long trip. Common maintenance issues include problems with brakes and tires.
• Improper loading. The trailer of the truck must be loaded properly. An overloaded truck or a truck with an unbalanced load can become unstable, especially during turns.

Truck Accidents Cause Injuries

The following are just some of the potential health risks of being involved in a truck accident:

• Whiplash
• Head and neck burns
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord paralysis
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Loss of a limb
• Death

We will discuss your particular truck accident case and go over all of your available options and legal rights. We understand the difficulties and stress of going through such an ordeal.

Determining Big Rig Truck Accident Liability
Truck accident claims are more complicated than other motor accident claims simply because of the many potential liable parties involved. A truck driver can be held accountable for an accident if he or she demonstrated negligence. If a trucking company is involved, it may be liable if poor vehicle maintenance or negligent hiring practices occurred. Additionally, the truck’s owner can be held liable for failing to properly maintain the truck. Even the truck’s manufacturer may be held liable if a defective component contributed to the crash.

The Value Of Your Truck Accident Claim
Most importantly, it is vital to have a full understanding of the potential value of your claim because it is pretty common for insurance companies to offer insufficient settlements. If you accept your first an insurance offer, you will end up forfeiting your right to pursue more compensation for your truck accident case. So if your settlement covers your initial medical bills, but does not include additional compensation for further medical treatment, those financial burdens will be your responsibility. This is why it is vital to have an experienced truck injury accident attorney representing you. We will protect your claim and ensure that you get the compensation you are entitled to receive.

Truck accident claims can compensate you for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

What We Can Do For You
Call us immediately if you’ve been involved in a truck accident. The trucking company’s lawyers will begin their investigation immediately after the wreck — it is important that you have someone investigating on your behalf.

We can look at several factors to see if the trucking company was negligent. For example, was the driver fatigued or speeding or was any traffic violation involved? Was the trailer properly loaded? Was load shift or weight shift involved? Was the big rig overweight? Was the accident caused by driver error? Was there a brake failure or other mechanical failure? Were proper training and safety policies followed? Were trucking regulations followed? Was an unlicensed driver behind the wheel?

When you have been harmed, you need an experienced and aggressive law firm on your side. Our San Francisco Bay Area personal injury attorneys understand how difficult the legal process can be for individuals and their families. We care about the challenges you and your family face and it shows. Call us today for a free initial consultation and a review of your case. Call us at 415-981-1850 or contact us here.