truck accident lawyer

 

Contra Costa & Alameda County Truck Accident Attorneys

Because of the tremendous weight differential between cars and trucks — a large commercial truck can weigh 30 times as much as an automobile — accidents involving tractor trailers are responsible for a large number of U.S. traffic fatalities each year. Due to the fact that the size of trucks makes them more dangerous than other vehicles on the road, they are subjected to more exacting government regulations than other vehicles. These regulations are intended to level the playing field and minimize risks to the public.

If you have been personally injured as the result of a collision with a truck in California, you should consider contacting California Trial Law Group, PC. Our adept attorneys have the energy and know-how to fight vigorously for your rights, obtaining for you the maximum compensation you deserve.

How We Can Prove Truck Liability

In order to function properly, large trucks require sophisticated, high-level maintenance. Government regulations require that trucks be tested thoroughly at regular intervals. Such tests are designed to ensure that all parts of these trucks, including brakes, brake lights, steering, reflectors, fluid levels, and engines, are fully functional and comply with established safety standards. Our law office is well-prepared to check whether proper maintenance has been done on the truck involved in the accident. If the truck in question has not passed inspection, if inspections have not been thorough or have been inaccurately recorded, we have a good basis for questioning the truck company’s liability. We also have skilled mechanics who are prepared to examine both your car and the truck so they will be able to give expert testimony if necessary.

In addition to possible problems with maintenance, trucking companies keep their truckers on tight schedules with minimal rest periods. This frequently results in physical exhaustion and/or drowsiness. Many truckers don’t even take the full rest periods they are entitled to because of the pressure on them to meet deadlines — in spite of traffic or challenging weather conditions.

At California Trial Law Group we do not automatically accept the trucking company’s analysis of the accident, since it typically puts you, the victim, in the position of being at fault. Instead, we have our own accident reconstruction specialists investigate the circumstances and provide us with a detailed report.

Beyond the fatigue that may result from the pressure put on truck drivers by their company’s deadlines, truck drivers may, like any drivers, engage in dangerous or distracting behaviors, such as;

  • Speeding or otherwise driving recklessly
  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Texting, talking on the phone, eating or gesticulating while driving

Protect Yourself by Calling Us First

As personal injury attorneys with extensive experience in dealing with trucking accidents, we can make some recommendations about how to protect yourself in the immediate aftermath of a trucking accident. Once you are being treated medically, you or a family member should contact us. You should not accept a settlement offer from your insurance company or sign any papers before we have met with you. As a matter of fact, it is best if you do not speak to insurance adjusters at all until we advise you.

It is important for you to understand that the trucking company and the insurance companies are not playing on your team. They are adversaries who want to keep the damages you receive as low as possible. Our legal firm, on the other hand, has your best interests at heart. We don’t charge you any fee unless we win your case.

Types of Damages You May Receive After a Trucking Accident

As with other kinds of personal injury settlements in California, if your attorney wins a civil lawsuit on your behalf you are entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are monies to reimburse you for your medical costs, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are those that cannot be easily assessed in monetary terms; they compensate you for physical pain and emotional suffering. In cases in which the defendant has behaved in a particularly disturbing manner by intentionally or maliciously disregarding the law, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the offender and make an example of how harshly the law intends to treat others who behave with similar recklessness or malice. In a trucking accident resulting in a fatality, a wrongful death lawsuit, instead of a personal injury lawsuit, may be filed.

Call on California Trial Law Group When You’re at Your Most Vulnerable

Our capable personal injury attorneys are here for you when you are hurt and confused and don’t know where to turn. If you’ve been seriously injured in a trucking accident, you have a right to superior legal counsel as well as excellent medical care. When you contact us by phone or by filling out a contact form on our website, we will help you to recover by taking over all legal matters surrounding your settlement or verdict. When you put yourself in our hands, we will always treat you with the care, compassion, and respect you deserve.