El Segundo Truck Accident Lawyer
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Truck Accident Lawyers El Segundo Residents Trust
It may come as a surprise, but massive trucks including 18 wheelers, garbage vehicles and semi-trucks are the cause of one out of every eight fatalities in auto collisions. When truck operators or their employers make an expensive error, it can result in life-altering consequences for all other motorists involved. The gravity of an accident involving a commercial truck is far greater than that of an average motor vehicle, thus the need for strict regulations and rules to ensure safety when these vehicles are on the road. That’s why California has implemented several federal and state laws that require truck drivers to adhere to specific protocols to protect other motorists from potential harm.
All too often, truck drivers and the companies that employ them carelessly ignore mandated laws, no matter how insignificant. Therefore if you have experienced a severe accident involving an 18-wheeler in Los Angeles County, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate who was responsible for your collision. If you have been injured in a truck accident, trust Sheridan & Rund, PC to protect your rights and provide the best possible legal representation. Our El Segundo truck accident lawyers are committed to helping victims of accidents throughout Los Angeles County. Don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation; we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.
What To Do After A Truck Accident In California?
After a truck accident, the fear-filled moments afterward can be just as hazardous. Impact with an oversized commercial vehicle not only obstructs sightlines and narrows pathways for pedestrians and those involved in the crash, but additional factors such as impaired weather conditions or blind spots on the road are even more treacherous to small vehicles like motorcycles. It is critical that extra safety precautions are taken following these incidents to prevent further harm from occurring due to potential hazards of being left unnoticed by other drivers passing at high speeds.
In the aftermath of a truck accident, your wellbeing and that of any passengers must be your top priority. Remain as tranquil and collected as possible while calling 911 for help. To avoid further damage or injury, find an area away from the crash site to wait until emergency responders arrive. First Responders can provide crucial medical aid and prevent other vehicles from exacerbating the damage. As mentioned, the accident site is frequently hazardous – there have been numerous accounts of truck crash victims being tragically killed by other drivers while awaiting assistance at the scene.
It is essential to remember that any comments you make after a crash may be used in court as proof of your involvement. While it’s natural to want to apologize after an accident, no matter who was at fault, saying the wrong thing could jeopardize potential personal injury claims due to injuries suffered from the incident. After receiving medical attention and ensuring you are safe, contact an experienced El Segundo truck accident attorney to review your case and determine if you may be entitled to compensation.
Determining Fault In Truck Accidents
Besides the drivers of each truck involved in an accident, other parties may quickly become entangled in a potential case depending on what caused it. Moreover, with insurance companies and legal teams fighting to reduce any settlements as much as they can, all parties will have their own support system.
With numerous factors at play in these scenarios, the importance of enlisting a skilled and qualified El Segundo truck accident lawyer is undeniable. A reliable personal injury law firm that has successfully handled countless similar cases and understands how to counter any strategies or tactics employed by opposing parties looking for loopholes should be sought after.
The Truck Driver
In general, truck accidents stemming from reckless driving or impairment make for obvious cases of negligence; yet in other circumstances there could be underlying factors that contribute to the collision. Hence, it is essential to consider all possible parties who might bear responsibility and take appropriate legal action accordingly.
The Trucking Company
If the truck is owned by someone else or a business, it’s likely that the driver’s insurance will be managed by their employer. In this case, the company’s legal team would take care of all accident-related details.
The Truck Manufacturer
While not as frequent, trucks can certainly suffer mechanical breakdowns that may be extremely severe. Who is accountable in such a case? Generally speaking, the manufacturer of the vehicle holds liability for any malfunctioning parts or components. Amongst them are issues with air brakes which just so happen to be one of the most common cases reported by truck owners across America today.
The Loading Company
Not packing a truck correctly before takeoff could lead to deadly consequences and substantial liability for the loading company. The fear of falling debris from trucks is understandable considering how often these kinds of accidents occur, even if we haven’t seen Final Destination’s spine-tingling scene with cascading tree trunks being unceremoniously spilled onto an unsuspecting highway. Sadly, this sort of incident isn’t as rare as you might believe; it happens more regularly than you’d like to think.
Common Causes Of Truck Accidents In Los Angeles County
When it comes to semi-truck crashes in Los Angeles County, carelessness and irresponsible behavior by the truck driver are often at fault. Negligence has no place when operating a commercial vehicle; these careless individuals must be held responsible for their actions with an El Segundo semi-truck accident lawyer. Some of the frequent causes of truck accidents throughout Los Angeles County include:
- Hazardous Road Conditions
- Oversized Loads
- Falling Debris
- Blind Spots
- Distracted Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Poorly Screened Drivers
- Impaired Driving
- Fatigued Driving
- Tailgating
5 Common Types of Truck Accidents
Rollover Accidents
Rollover truck accidents have the potential to be particularly hazardous, as they tend to happen when a driver is taking a turn or swerving at an accelerated speed, and can even involve multiple vehicles when environmental conditions impede traction. These collisions are especially dangerous due to their multi-car nature.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife truck accident is when the trailer of a truck veers off to one side while the cab remains facing straight ahead. As the front wheels become locked, the rear wheels continue to move forward at an alarming speed that can cause catastrophic destruction in its path. Speeding, suddenly changing lanes and driving recklessly on wet or icy roads significantly increases your chances of being involved in such an incident with dire consequences.
