Commercial Trucking Accidents

Commercial trucking accidents can be debilitating. These vehicles are usually very large, much larger than the personal trucks that are kept at home and driven by civilians. They usually carry various kinds of materials and merchandise, and they all require a special license to operate. Businesses employ drivers and can be held responsible for the actions and accidents the drivers are involved in; they must have commercial insurance that covers their drivers, since personal policies do not go into effect if an individual is driving for money. Our law firm, Downtown LA Law Group, can help you receive an adequate settlement if you were involved in a commercial truck crash. We know that such incidents can be extremely debilitating and may result in numerous injuries. Your best path forward involves a lawsuit, and we’ll gladly represent you.

Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial driving, or driving for money, most commonly involves truckers who transport goods and materials from one location to another. They may sometimes have to go across state lines in lengthy trips or they may have to travel for a few days to get the goods to the destination on deadline. Because of how difficult it is to operate the trucks, special licenses and testing are required, and individuals must be constantly aware of the happenings on the road. Some drivers take advantage of specific laws that pertain to trucks; for example, on any freeways, trucks are mandated to travel in the right lane and at a reduced speed (usually around 55 mph instead of 65 or 75 mph). However, some freeways do not restrict trucks, and other drivers may try to pass them on the right. This is dangerous, as truck drivers may have blind spots that prevent them from seeing cars on the sides of them. Some of the most visible commercial trucks are:

• Tractor trailers, which usually have large containers hitched to them and transport large amounts of merchandise. They may be referred to as 18-wheelers as well. A tractor trailer may even carry other vehicles, which can again increase the danger that accompanies an accident with one. Crashes involving tractor trailers can involve the trailer unhitching from the truck and striking other vehicles.
• Dump trucks, which carry large loads of sand, dirt, manure, disposable materials, recyclables, and more. They may have signs for “wide loads” and can be troublesome to drive near, as they may not travel at a fast speed and may take up a lot of the road. Dump truck accidents usually result in a spill of some kind, and the results can be devastating; there have been incidents where drivers have been killed because a large quantity of sand, for example, has fallen onto the roof.
• Tow trucks, which may tow small trailers, disabled vehicles, boats, RVs, and more. Tow trucks are not always large, but they may have oversize loads that make turns difficult and prevent them from taking certain routes. You should be careful around these trucks; wide turns can catch people off guard, and they may try to pass when a truck moves into a further lane to make a turn.

Learn more about your legal options: call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

There are numerous other types of commercial vehicles, but drivers usually share a lot in common, and thus, get in accidents for similar reasons. Some of the reasons for truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• Truck defect
• Blown tires
• Unbalanced or oversized load
• Improper weight distribution
• Unhitched trailer
• Narrow roads
• Tight curves and turns
• Sloped roads and hills
• Brake failure
• Fog and inclement weather

These accidents can happen in busy traffic areas where a lot of cars are on the road, resulting in huge pile ups and debilitating crashes, or they could happen in more solitary areas where passing cars may be caught off guard and the passengers would be injured. There is no telling how severe your injuries may be; a commercial truck can be sizeable, and a crash with one could total your car and send you to the hospital. Injuries that have resulted from truck accidents can be found below.

• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Closed head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Dislocations
• Severed limbs
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Herniated discs
• Torn muscles
• Nerve damage
• Burns
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Paraplegia and quadriplegia
• Coma
• Death

No matter how serious the accident, it is recommended that you seek legal representation from an expert truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles. You may have many questions about who can be held responsible for the claim and what you should do to ensure that you will have the most success with your lawsuit.

Call (855) 339-8879 to set up a free, no obligation consultation to find out if you have a case.

What You Should Do after a Truck Accident

In the aftermath of a truck accident, it is important to stay as calm as possible. We know it may be difficult, especially if you were severely injured. In the case of such debilitating damages, though, you should call the paramedics and be transported to the hospital or emergency room at once. If your injuries were not severe enough that you needed to be immediately whisked away from the scene of the accident, you should still be evaluated by the paramedics and a doctor. It is important that your injuries are properly documented and treated so that you will have evidence of the damages for your lawsuit. You should take down the personal details and insurance information of the truck driver and get the details of his business. Then you can file an incident report with the company. In order to document your evidence, you should have photographs of the injuries you suffered, the damage that was done to your vehicle, the location of the accident, and more. You can also ask eyewitnesses and passengers to give their statements or testimonies to show what happened. You must contact the police so a small investigation can take place, and at the end of it, you can request a copy of the police report. It is also highly recommended that you contact a qualified truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles. Handling a claim by yourself is not a wise option if you were injured; you may find it extremely difficult to negotiate a deal due to your lack of experience and knowledge of the law, as well as the amount of time you could dedicate to contacting the insurance company. Our attorneys can take care of the legal process for you.

Call (855) 339-8879 to set up a free, no obligation consultation to find out if you have a case.

Negligence-Based Truck Accident Lawsuit

In order for you to file a claim, you must be able to prove that you were a victim of negligence. These lawsuits can be filed by proving four points as true:

• You were owed a duty of care
• The duty of care was breached
• The breach resulted in an accident
• The accident caused bodily harm

Essentially, all drivers are owed a duty of care to not be harmed by others on the road. A breach can consist of driving recklessly or dangerously or breaking the law in a way that places others at risk. The ensuing accident must cause physical damage; if you were not hurt, you cannot file a personal injury claim.

Statute of Limitations

This personal injury claim against the responsible truck driver or his company must be carried out within 2 years of the date of the injury or you won’t be able to pursue any compensation at any point in the future. The sooner you get your claim through to the insurance company, the better chance you have of success. This 2 year limit is not static, though. It can change if you are eligible for an exception. If you were underage at the time of the accident, the statute would start counting down when you turned 18 years old. You may have been injured to the extent that you could not file a lawsuit, so the deadline would begin once you return to health. Speak with an attorney to determine how much time you have to file a claim.

Earnings from a Truck Accident

Because of how severe the injuries from a truck accident can be you should pursue the maximum compensation from a lawsuit. Our lawyers will do all we can to ensure that you are properly covered in the aftermath of an incident. We will negotiate with the insurance company and strive to secure you a satisfactory settlement. We will bring you coverage for:

• Medical expenses and physical therapy costs from the past and future
• Lost wages from the past and expected missed income from the future
• Property damage for items or belongings that were in need of repair or replacement
• Pain and suffering damages
• Wrongful death expenses if a loved one passed away in the accident

As a victim of a commercial truck crash, you are entitled to restitution for your damages. The business should be responsible for the actions of its drivers, especially if there was excessive negligence involved and you were innocent or stationary. Our team of attorneys wants to bring you what you deserve.

The Top Firm in Los Angeles

The Dowtown LA Law Group is one of the top-rated law firms in Los Angeles. We have a history of winning millions of dollars for our clients over the years, and our successes speak for themselves. You will not be in better hands than when you come to our firm for assistance. We will aggressively hunt for the settlement you deserve, and if necessary, we will go to court to win your verdict from a judge and jury. Call our firm at (855) 339-8879 to talk with a lawyer in a free consultation. You’re invited to ask anything you’d like about how the legal process works and what you may gain in a lawsuit. We’ll tell you what to expect and what we feel we can earn for you. We’ll also tell you more about our zero fee guarantee if you sign up with us, which promises that you won’t pay any out of pocket expenses if we win. Our fees will get paid from the insurance settlement we bring you, and if we lose, you won’t have to pay anything at all. Let Downtown LA Law Group be your best choice when filing a commercial truck accident lawsuit.