Vehicle accidents are never a small matter, but they are particularly severe when they involve commercial trucks. Collisions with semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, fuel tankers, 18 wheelers, and other massive trucks can result in serious injuries for victims, especially if the collision was between a truck and motorcyclist or pedestrian. In addition to pain and suffering, victims frequently experience exorbitant medical costs, damages to their vehicles and other property, and the loss of income due to injuries. Compensation is essential to protect such victims from bankruptcy.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a trucking accident in California, Johnson Attorneys Group is committed to holding accountable those who are responsible. We strive to gain you the redress you deserve, ensuring that the perpetrator fully covers all the accident’s costs. We charge zero initial fees, expecting payment only if we are successful in winning your case. Trucking accidents can be devastating, but with our assistance, we will make sure you have access to the best medical care, fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. Call our California semi-truck accident lawyers for a free consultation at 800-235-6801.
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If you were injured in a car crash that was due to another person’s negligence, California law allows the injured party to seek compensation. This compensation may include the following:
Includes hospital visits, emergency room treatment
In or out of the hospital
This is compensation for the physical and/or mental pain and suffering that resulted from the accident caused by another
If your car was damaged or destroyed, you may be entitled to partial or full value of the vehicle
If you are unable to work, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the money you would have earned as well as projected future earnings
If you've suffered a serious injury in an accident due to the negligence of another individual, or if you've lost a loved one in an accident, Johnson Attorneys Group may be able to pursue a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim against that person. We are committed to protecting your rights in California and getting the best outcome.
Common accidents that lead to personal injury claims include motorcycle accidents, car accidents, dog bites, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death and slip and fall injuries. Our team of experienced legal advocates is committed to offering you a personalized approach to your case and needs so that you can receive the best resolution.
As a law firm that specializes in California trucking accidents, we offer a variety of services to ensure full compensation, such as:
Recording Recklessness: If a trucking accident is due to the driver’s reckless or otherwise negligent behavior, the driver is responsible for your injuries and must pay compensation. Common examples of negligence include:
A truck driver’s most important duty is to keep pedestrians, motorists, and other drivers safe. If a trucker has failed to uphold this responsibility, we will ensure that they pay for the property damage, injuries, and death they caused.
Equipment Evaluations: In addition to the driver’s behavior, we also examine trucks, trailers, and equipment for possible product liability. We look for evidence of problems with the brakes, engines, tires, trailer hitches, and any other devices that could have contributed to the accident. If we find evidence of a problem, we determine whether the driver, the carrier company, or the manufacturer is culpable, and then make sure that they are held accountable.
Data Diligence: The more evidence you can present of your losses and the other party’s responsibility, the more likely you are to win compensation. Thus, from the moment you report your injury, we begin detailed recordkeeping, ensuring that no fact relevant to your case is overlooked.
Addressing Attorneys: Trucking companies and equipment manufacturers will do everything in their power to avoid paying compensation and have experienced legal teams to help them accomplish this. The Johnson Attorneys Group will handle all interactions with these professionals. We know how to maintain the upper hand against opposing legal teams.
Help Obtaining the Best Healthcare: Although it is important to think about compensation, your primary concern after a truck accident should be to obtain the proper care for yourself or your loved one. Trucking accidents cause head trauma, burns, paralysis, and a myriad of serious medical problems. The sooner and more comprehensively you deal with these injuries, the better your chance of a full recovery. By keeping detailed records of your medical bills, lost wages, and all other associated costs, we ensure that you will receive compensation for the full price of your injuries. You can thus pursue the most effective treatments possible, secure in the knowledge that the cost will be covered.
Comprehensive Consultations: We provide clear consultations throughout the recovery and litigation process, ensuring that you know what you need to do for your claim to be successful. To organize a consultation, contact us today.
The first time you speak with a truck accident attorney, you have the opportunity to present all the details surrounding your case and ask any questions you have about your rights. Most personal injury lawyers will handle your case on a contingency fee basis if you decide to work together. This means they charge no upfront fees and only receive payment for their services once they secure a settlement or an award for you. Some tasks they perform on your behalf include:
Having an attorney means allowing a legal expert to act in your place throughout the entire legal process. It also means you have a friend who understands your financial, physical, and emotional burdens. They offer compassion with aggressive representation to help you build a strong negligence foundation against the at-fault party in your case.