Rear-End Accidents
A rear-end collision with a truck can be an absolute disaster, often leading to tragic injuries or even wrongful death. Vastly larger than the average car on the road, commercial trucks have been known to ride up onto smaller vehicles during these types of crashes – amplifying the force and consequences associated with them exponentially.
The term “override crash” is used to refer to this type of collision. A small car can also become intertwined with the back of a semi-truck trailer after an accident, otherwise known as an “underride crash.” Both override and underride truck accidents often cause catastrophic damage, and more importantly, potentially fatal injuries; consequently leading to much higher rear-end accident payouts.
Head-On Collisions
The consequences of a head-on accident involving an 18-wheeler can be disastrous, and even deadly. Sadly, when truck drivers become distracted or fall asleep at the wheel, these types of collisions occur far too frequently. With every loss of focus from the road comes a greater risk for destruction; not only are there potential fatalities in head-on accidents with semi-trucks but also life-changing injuries such as paralysis or traumatic brain injury.
Tire Blowouts
All drivers share the responsibility to properly inflate their tires before hitting the road. But truckers, in particular, carry a greater duty of care since such large commercial vehicles can cause tremendous destruction should anything go awry. When a truck tire is overly worn or has insufficient pressure, it can lead to devastation on the road. It may be difficult to determine negligence in such an accident; however, with assistance from a specialized El Segundo truck accident lawyer who will investigate and evaluate all evidence thoroughly, you can ensure that justice is served. An insurance adjuster might try and suggest otherwise, but don’t let them fool you!
Wide Turn Accidents
Semi-trucks often make wide, sweeping turns at intersections and other ninety degree angles, taking up a substantial portion of the roadway in the process. This can cause traffic to be pinned between these mammoth vehicles and curbsides, particularly if they are small cars or motorcycles. Thus those operating low-profile automobiles must always remain aware of this potential hazard while driving near semi-trucks.
Truck Accident Cases Often Result in Catastrophic Injury
When it comes to semi-tractor trailer accidents, the injuries that can result are often severe and life-altering. This is why an 18 wheeler wreck attorney needs a deep understanding of medicine and anatomy in order to accurately evaluate the damage, explain it in court, as well as calculate what future costs or limitations will be incurred by the victim. Our lawyer could help you secure potential compensation for:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Paralysis such as paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Amputations or loss of a limb
- Fractures and broken bones
- Organ injuries
- Blindness or loss of vision
- Burn injuries from explosions, fires, or chemicals
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Significant disfigurement
- Nerve injuries and damage
- Torn muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the shoulder, including rotator cuffs, SLAP tears, or biceps tendon injuries
- Damage to the knee, including a torn meniscus or tears in the ACL, LCL, MCL, or PCL
- Back injuries and neck injuries, including annular tears, herniations, and slipped discs
- Other serious or catastrophic personal injuries that our trucking accident lawyer in El Segundo, CA could recover for victims.
Commercial Vehicles Have Special Rules to Follow
As well as fulfilling the regulations of California, each commercial vehicle must abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules. These regulations apply to all trucks, truck drivers and companies regardless of their home state or destination. The FMCSA laws provide a minimum level of safety that must be met in every circumstance – even if a state’s legislation allows for less stringent standards.
Navigating the intricate regulations regarding box trucks can be a daunting task for most car accident lawyers, which is why victims of such accidents must employ an experienced trucking accident lawyer in Los Angeles County who understands these rules and can use them to prove negligence on behalf of truckers or their employers.
Damages From Truck Accidents
Have you been in a truck accident, leaving you with life-altering injuries? At Sheridan & Rund, PC, our El Segundo truck accident lawyers understand the immense impact these situations have on your wellbeing and future. We fight for your rights to compensation so that you can be paid back in full for what has been taken away from you. Our legal team is experienced when it comes to pursuing damages associated with truck accidents such as:
- Hospital bills
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Loss of Consortium
- Wrongful death
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Prove A Truck Accident Personal Injury Claim?
When it comes to truck accidents in Los Angeles County, just like other vehicle collisions, determining who is at fault relies on a theory of negligence; that is, one’s failure to exercise the same amount of caution and care as an average person would under similar circumstances.
In California, if a driver operates carelessly and causes an accident involving a truck, the negligent driver and other involved third parties are held liable for any harm that they caused. For a successful personal injury claim following such an incident to be established, it is essential to prove four key elements of negligence:
- Duty: the truck driver owed the victims a duty of care to operate the truck in a safe manner;
- Breach: the truck driver violated that duty of care;
- Causation: the driver’s breach or violation caused an accident; and
- Damages: the victim suffered injuries as a result.
Speak With An Experienced El Segundo Truck Accident Attorney
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a devastating truck accident, Sheridan & Rund, PC is here to help. Our El Segundo truck accident lawyers are devoted to obtaining the maximum compensation for victims of such accidents and will do all that’s possible so that your case receives justice. We understand how emotionally traumatizing these events can be, which is why we want you to focus on recovery while we handle the legal side of things – without any costs upfront! Get in touch with Sheridan & Rund, PC today for a free consultation and allow us take care of everything else from there.