OVER $500 MILLION WON FOR OUR CLIENTS
Although several California highways ban trucks, many drivers must still share the road with tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, when semis collide with other cars, the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles almost always bear the injuries.
If you were hurt in a truck wreck, seek legal assistance as quickly as possible. Trucking companies will attempt to defend themselves even if their driver was at fault for a collision. While you may be tempted to accept a quick offer, it might not cover your injury-related expenses. Our California truck accident lawyers will negotiate with a trucking company’s insurers to get you an appropriate settlement amount.
Frequent Causes of Truck Accidents in California
When sharing the road with large trucks, you must drive defensively to avoid being involved in a crash. Semis have blind spots on all four sides, so you should allow adequate space in front and behind trucks on the road.
Even if you operate your vehicle safely, a truck driver might not. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck driver error causes at least half of all truck crashes that result in injuries. Under California state law, an at-fault driver must pay for your losses resulting from a collision.
Do not think that you have to prove the cause of a truck accident alone. Our team of attorneys will investigate the details of your commercial vehicle crash to prove who was responsible for damages. Proof of negligence could include video surveillance from a truck’s cameras, driver logs, driver training records, driver cell phone records, the trucking company’s delivery schedule, and other relevant information.
Common Injuries After a Tractor-Trailer Crash
When a large and small object collide, the smaller vehicle is likely to sustain more damage. In crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a semitruck, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 68% of fatalities were occupants of the smaller cars. Sadly, people who survive collision with tractor-trailers are often severely hurt. Common injuries include:
- Facial lacerations
- Fractures
- Amputations
- Internal injuries from airbags and seatbelts
- Back and neck injuries such as herniated disk or whiplash
- Crushing injuries
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Traumatic brain injury
Many of these injuries require months of recovery time. In some cases, a full recovery is impossible. At Valero Law Group, we understand how devastating these injuries can be for you and your family. Our lawyers will help you properly document your crash-related injuries to receive the maximum recovery amount.
Do Not Agree to an Early Settlement
Severe injuries create fear, especially when you are unable to work and cannot earn a livable wage. You and your family may even begin to worry about how you will make ends meet. Unfortunately, insurance companies may take advantage of your anxiety.
With our help, you will avoid settling your claim for less than it is worth. We will handle negotiations with insurance companies and demand that responsible parties pay a fair settlement for the harm they caused you.
Calculating Compensatory Damages
As the name suggests, compensatory damages pay for the losses you suffered after a crash. You might receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, incidental expenses, future costs, and payments to acknowledge the change the injury caused to your quality of life. Compensatory damages could also cover your rehabilitation costs, mental health treatment, any alternative modalities that could be effective, and home renovation costs.
Punitive Damages
If a semi driver or trucking company acted with willful or conscious disregard for your safety, California Civil Code §3294(c) allows you to seek punitive damages. You could receive punitive damages in addition to any compensatory damages you collect.
Our attorneys will work to prove that the tractor-trailer or trucking company involved in your crash acted with willful disregard or malice. If successful, a jury could award punitive damages that could deter future egregious behavior. In California, punitive compensation could reach seven figures.
Pursue Your Claim with a California Truck Accident Attorney
Tractor-trailer collisions can cause severe, life-altering injuries. However, you do not have to face the effects of your injuries alone. The driver or trucking company responsible for a crash should pay for your losses.
If you or a family member were hurt in a vehicle crash involving a semi, reach out to a California truck accident lawyer at Valero Law Group as soon as possible. Our experienced legal professionals will help you pursue an injury claim for reasonable compensation and get you the recovery you deserve.
Schedule your FREE initial truck accident case evaluation by calling our 24/7 available team members at (855) 698-1508 to get you the financial compensation you deserve.