The question of liability in a truck accident case can quickly become complex. Unlike other auto accident claims, truck accidents sometimes have multiple at-fault parties, some of whom might not even be present at the time of the accident. For this reason, determining and proving fault can be challenging, but it is a necessary step toward compensation.
Trucking companies owe a significant duty of care to drivers sharing the road with their trucks and drivers. For that reason, they can be held responsible for damages if they breach that duty of care, resulting in an accident that causes injuries and substantial losses to the other party. Some reasons the trucking company could be liable include the following:
It is not uncommon for both the truck driver and the trucking company to be liable for a single accident, and in that case, you could name them both as the at-fault party in your claim.
Blaming the truck driver is the most apparent claim, and there are several circumstances under which the driver would be at fault. For example, a truck driver would be liable for any damages caused by an accident that occurred outside the scope of their job, meaning if they chose to drive the truck for something other than work. In addition, if the driver violated road laws, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or speeding excessively, they would also be liable for their actions.
Independently contracted drivers bear even more responsibility than drivers directly employed by a trucking company. An independent driver is self-employed and typically owns their truck. Therefore, they are liable for inspections, maintenance, and their actions. For example, if the truck driver were to lose control because a bald tire blew out on the road, an independent driver would be liable, whereas a directly employed driver may not.
A common practice in the trucking industry is for trucking companies to outsource truck maintenance duties. Some hire a third-party mechanic to carry out inspections and perform routine maintenance and repairs. Therefore, if an accident occurs and the insurance company uncovers a cause related to failed repairs, negligent maintenance, or skipped inspections, the third-party company would be responsible for damages.
A common cause of truck accidents involved issues with cargo and trailers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admission imposes strict laws in the trucking industry regarding weight limitations and securing cargo. Failure to adhere to those laws could have tragic consequences. For example, an overloaded trailer places unsupported strain on truck tires that could cause them to blow out or wear faster than usual. In addition, inadequately secured cargo could shift in the trailer, causing a change in the center of gravity and loss of control for the driver. Should a cargo issue cause an accident, the party responsible for loading the trailer would be liable.
A less common and often significantly more complex possibility is that the truck manufacturer could be liable. For example, if the truck’s braking system fails, causing the driver to lose control and smash into another vehicle, the manufacturer could be responsible for the accident. However, as the plaintiff, you must file a product liability lawsuit against the company and prove that the failed part malfunctioned due to a flawed design or a mistake during the manufacturing process. These cases can be challenging, and the plaintiff is often up against a large corporation with vast legal resources. Therefore, the help of a truck accident lawyer is undoubtedly necessary.
The next element of your truck accident case to consider is the losses incurred. Once you know who is liable and can prove they violated a duty of care owed to you, causing the accident that resulted in your injuries and subsequent losses, you need to collect the evidence required to prove those losses. The court refers to them as compensatory damages, meaning those things for which you would need compensation to make you whole again. The court further divides compensatory damages into economic and non-economic losses, which can be substantial in a truck accident case.
Economic damages refer to the losses that affect you financially. They commonly include:
For each claim you make, you must provide supporting evidence. Economic losses are generally provable using medical bills, expert testimony from doctors, pay stubs, tax returns, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses and repairs. The non-economic losses are sometimes more challenging to support.
Non-economic damages refer to the psychological effect of the accident and your injuries. Examples include:
Suppose you lost a loved one and are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In that case, you could also claim loss of companionship, nurturing, love, guidance, and economic damages, such as loss of the deceased’s income, benefits, and inheritance. Even funeral and burial or cremation expenses are recoverable.
