Commercial truck accidents occur less frequently than other types of motor vehicle accidents. However, when they do happen, they have the potential to cause much greater injuries and carry a higher risk of death. Commercial trucks are much heavier and larger than passenger vehicles, and the size and weight difference means that substantial physical forces are released when large trucks are involved in collisions. If you are seriously injured in an accident with a large truck, you should talk to an experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer at the San Jose Injury Attorneys to learn about your rights.
Truck accident injuries
Commercial truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or deaths. The occupants of passenger cars that are involved in collisions with large trucks might suffer the following types of injuries:
- Crush injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple fractures
- Internal injuries
- Serious lacerations
- Serious burns
- Death
Because of the severe nature of these types of collisions, it is common for the victims to suffer multiple injuries or to be killed.
Liability in 18-wheeler accidents
Some people believe that proving the liability of a truck driver after a collision will be a straightforward process. However, truck accident claims are often highly complex and more difficult to prove than other types of motor vehicle accident cases because of several factors.
Trucking carriers have to carry insurance policies with minimum liability limits of $750,000 to $5 million for trucks that are driven in interstate commerce under the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, depending on the products that they carry. Since truck accidents can cause extensive injuries that can involve substantial amounts of money, some trucking companies choose to carry insurance with higher limits than the required minimum amounts. Insurance companies and trucking companies defend against claims aggressively because of the large sums of money that might be at issue.
Truck accidents can also have several liable parties besides the involved drivers. Determining all of the parties that should be named as defendants to a lawsuit is important. If you fail to name someone who was partially at fault for your accident, you will not be able to recover the portion of your damages that are attributable to that party. Some of the potentially liable parties in a truck accident can include the following:
- The truck driver
- The driver of the passenger vehicle
- Other third-party drivers
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- The company responsible for inspecting and repairing the truck
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts
- Entities responsible for maintaining and repairing the roads
- Parties who load the trucks and secure the loads
- Leasing companies that own the trucks
Since many parties can be liable in a truck accident, these types of cases require in-depth investigations to uncover all of the parties that should be defendants to a lawsuit. Injury lawyers may also have to file motions to preserve evidence to prevent trucking companies from destroying or altering relevant data from electronic logging devices and the trucks’ black boxes.
Get help from an 18-wheeler accident lawyer
Truck accidents can be devastating and can leave you facing lifelong disabilities and substantial financial losses. If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one in an accident with a large truck, you should talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer at the San Jose Personal Injury Attorneys. Contact us today to schedule a consultation by calling (408) 217-1778.
You Can Recover Financial Compensation
Ccontact a personal injury attorney in San Mateo as soon as possible after an accident. An experienced attorney can look at your case to see whether or not the settlement is fair. The attorney can also determine what your best next steps may be. In some cases, the attorney may suggest that you pursue a personal injury case in civil court.
Reasons to Contact a San Mateo Personal Injury Lawyer
Depending on the severity of a person’s injury, it is possible to receive a settlement that is over $1 million. However, for the best results, it is important to have a trusted San Mateo personal injury lawyer by your side. Many times, you will be trying to recover from injuries. To shoulder your burdens, a skilled attorney will go to work and fight insurance companies so that you receive adequate compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of wages. Insurance companies may try to minimize the value of your claim and offer an unjust settlement. Our team will make sure that an insurance adjuster fairly assesses your case and provides the correct amount of financial compensation. Also, it is essential to contact a lawyer immediately following an accident. In California, there is a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. You have two years to come forward. We will waste no time with your case.
When you want top representation for your personal injury claim, call us for a consultation. We will carefully review all of your accident’s details, uncover the guilty party, and address all your questions and concerns. Do not wait until it is too late. Let us start working on your case today.