With over half a million truck accidents occurring per year, individuals should be extremely careful on the road. Trucks can be dangerous for many drivers, especially because drivers do not have as much experience maneuvering around them or interacting with them. Drivers may mistakenly believe that trucks are exactly the same as cars, just larger, but this is not true. Trucks can cause devastating accidents and severe injuries. If you have been involved in such an accident, you should be prepared to take legal action to secure the compensation you deserve. Many individuals need guidance and representation, which is where our Oakland truck accident attorneys come in. Our lawyers at the Downtown LA Law Group have ample experience in truck accident claims and will be able to win your case for you.

Truck Accident Details

In order for individuals to drive trucks, they must acquire their certified driving licenses, or CDLs. These licenses are given after ample training. Trucks are very large and unwieldy; driving a truck requires you to know a lot of information and techniques, such as weight limits, height limits, and how to back up with a trailer attached. The drivers must also undergo training to be able to operate the vehicles. Once the training has been completed, they will be able to get real road experience.

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A truck accident may occur if a passenger vehicle driver recklessly operates his own car around the truck. Some people on the road do not heed the warnings on trucks; they may try to go around the truck and pass on the right, which leaves them in prime position for blind spots, or they may try to swerve in front of the truck at slowed-down sections of roads, unaware that it will take the truck a lot more distance to stop. There are other ways that accidents can unfold, though. For example:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Ignoring right of way laws
• Driving while tired
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Texting while driving
• Improper weight distribution of materials in a trailer
• Poorly hitched trailer
• Uncovered or overfilled load or bed
• Failure to signal
• Turning into oncoming traffic
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Failure to post warning signs
• Blown tires
• Brake failure
• Engine failure
• Broken lights
• Sharp turns
• Steep hills
• Potholes
• Inadequate lighting
• Fog
• Rain

Some of these accidents are caused by the negligent behavior of the truck driver. For instance, truck drivers are not to be on the road longer than 10 hours per day according to the law, but they sometimes push through to meet deadlines, whether of their own volition or because they were ordered to by their companies. Other drivers are careless and exceed the 55 mph speed limit that is present on freeways. Still others fail to properly drive despite knowing there are issues present, like the weather and poor roads. If a truck accident is caused because of a manufacturing error or because an engineer or maintenance worker did not properly inspect or fix a vehicle, the company could be held accountable. The driver may have had no part in the process. Because trucks are so much larger and carry more weight than cars, the accidents involving them are proportionately more devastating. Victims of truck accidents often suffer extreme injuries, while the truck drivers may not be nearly as hurt. Some of the injuries that can be sustained include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Closed head injuries
• Brain damage
• Fractures
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Collarbone and rib injuries
• CRPS
• Nerve damage
• Torn muscles and ligaments
• Puncture and crushing wounds
• Knee injuries
• Hip injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Severed digits and limbs
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

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You should not be forced to suffer the pain of your injuries and then be held accountable for the ensuing expenses. Our team of truck accident lawyers in Oakland can help you with your claim.

Negligence and Evidence for a Truck Accident

To file a claim, you must be able to show that the truck driver or party was negligent in his actions. This means that you must show that you were owed a duty of care that was breached and that the breach of duty led to an accident in which you suffered physical harm. It can be hard to do this without an attorney, as there may be many disputes regarding causation and extent of physical injuries. A lawyer will have a better approach to prove negligence than you would if you were to go through the process alone. In order to have a successful case, you should take these steps to gather evidence, protect your health, and ensure that you have a good foundation for your claim. The very first step you should take involves medical attention. You should call the paramedics to be treated or go to the hospital; you may need emergency services. You should not try to wait out your injuries. There are damages that may be present that you are unknowingly masking because of adrenaline, and they can worsen over time without proper treatment. Additionally, if you do not get medical treatment for a length of time, the insurance agent can claim that you were not hurt in the incident. While at the hospital, you should make sure to retrieve copies of medical receipts, bills, X-rays, doctor’s notes, and anything else that will prove your treatment. You should then take as many photos as you can of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, the damage to the truck, and the scene of the incident. Video footage can also be added, especially if it comes from other parties, such as dashboard cameras are security cameras at businesses. It will be very beneficial if you have as many accounts and testimonies from eyewitnesses and passengers as you can acquire. You can interview them and ask for their information so they can provide follow up details. The police likely will show up to conduct an investigation. In cases of injuries, they are usually present as well. They will compile a report, draw diagrams, interview eyewitnesses, and more. You can request a copy of this police report once it has been submitted and finalized. Make sure to write down the contact information and insurance details of the driver who hit you. You can also call the truck company and file an accident report, or request their additional information for legal purposes. Once you have all your evidence squared away, it is time to reach out to a truck accident attorney in Oakland. We can write the demand letter for your case and send your evidence package to the insurance company. We’ll make sure that your claim is properly handled and that you receive the compensation you deserve.

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

Truck Accident Compensation

Victims of truck accidents are entitled to various forms of compensation if they were not responsible for the incident. Your case value is largely determined by your injuries and how much of an impact they had on your life and career. It will also be determined by your level of negligence in the accident. We will do all we can to bring you the following:

• Medical expenses from the past and future for surgery, hospitalization, medication and drugs, physical rehabilitation and physical therapy, and any future treatments
• Property damage for reimbursement or replacement of lost belongings and repairs to your vehicle
• Lost income for days of work you missed as well as for future days
• Pain and suffering for PTSD, anxiety, fear, emotional scarring, and more
• Wrongful death damages in the event a loved one died in the accident, which includes loss of consortium and relations, loss of income and savings, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, funeral and burial fees, and more
• Punitive damages if the party deliberately harmed you or was grossly negligent; these damages are hard to win due to being view as unnecessary, so only a qualified attorney will be able to secure them

Don’t risk losing out on your proper compensation because you weren’t adequately prepared. Let an expert truck accident attorney in Oakland assist you and we will strive to bring you the maximum settlement available under the law.

Why Choose Us

The Downtown LA Law Group has been handling truck accident cases and similar lawsuits for years. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience and we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for all of our clients. There is nothing we strive for more than excellence. We aim to provide you with top-notch legal representation and we will not rest until we win your case. To us, you are family, and as such, we will aggressively fight for every penny you deserve. For a free legal consultation, you can reach out to our law offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All consultations are completely confidential. We encourage you to ask us any questions you wish and we will provide you with the knowledge you need to know. Nobody should be in the dark about their legal claim. If you hire us, we’ll give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you won’t spend a dime of your own money on the case. We will cover all the costs and won’t get paid unless and until we win; the money will be taken as a percentage from the settlement or verdict we win for you. If we lose, we do not get paid anything at all. We work on contingency to ensure that your finances are preserved. Call the DTLA Law Group for a Oakland truck accident attorney.