Punitive damages do not compensate for any losses from a personal injury case. Instead, the court will sometimes order the defendant to pay the plaintiff a sum of money in addition to the compensatory damages. While uncommon in auto accident cases, it is possible. The purpose of a punitive damages award is to punish the defendant for behavior deemed egregious, malicious, or grossly negligent. For example, suppose the truck driver from your accident chose to drive under the influence while speeding and weaving recklessly through traffic, resulting in the collision that caused your damages. In that case, the court may determine that is cause for punitive damages. In cases of shared fault, punitive damages are significantly less likely.
The loss of a loved one to a trucking accident is tragic. The California truck accident lawyers at Johnson Attorneys Group fight to fully compensate you for the financial cost of your family members’ death. Wrongful death claims require the family to prove the same facts as the deceased, had they survived and pursued a claim on their own. We employ the same methods that we use for injury cases, taking into account funeral costs, the loss of income, and punitive charges. You and your family can thus mourn in peace without worrying about your finances.
The statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is two years from the date of the accident. However, waiting too long to file can be detrimental to your claim. With the help of a truck accident lawyer, you can start building a case for compensation while focusing on healing from the devastating physical and emotional trauma a severe truck accident can cause.
At Johnson Attorneys Group, we understand the financial burdens you face and the frustration you must feel toward the negligent party responsible for your losses. We offer a personalized approach to every case and make ourselves available to clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We want you to feel confident that you have a team of qualified and dedicated legal professionals ready to protect your rights and fight for a fast and fair settlement. Contact Johnson Attorneys Group at (800) 208-3538 today to schedule your free case evaluation and speak with an experienced attorney who can answer all your questions.
The first thing you should do when you are involved in a truck accident is to analyze the situation around you. Depending on the severity of the injuries, seek medical assistance for those involved. Involve the police to help you to document the accident for future claims and move your vehicle if possible to avoid causing traffic. Additionally, take note of the personal details of the involved truck driver such as the name, trucking company, license and phone number, home address and the insurance company. Photos of the scene should be taken and talk to any eyewitnesses at the scene.
You are required to file a truck accident injury lawsuit or an insurance claim within a period of two years according to the California statute of limitations. As for insurance claims, it is advisable to report as soon as the accident happens. Inform your insurer and find out if there are any deadlines you are required to meet to avoid filing a late claim.
Many truck accidents are caused due to poor truck maintenance, violation of Federal Hours of Service rules such as time limits on how many hours truck drivers may drive, driver errors and or incompetent or inexperienced drivers. .
There are lawyers who have specialized in truck accident injuries in California who help you determine whether or not you are entitled to a truck accident injury claim. After analyzing the details of the accident such as the cause and the injuries sustained, these lawyers are in a better position to advise you whether it is important to go forward with the claim or not.
Once involved in a truck accident, you can get compensation for personal injuries and other damages depending on the severity of the accident. Among the things you are compensated for include the pain and suffering you endure, the current and future medical expenditures you may incur, the existing and future lost earnings as well as your quality of life which is assumed to have been reduced by the accident. In the case of a fatal accident, surviving family members may qualify for compensation to help you take care of the funeral expenses for your loved one. There would also be compensation potentially awarded to dependents of the person who died, including a spouse or children. A spouse may also file a claim for loss of companionship.
Anyone can get an attorney to help with legal issues once they have been involved in a truck accident. It does not matter what income you have; you can still get a truck accident lawyer to help you win the case. The first consultation is free of charge and it helps you begin your claims. Truck accident lawyers do not demand any amount of fee until after they have helped you win the case and get compensation where applicable. We guarantee there are no fees paid for our professional services until after the case is settled in your favor.
There are some federal regulations that allow truck drivers to dispose of their logbooks after every six months if they so wish. This means that you shouldn’t wait for too long before getting legal help after involvement in a truck accident. This helps you get substantial and enough information to support your claim and also to understand the options you have.
Depending on the seriousness of the accident, you are entitled to receive compensation to take care of your current and future medical bills. The damages can also be inclusive of damage to property, lost wages and the capacity to make a living and also the pain and suffering you endure as a result of the accident. Truck accident attorneys in California help you get
It is extremely important to contact a qualified and experienced attorney at the earliest possible time in order to preserve your rights to compensation. Our California truck accident lawyers have recovered more than $98.4 million for our clients over the past several years alone.
