A truck accident can have devastating consequences as these commercial vehicles are several times larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. A large commercial truck collision can result in multiple fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
If you have lost a loved one or suffered injuries due to a collision with a large truck, we understand the pain and confusion you might be going through. At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our dedicated Burbank truck accident lawyers are here to support you. We prioritize truck accident victims and are ready to listen to your case and help you explore your legal options and pursue fair compensation.
As a truck crash victim, you might be entitled to several forms of compensation for your injuries and other damages. You might be able to hold the trucking company liable for your accident, not just the truck driver. Consult a Burbank truck accident attorney from Crown & Stone Law, P.C. to learn more about your legal options and rights. Contact our law offices in Burbank for a free consultation on your case. Here is what you should know about truck accidents, applicable personal injury laws, and how a truck accident lawyer can help you.
Understanding Truck Accidents & Liability
Truck accidents can occur because of the driver, a defective truck part, hazardous roads, or poor weather conditions. Depending on the circumstances of the truck accident, one or more parties can be held liable, which is why understating liability in truck accident cases is crucial.
A truck driver can be liable for your car accident if they engaged in the following negligent actions:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Operating the vehicle while fatigued and breaking hours of service regulations
- Driving the truck while impaired
- Disobeying traffic laws
Suppose the truck accident occurred due to equipment failures, such as tire blowouts, faulty steering systems, or malfunctioning brakes. Or the defective parts were faulty before the incident and were not adequately addressed by the truck maintenance providers. In that case, the manufacturer of the defective component, the truck service provider, and the trucking company can be liable.
If the truck crash was caused by overloading cargo, which affects stability and increases the risk of accidents, then the liability may lie with the truck driver, trucking company, or third-party cargo loader.
If the truck accident was caused by the negligence of a passenger vehicle driver, the car driver may be liable. Trucking companies can also be held liable if they do not adequately train their truck drivers.
Liability in truck accidents isn’t always straightforward, as various parties could share liability. Yet, a truck accident lawyer rather than a car accident lawyer can help you establish certain particularities. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you collect evidence to prove fault and determine who the responsible party is. Experienced attorneys can work alongside other experts, such as accident reconstruction professionals, to establish the events that led to the truck crash. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. for legal representation and seek compensation for the harm incurred.
Potential Truck Accident Injuries
Some of the most common truck accident injuries include broken bones, head injuries, rib and torso injuries, neck injuries, and other severe injuries that can be life-altering or fatal. Crashes involving semi-trucks or tractor-trailers often result in devastating consequences. Serious injuries can affect the victim on a psychological level. Here are some common injuries in truck collisions:
Soft Tissue Damage
Soft tissue damage refers to muscle, tendon, or ligament injury. Due to the forceful impact of truck crashes, victims can experience strains, sprains, and whiplash. Although these types of injuries aren’t as severe as others, they can still cause chronic pain and mobility issues. The average recovery time is six weeks, but symptoms such as pain or decreased strength can last for months. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. for a free case review and initiate your personal injury claim to recover compensation for your truck accident injuries.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries can occur during high-impact collisions. When a car collides with a large vehicle such as a semi-truck or tractor-trailer, the body is subjected to extreme forces that can lead to internal injuries such as organ damage or internal bleeding. These injuries require surgery and extensive medical care.
Broken Bones and Fractures
The impact of a truck collision can lead to multiple fractures, broken bones, and significant pain. Broken bones caused by a truck wreck can heal within two months, but certain factors, such as the type of bone affected, an individual’s overall health, and age, can also affect the recovery duration. Those injuries can prevent most victims from working and can result in lost wages and physical therapy sessions, which can be recovered through a personal injury claim. Consult an experienced truck accident lawyer to learn more.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries from Burbank truck accidents are extremely severe. When the spine is damaged, victims can experience partial paralysis, loss of sensation, and other mobility limitations on a long-term or permanent basis. Victims deserve maximum compensation if their truck accident resulted in such injuries and the evidence is in their favor. Speak with a truck accident lawyer to seek a favorable outcome. Do not let negligent truck drivers escape justice.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting effects on cognitive abilities, motor skills, and quality of life, and they don’t necessarily occur only in collisions with large trucks. Fortunately, TBIs and their associated medical expenses can be compensated for. Let a Burbank truck accident lawyer help you.
Damage Awards in Truck Accident Cases
There are different damages in truck accidents. A Burbank truck accident lawyer can examine your truck accident case and inform you what types of damages you have.
The damages awarded in truck accidents are usually economic and non-economic. Economic damages refer to tangible costs such as medical expenses, property damage, or lost wages. Non-economic damages are intangible losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, PTSD, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and others.
Rarely, in personal injury cases, punitive damages can also be awarded to the victim to punish the perpetrator. Punitive damages are usually awarded when the at-fault party’s actions are discovered to be particularly negligent, intentional, or egregious.
Calculating Compensation in Truck Accidents
If you want to learn how much you might be awarded in your Burbank truck accident claim, it’s best to consult a Burbank truck accident attorney because each truck accident case is unique.
