What If a Truck Company Causes a Serious Accident to Occur?

Truck Accident Injuries and Deaths

Truck accidents in California cause a significant number of injuries and deaths every year. In fact, in the year 2013, the California Highway Patrol reported that there were 256 fatal truck collisions in the state, and an additional 5,290 injury truck collisions. Many trucking accidents are caused as a result of a trucking company’s negligence. When a trucking company causes a serious accident, the victims of that accident have the right to seek compensation for injuries.

Understand Truck Company Negligence

In order to file a claim against a trucking company for damages, you will have to prove that the trucking company acted negligently, and that this negligence was the direct cause of the accident.

A truck accident can be caused by a variety of irresponsible acts. For example, the following are possible cases of trucking company negligence:

  • Failing to maintain a vehicle to state or federal standards, resulting in an accident;
  • Hiring a driver with a poor driving record (history of drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, etc.);
  • Failing to properly secure or double-check a cargo load;
  • Overworking a driver past federal hours of service limits;
  • Employing a negligent driver; or
  • Failing to properly train an employee.

If any of the above were the cause of your accident that resulted in injuries, the trucking company involved may be held liable.

Prove Damages You Have Suffered

In addition to proving negligence, you will also have to prove damages. Truck accidents caused by truck company negligence can cause devastating injuries. In addition to vehicle damage, a person involve in a truck accident may also suffer from crippling medical bills, loss of wages from being unable to return to work, painful injuries, and severe scarring and disfigurement. In the most traumatic of cases, a truck accident can result in death.

California is an at-fault car insurance state. As such, even if you have not suffered injuries that are severe, you still have the right to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or directly against the at-fault driver. If you can prove negligence and damages, you may be able to recover compensation for all economic and non-economic losses.

Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim

To help you to prove both negligence and damages, you will need to collect evidence. You can use any and all types of evidence that are relevant to supporting your claim. These can include truck driver logs, a truck’s electronic control module data, witness testimony, truck maintenance logs, police reports, video footage, and physical evidence from the accident scene. An attorney can help you to gather the right type of evidence, and present it in order to support your claim and recover damages.

Take Action Before It Is Too Late

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim after a truck accident is two years. Before time runs out and your right to file a civil action expires, consult with the experienced San Diego truck accident attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP. You can reach us today by calling 858-350-8855.


About Berman & Riedel, LLP firm managing partner attorney William M. Berman:

Attorney William M. Berman focuses his practice in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect. Strictly a plaintiffs’ dedicated firm, he never represents insurance companies in the defense of claims. Mr. Berman’s firm remains staunchly committed to helping those who have suffered serious injury or loss due the negligence, intentional misconduct or wrongful acts of others.

Mr. Berman has grown his firm to what is considered one of the largest and most successful elder abuse/neglect practices within California. Through his continued successes in handling claims involving nursing home and elder abuse and neglect, Mr. Berman remains a prominent figure in advocating on behalf of this vulnerable class of citizens.

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Attorney Bill Berman

William M. Berman, Esquire
Berman & Riedel, LLP
12264 El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92130
ph: (858) 350-8855
fax: (858) 350-9855
email:
web: www.bermanlawyers.com