1 Dead, 1 Injured in Truck Accident near Sylmar

On Wednesday night, at approximately 11:45 p.m., a big rig crash left one person dead and one person suffering critical injuries. According to reports of the accident, the commercial vehice was headed southbound on the 5 Freeway when it struck a bridge support column. The crash occurred in the unincorporated area of the Santa Suzana Mountains. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the force of the collision caused the truck load to shift forward, trapping two people inside the truck’s cab. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The other person had to be extricated from the cab and transported to a trauma center. This unfortunate accident is a reminder that truck accidents are very common. Although not all truck accidents result in deaths or critical injuries, truck accidents are much more likely than other accidents to reach these outcomes simply because of the size and weight of these commercial vehicles. Were you or a member of your family involved in this truck accident? Were you or a member of your family involved in a truck accident similar to the one mentioned above? If so, you might be interested in exploring the possibility of taking legal action against the party or entity that caused or contributed to the accident and all the harm suffered. If you would like to learn more about your right to file a claim, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. If you are in need of legal assistance, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group. Downtown L.A. Law Group is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling a variety of claims, including truck accident claims. Whether you suffered injuries or a member of your family lost his or her life, you could be certain that the lawyers at our law firm are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to file a claim and hold the parties that caused the accident accountable for their actions.

Understanding the Common Causes of Truck Accidents

After such a traumatic accident, one of the most common questions is simply why? Why did the accident happen? ?What caused the accident? Could anything have been done to avoid the accident? There are a number of reasons behind truck accidents. Some of the most common causes that truck accidents occur include the following:

• Fatigue (long hours driving with no proper rests)
• Intoxication (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol)
• Distractions (using mobile devices or rubbernecking, for example)
• Reckless driving (speeding, tailgating, overtaking, weaving in/out of traffic)
• Unreasonable deadlines (companies enforce unreasonable deadlines that
• Improperly trained drivers (companies allowing inexperienced drivers on the road)
• Improperly loaded trucks (cargo is too heavy or not restrained properly)
• Poor truck maintenance (companies or truck owners fail to keep trucks in good condition)
• Poor road conditions (road defects like potholes or uneven pavement)

The causes listed above are primarily associated with the truck drivers, trucking companies, or any other companies that hire truck drivers. However, accidents can also occur due to the negligence of city agencies (specifically for poor road conditions). All the causes listed above can also apply to the drivers of normal vehicles; their negligent actions can quickly result in truck accidents. If the truck accident that harmed you and your family was caused by any of the reasons listed above, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible – you might have grounds to take legal action against the party that caused your accident.

Liability in Truck Accident Cases

One of the most important things when it comes to truck accidents is to establish liability. Liability is based on negligence, which consists of four different elements: duty of care, breach of duty, cause, and harm. All drivers, including the drivers of personal vehicles and commercial vehicles, have a duty of care. They must drive safely and cautiously, always following all traffic laws, to ensure that they do not pose a risk to any other parties on the road. When they exercise any type of reckless behavior while behind the wheel, they are breaching their duty of care and creating the risk of an accident. If an accident occurs resulting in injuries or death – and there is a direct connection to the breach of duty – the party could be found liable for all the harm suffered. Employers could also be liable when they enforce unrealistic rules that could lead to their drivers to be reckless and cause an accident. City agencies could be liable when they fail to address hazards that eventually cause accidents. For more information about liability in truck accident cases, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance as soon as possible.

Learn more about your options for compensation by calling (855) 339-8879.

Do You have the Right to Pursue a Claim?

Do you have the right to file a truck accident claim after you or a member of your family was involved in a truck accident? If the accident that resulted in your injuries or the death of a member of your family was caused by negligence, you will likely have grounds to pursue a claim. Depending on the specific details of the truck accident, you could pursue a claim against the trucking company, the truck insurance company, the truck driver’s insurance company, the city, your own insurance company, or another driver’s insurance company. You might even be able to pursue a workers’ compensation insurance claim. Because understanding who you could file a claim against could be complex, it is important that you discuss the details of your claim with an attorney to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your right to pursue your claim. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible – we are ready to provide you with all the information that you need pursue your claim.

Could You Recover Compensation?

If you or a member of your family suffered harm in a truck accident, could you be eligible to recover compensation? Depending on the specific details of your claim, you could receive compensation for the harm suffered. Although every truck accident claim is different, claimants could be eligible to receive compensation for all or some of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of consortium
• Property damage
• Punitive damages

For more information about the specific type and amount of compensation that you might be eligible to recover upon filing a successful truck accident claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You could contact the truck accident lawyers at Downtown L.A. Law Group for more information. You could be certain that our lawyers will fight for your right to recover the compensation that you and your family deserve.

Steps to take after a Truck Accident

There is no doubt that filing a truck accident claim might not be the first thing on your mind after being directly or indirectly affected by a truck accident. However, following a few simple steps immediately after a truck accident could help you be prepared to file a claim – that is, if you decide to do so at a later time.

Find out more about how we can help you. Call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

The recommended steps to take after a truck accident include the following:

• Taking photos of all injuries sustained
• Taking photos of the scene of the accident
• Gathering insurance information of all parties involved in the accident
• Gathering witness contact information
• Filing an accident report with the authorities
• Reporting the accident to the appropriate insurance company
• Seeking medical attention
• Evaluating all property damage
• Gathering all relevant records
• Seeking legal assistance

If you would like to learn more about the specific steps that you should follow to prepare to file a truck accident claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience – our lawyers are ready to provide you with the representation that you need to take action against the parties liable for the harm that you suffered.

Your Claim is Subject to a Deadline

All personal injury claims are subject to a specific deadline – a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a timeline that establishes the length of time that claimants have to pursue their claims. When claimants fail to file their claims within the appropriate length of time, they can lose their right to sue. In general, in the state of California, personal injury claims are subject to a deadline of two years. However, this timeline will vary depending on the specific details of your claim. For information regarding the exact deadline that applies to your claim, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible; our lawyers will provide you with the information that you need to ensure that your claim is filed at the correct time.

Downtown L.A. Law Group is here to Help!

If you were affected by a truck accident, it is important that you seek legal assistance. You could trust the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group to handle your claim and help you reach a successful claim outcome. Our lawyers have successfully handled truck accident claims and have helped victims and their families to recover the compensation that they deserve. Would you like to discuss your claim with our lawyers? If so, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately. You could benefit from our free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. Our free legal services are part of our Zero-Fee guarantee – a guarantee that ensures that our clients will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will never be required to pay any legal expenses until after reaching a successful claim outcome. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience – we want to help you recover the compensation that you deserve.