Compensation is calculated based on medical treatment, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket expenses. Generally, the severity of the injuries and the recovery time often result in higher settlements.
Damages in truck accidents can be calculated using the multiplier or per diem formula. The multiplier formula considers all the economic damages suffered by the victim and multiplies it by 1.5 to 5. The severity of the injuries determines the multiplier number in truck accident cases. The per diem formula is used as daily compensation for a specific amount of time and amount. Reach out to a Burbank truck accident lawyer from our law firm for a free consultation to learn more about the legal process.
The Role of a Burbank Truck Accident Lawyer
Burbank truck accident lawyers play a crucial role in truck accident cases as they represent the rights and interests of victims. A truck accident attorney will investigate the circumstances of your truck accident and evaluate the merits of your case.
If your truck accident claim is valid, a truck accident attorney will give you legal options. They will help victims gather evidence, determine liability, negotiate with the insurance company, and litigate the case in court if no other options are available.
The role of a Burbank truck accident attorney is to secure fair compensation for truck accident victims so that victims receive justice. In many truck accidents, victims are often offered low compensation for their injuries and other damages. A Burbank truck accident lawyer can help them know if the offer is insufficient and if the evidence available can be used to seek a higher compensation amount. If your accident occurred while riding a motorcycle, you might consider speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer instead. Yet, at our law firm, our motorcycle and truck accident lawyers can work in tandem to help you seek justice.
California follows a pure comparative negligence system in which accident parties can be assigned a percentage of fault based on their contribution to the accident. For example, if a driver is accused of distracted driving and the evidence proves this, they will be assigned a higher degree of fault.
In truck accident cases, a truck driver can be assigned a higher degree of fault if they engage in reckless maneuvers, operate their vehicle under the influence, or violate traffic laws. The percentage of fault assigned to a party will reduce their compensation, which is why working with a truck accident lawyer is crucial when defending against accusations that might increase your percentage of fault.
Proving Fault in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often involve multiple parties that can be held liable. A driver’s negligence isn’t always the sole reason why an accident occurs, and when it comes to commercial vehicles, trucking companies, service providers, cargo loaders, and other parties can be held liable.
This is advantageous for personal injury victims, as in California, the concept of joint and several liability allows victims to pursue compensation from multiple defendants. A lawyer specializing in Burbank truck accidents can help victims identify all liable parties and use all the applicable personal injury laws and legal strategies to help them pursue maximum compensation.
Services Offered by Crown & Stone Law, P.C.
At the law offices of Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our dedicated Burbank truck accident lawyers help victims understand if they have a strong case and will pursue fair compensation for their severe injuries, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our truck crash attorneys have seen countless Burbank truck accidents and understand what personal injury victims go through. Our personalized approach provides compassionate support and guidance to clients throughout their cases.
We will help you gather the necessary evidence to prove fault, such as accident reports, witness statements, and medical records, to assess the extent of your damages and their costs. If truck drivers and the companies they work for try to undermine your claim, we will work alongside third-party experts, such as accident reconstruction professionals, to help your claim.
If a semi-truck driver does not adhere to the various applicable regulations that ensure road and highway safety, we will help you. If the trucking company engages in negligent hiring practices or other entities are at fault, we will prove their negligence and hold them liable for your damages. Our truck lawyers will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf and handle all communications until a favorable outcome is reached.
Should settlement negotiations fail, our trial lawyers will help you pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault parties and prepare your case for trial. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C., for a free initial consultation to learn more. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay anything unless we win your case.
Personal Injury Laws That Can Affect Your Truck Accident Claim
Several personal injury laws can affect your claim whether you are involved in a truck or car accident in Burbank, CA. A personal injury lawyer will advise you to take immediate action since the evidence will be more reliable.
In California, you cannot pursue a claim if two years have passed since the date of your truck accident unless special circumstances apply to your case. Contact the law offices of Crown & Stone Law, P.C. for a free case review to learn if any of those circumstances apply to your case. Furthermore, truck crashes must be reported to authorities if they result in property damage exceeding $1,000, injury, or death.
Fault in truck accident cases is established through evidence, and all parties can be assigned a percentage of fault. Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, you can recover compensation for your damages even if you are 99% at fault. However, your total damage awards will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident
When you are involved in an accident with a truck, it’s essential to remain calm and prioritize your health. Contact emergency services to receive medical treatment and get the necessary documents to link your injuries to the accident.
Report the accident to authorities so that they can initiate a police investigation. This can help you learn whether the truck driver was intoxicated, or you may learn other valuable information that can help your case.
Before leaving the accident scene, take photos or videos of your injuries, vehicle damage, and the road conditions. Write down the truck driver’s contact and insurance information and the name of the company they work for. If witnesses are present at the accident scene, get their contact information as well.
Notify your insurance institute about the event and consult with a truck accident lawyer in Burbank to prepare your claim. A Burbank truck crash lawyer can give you a fighting chance at maximizing your compensation and holding all the responsible parties liable for your injuries and other losses. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. for a free consultation to learn more, and let our compassionate and dedicated truck accident lawyers help you pursue justice and fair compensation.