Truck Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a Los Angeles truck accident, you may be worrying about where you can turn for help. Between emotional trauma, physical injuries, and property damage, we are aware of how overwhelming and difficult a situation like this can be. However, you should not stop working toward a successful recovery. Call a truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles to learn about your legal rights, options, and how we can help you recover from the aftermath of your accident.
Truck Accidents in California
In 2021, in the United States, over 500,000 large truck crashes occurred across the nation. Large truck incidents are alarmingly common. In 2022, California ranked second in the US for semi-truck collisions with injuries. That same year, over 2,600 semi-truck accidents occurred in the Golden State that caused injuries. Additionally, the majority of California truck crashes happen in Los Angeles County.
Truck accidents tend to result in more severe injuries and property damage than other types of accidents. This is due to the extreme size and weight difference between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. These types of wrecks can result in longer recovery periods, higher medical care costs, and greater loss of earning capacity.
According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 400 people lose their lives each year in California due to truck accidents. In fact, more truck accident fatalities happen in the Golden State than in any other state in the nation.
Truck accidents generally cause injuries that are severe and sometimes even catastrophic. Those injured in these crashes can work toward financial compensation by taking legal action. However, truck crash claims are extremely complex and call for the experience and skill of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
The IIHS estimates that other drivers cause 81% of all trucking accidents and that the majority are caused by driver negligence. At the Leiva Law Firm, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys have years of skilled legal experience that we can utilize to help you recover compensation if you were injured in a truck accident due to another driver’s negligence.
Why Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
After a serious truck accident, you may be suffering in numerous ways. You may be in a lot of pain from your injuries and stuck in the hospital while you are unable to work or spend time with your family. When you have medical bills piling up along with your vehicle repair costs and lost wages, you may be in desperate need of financial compensation.
Working alongside an experienced truck accident attorney who has worked on numerous truck accident cases can significantly boost your chances of bringing a successful legal claim for compensation. For instance, a truck crash attorney can help you with:
- Legal research and analysis regarding your claim
- Calculating your monetary damages
- Determining who caused your crash
- Negotiating with opposing parties
- Taking your case to trial when necessary
In short, a qualified Los Angeles truck crash attorney can help you maximize your potential recovery and lift the financial burden you may be facing at this time.
Evidence Needed to Support Your Truck Accident Case
An attorney can help you gather substantial supporting evidence that will ensure you are able to prove how your accident happened. Especially if you believe that your crash was caused by a negligent driver, filing a personal injury claim may be your best bet for a successful financial recovery. The following documents serve as legitimate evidence of your accident and its cause:
- Police report: This report entails information concerning the crash scene, the witnesses and drivers involved, and the involved vehicles.
- Witness statements: Obtaining contact information from any/all eyewitnesses is important.
- Medical records: Official medical records and information about your injuries should be released to your attorney.
- Vehicle service history: This can be compared to similar vehicles to decide if the vehicle’s history contributed to the accident.
- Photos and videos: These should include vehicle damage, road conditions, injuries, and nearby traffic signs.
What is the Time Limit To File a Truck Accident Claim in California?
In California, the statute of limitations or time limit for filing a truck accident claim is two years from the crash date. This applies to personal injury lawsuits.
If a victim’s injuries turn out to be fatal, the statute of limitations for their loved ones to file a claim is also two years.
In California, you must report a crash to the DMV within ten days from the date of the accident. You must report your wreck if:
- The crash resulted in over $1,000 in property damage
- Any injuries occurred
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Like other personal injury claims, truck crash cases rely on who caused the collision, and your damages and injuries. Proving liability in these types of claims can be very complicated.
While it may seem like a truck driver caused an accident, they are also employed by a trucking company. Oftentimes, employers are responsible for the behavior of those they employ. As a result, the trucking company and the driver may both be held responsible for an accident. Cases become more complex when other parties, like a maintenance person or a truck parts manufacturer, is also partly liable.
In these complex cases, a skilled truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help figure out who may be responsible for your injuries and losses.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover?
Several different types of truck accident damages may result from a serious truck accident depending on the extent of your injuries. Some of these include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repair costs
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Emotional turmoil
- Punitive damages
- Loss of consortium
Types of Truck Accidents
Some of the most common types of truck crashes follow:
- Jackknife
- Tire blowout
- Truck rollover
- Blind spots
- Rear end
- Under ride
- Wide turn
- Lost load
Common Reasons Los Angeles Commercial Truck Accidents Occur
In 2021, over 5,000 people lost their lives in large truck accidents throughout the United States, according to information from the National Safety Council. Though truck drivers are professional commercial vehicle operators who go through hours of training, they still make mistakes and at times, drive dangerously. Indeed, numerous truck collisions are caused by the recklessness and carelessness of truck operators. However, truck accidents can also happen for countless other reasons.
Some of the most common reasons truck accidents happen include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI);
- Truck driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Failing to yield
- Failing to obey stop signs
- Following too closely
- Bad weather
- Inexperienced drivers
- Improper truck maintenance
- Lack of proper supervision
- Broken truck parts
- Unsafe/defective roadway design or construction
Injured in a Trucking Accident in Los Angeles? Let A Truck Accident Attorney Help
Anyone who gets hurt in a commercial truck accident needs to talk to a truck accident lawyer they can trust. If you or someone you love has recently been harmed in a commercial truck accident that you believe was caused by negligence, you need to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Our skilled attorneys at the Leiva Law Firm have worked on all different types of truck accident cases and will stop at nothing to get you the financial compensation you need from the trucking companies’ insurance companies while we hold all liable parties accountable. Contact our truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles to learn more.