Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer
Tractor-trailer crashes can be devastating for the victims and their families. Contact a Los Angeles truck collision attorney from the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation for assistance filing a civil claim against those who caused your accident.
Big rig wrecks in Los Angeles, California can cause extensive and even fatal injuries. When the person who caused the accident was being negligent, they can be held legally responsible for the harm they caused. Most accidents are caused by human error, which means your accident likely could have been prevented if not for the actions of another.
Whoever caused your accident should be made to pay for what they’ve done. Your claim could prevent that person from hurting someone else. It could also bring about changes to safety regulations or create laws that make the roads safer for California residents and visitors.
Discuss your case and injuries with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer at our law firm.
What Does it Mean to Be Negligent in Los Angeles?
Negligence is a legal term that corresponds to a person’s careless actions and the relationship between those actions and the harm suffered by another person. If someone is negligent, it means they were being thoughtless and careless in their actions (or inaction) and that their behavior brought about injury to another person.
Even though the careless person probably didn’t mean to hurt someone else, they did hurt someone because of their actions. For example, if a truck driver is driving down the road and forgets to put on their blinker, you might be able to sue the truck driver if you are injured because of their careless actions.
What Caused Your LA 18-Wheeler Collision?
How do you figure out what caused your tractor-trailer collision? It’s not always easy to figure out the cause right away. Investigating the accident is a key part of the claim process. In many instances, the police will help to investigate your accident. They will probably write a police report that you can use to prove your case.
Witnesses can help you determine what happened. Other types of evidence could point to intoxicated driving, drowsy driving, or unsafe road conditions in Los Angeles. The evidence might tell you that the truck driver wasn’t properly trained or that the truck’s parts were defective. No matter what caused your wreck, it’s important to figure out what it was.
You need to know what happened so you can determine who is responsible for the crash. For instance, if drowsy driving caused the crash, the trucker or the trucking company could be legally responsible depending on the circumstances of the case. If faulty truck parts led to the collision, it could be a negligent mechanic or manufacturing company that is to blame.
Fight for Your Right to Receive Financial Compensation for a Semi-Truck Wreck
Many people hesitate to file a claim after a semi-truck crash. They don’t know how to go about the process or they just feel too overwhelmed with their injuries to deal with their claim. Not filing a claim right away could lead to you missing out on the chance to recover compensation for your losses.
California only gives accident victims two years to bring a claim for personal injury in most cases. You have the right to receive financial compensation after an injury accident, but no one can file a claim for you. A Los Angeles big rig crash attorney can help you file your claim, but first you must reach out. You must be willing to fight for yourself and your rights. Others will help you so you won’t have to handle this situation alone.
Calculate Your Damages with Help from a Los Angeles Big-Rig Crash Attorney
The financial costs of a serious injury trucking collision could be astronomical. Your damages could affect your financial stability for years. In some instances, peoples’ entire lives are shattered by accident costs. You don’t want that to happen to you. Winning compensation could pull you out of this mess and set you on the road to a positive future.
However, you must first calculate your damages. Figuring out your claim’s value is imperative. Otherwise, you could end up getting shortchanged. You could miss out on money that is rightfully yours. For example, you could be owed financial compensation for future medical bills or for the loss of your earning potential.
If you don’t work with a Los Angeles truck injury attorney at our firm, you might not learn all the damages you’re entitled to for your accident. A list of common semi-truck crash damages is listed below:
- Medical expenses
- Lost life enjoyment
- Mental anguish
- Loss of income
- Permanent injury
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Cost of physical therapy
- Cost of mental health services
The Process of Filing a Trucking Collision Claim in Los Angeles
One thing that stops many accident victims from filing claims is the unknown of it all. Filing a claim isn’t something that most people do every day. They are overwhelmed by a process they know nothing about, which seems intimidating, if not downright impossible.
Add to these issues the fact that you’re dealing with painful and traumatic injuries, and you’re likely not interested in adding anything more to your plate right now. But, you can’t be awarded financial compensation without filing a claim. It’s in your best interests to do so. You could feel better about the process if you understand the basic steps involved.
Your Los Angeles tractor-trailer crash lawyer at our firm can guide you through the entire process so you won’t have to feel overwhelmed. However, the basic steps have also been described for you below.
- The first step is to investigate your accident, find the cause, and gather evidence of what happened and who should pay for it.
- The next step is to carefully document your injuries and losses, such as gathering medical evidence of your injuries and keeping careful records of how your life has been impacted by this traumatic ordeal.
- You will follow that by calculating your claim’s total value. How much compensation are you owed? Add up your losses to determine a fair settlement amount.
- Then, you need to put together the claim and paperwork. Once the paperwork is complete and you know how much of a settlement you deserve, you can send the claim to the at-fault person’s insurance company.
- The insurer can choose to pay you a fair settlement or you could take your case to trial.
Capable Truck Accident Attorney Los Angeles
Accidents involving trucks have far severe consequences than the ones regarding regular passenger cars or other smaller vehicles. Fully loaded commercial trucks can weigh as much as 30 times a car. It’s crucial that you consult with a truck accident attorney Los Angeles if you or a loved one was involved in an accident. It’s critical to work with a truck accident lawyer Los Angeles with a good track record of success.
Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents are caused by the same factors that cause car accidents. This includes driver fatigue, driver sleeplessness, distracted driving and drug or alcohol impairment. However, trucking companies can have a far greater share of blame in truck related accidents since they try to keep their trucks on the roads for as long as possible in a bid to improve their profit margin.
This can cause parts to experienced excessive wear and tear. It may also cause the truck driver to be tired than normal or resort to drugs to stay awake. Some truck accidents occur because of negligent or careless loading. In such situations, your truck accident attorney Los Angeles will hold the warehouse employee in charge of loading or the freight operator as responsible.
Common Truck Accident Types
These are common types of truck accidents in Los Angeles:
- No Zones: All commercial trucks have no zones or blind spots along the rears and sides. Motorists can fail to avoid these spots.
- Brake failure: Sudden stops or excessive use of brakes can cause accidents.
- Jackknife accidents: Tractor-trailer can jackknife if the drive-axle breaks
- Rear-end accidents: Truckers often rear-end cars while tailgating them. These accidents can cause grievous injuries.
- Rollover: Improper loading and speeding are two of the most common causes of rollover accidents
- Runaway truck accidents: These are caused when the truck driver fails to properly brake the truck. This can happen at off-ramps, railroad crossings, or intersections.
- Underride accidents: This occurs when a truck suddenly stops and the car behind it gets crushed under the truck’s rear.
- Wide-turn accidents: These occur when the truck driver fails to see another vehicle in its blind spots while completing a turn.
Consult with A Capable Truck Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch are well prepared to handle your lawsuit and try to win the damages you need to move on with your life. Schedule your free consultation today if you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident. Get in touch with us by calling at 844-999-5342 or using our online form .
Talk with a Truck Crash Attorney in Los Angeles, CA
Someone was negligent and caused you to be injured in a trucking collision. Whether the fault rests with the trucker, a trucking company, a loading company, or someone else, they need to be held civilly accountable. If you’re considering filing a claim but aren’t sure about which steps to take first, try calling a lawyer at our firm.
A Los Angeles truck accident lawyer will take your call and answer your questions in a free case consultation. They will help you identify whether you have a case and how much you might be owed in a settlement. Reach the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation through the internet form on this page or call 844-999-5342.