Accidents involving semi trucks can often be more devastating than those with smaller passenger cars. Due to the volume, size and weight difference between the vehicles, semi trucks more often than not bear an advantage. While you may feel comfortable filing a lawsuit against a truck driver to recover damages for your injuries, it is important to consider seeking legal counsel from a California trucking accident lawyer as these incidents are often more complex and time-consuming than most people realize.
If you or a loved one is hurt or killed in a semi truck accident, contact Attorney Group today. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated trucking accident attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Trucking Accidents
Following a semi truck accident, the first thing to take care of is seeking medical attention if necessary. However, should you decide that you wish to pursue a claim for compensation, you will need to determine who should be held responsible for the accident. A California trucking accident lawyer will be able to review the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the cause of the accident prior to assigning fault. Several of the most common causes of these accidents are:
- Driving while fatigued or intoxicated
- Attempting to meet unrealistic schedules
- Overloading trucks
- Operating a poorly-maintained truck
- Failing to have proper training or experience
- Driving with neglect
- Speeding
- Driving on defective roadways or under adverse weather conditions
The most common of these, driver fatigue, is responsible for 40 percent of all semi truck accidents. Although a driver who is fatigued is more likely to cause an accident, if he or she is under the influence, speeding or operating a dangerous vehicle, then the risk of an accident exponentially increases.
A California trucking accident lawyer in California may be beneficial as he or she can help determine who is at fault. In many cases, it is not just the driver; there are additional parties who may be held liable as well, including the company of the leased vehicle, the owner of the cargo on the truck, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the parts on the truck or the mechanic responsible for inspecting and maintaining the vehicle.
How a California Trucking Accident Lawyer Can Help
Truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to to operate and maintain big rigs in a reasonably safe manner. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured in semi truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
When a person is killed in a trucking accident, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
People injured, or the families of those killed, in semi truck accidents are encouraged to seek the advice of a trucking accident lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for California. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
