Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers

According to the California Highway Patrol, there were 235 fatalities and 5092 truck accidents producing injuries in California in 2012. The greatest number of injury-causing truck accidents occurred in Los Angeles County that year. Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons, including driver fatigue, excessive speed, lack of training, improper wide turns, traffic signal violations, and failure to yield. Although there are stringent federal and state regulations covering the hours that a truck driver may work, many truck drivers are paid by the hour, which gives them incentive to falsify their logbooks. If you are injured in a crash involving trucks, you should consult a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer who has experience handling truck accident cases, as they often present unique issues.

After an accident, there will be important pieces of evidence at the crash site, on the damaged vehicles, in the police report, vehicle maintenance records and the truck's internal computer, and the driver's log. Some pieces of evidence may go missing over time, so it's important for a truck accident victim to retain an attorney quickly in order to protect his or her rights. Truck drivers and their trucking companies often have an insurance company and multiple defense attorneys collecting evidence and looking out for their interests. A truck accident victim should seek a lawyer with substantial experience in truck accident cases to advocate for his or her best interests.

Insurers often offer a low-ball settlement at first, so it's important not to talk to the insurer or accept an offer or sign anything, until you have had a chance to consult with your own Los Angeles truck accident attorney. The types of injuries that are sustained in a truck accident may be catastrophic, including paralysis and spinal cord injuries, crushed limbs, amputation, traumatic brain injury, burns, and more. Many of the types of injuries associated with truck accidents necessitate future care and vocational rehabilitation, or may render a victim wholly unable to work.

In truck accident cases, a victim will need to establish the truck driver's negligence by proving: (1) the truck driver's duty of care, (2) the truck driver's breach of duty, (3) causation and (4) actual damages. Often a truck driver is on the job, accomplishing tasks for an employer, when a truck accident happens. If so, the employer may be vicariously liable. Vicarious liability is a form of indirect liability in which an employer is held responsible for torts committed by an employee. The basic test is whether the negligent act or omission was committed within the scope of the employee's employment.

In some cases, an employer may be held directly liable for a truck driver's negligence by a truck accident lawyer in the Los Angeles area. Theories of direct liability include negligent hiring, negligent training, negligent supervision and negligent entrustment. An example of negligent hiring is when an employer hires a truck driver who has had multiple accidents in the past or a history of DUIs that would render the truck driver unfit to drive a heavy vehicle if the employer were making hiring decisions as reasonable person would.

If you were injured due to a truck crash, let our attorneys bring a lawsuit on your behalf. We have experience with truck accident cases, and understand how to build a case against a truck driver and his employer to recover the damages to which you're entitled. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We also represent clients in Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, and San Bernardino.