What Are Some Of The Most Common Causes Of Trucking, Commercial Vehicle Or Semi-Truck Accidents In Woodland Hills And Across Los Angeles?

Among the most common causes of trucking accidents in Woodland Hills and across Los Angeles are the inattention of the truck driver, driving too fast, and the inexperience of the driver handling a big rig that they are not used to handling. There are deadlines pressuring drivers to rush, often causing accidents. Other causes of accidents include crowded streets and inadequate maintenance on commercial vehicles. Cellphones are also often a huge distraction to truck drivers. Driver fatigue can cause catastrophic accidents, because drivers do not always follow the law setting the number of hours that a driver can work without taking a break.

What Are Some Of The Common Types Of Injuries That You See As A Result Of Semi-Truck Accidents In Southern California?

Collisions with large trucks cause some of the worst injuries that we see at our firm. When dealing with an unloaded semi, it can weigh between 25,000 and 30,000 pounds. Loaded, it can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is approximately 40 tons. A car is about one-and-a-half to two tons. Even the momentum of a slow-moving truck is massive when it hits a car. We see deaths, multiple bone fractures, brain injuries, and serious spinal injuries that lead to paralysis paraplegia, quadriplegia, and neurological injuries. Severe scarring and psychological injuries also result from these accidents. Many clients continue to be frightened on the road whenever a semi is anywhere nearby. These injuries can be long-lasting and sometimes permanent.

Who Could Potentially Be Liable For My Serious Injuries In A California Trucking Accident?

While there are likely many parties liable for the injuries, we start with the driver. The driver is the one responsible for the truck itself while travelling the roadways. Next, we would look at the driver’s employer, or the party who hired the driver to transport the goods. We might also investigate and look into the company who did maintenance on the truck, in case of equipment failure and the owner of the goods that are being shipped by truck. We also look at ownership of the tractor portion of any big rig and ownership of each trailer being hauled. We ask for copies of contracts between the driver, employer and owner and the businesses who are being served during the trip when the collision occurred to find possible additional parties who may bear legal responsibility for a trucking collision.

What Are Potential Damages I Could Recover From My Severe Trucking Accident Injury Case?

All damages or harms that you suffer as a result of a severe trucking accident are on the table and included in your claim for compensation. We start the obvious: damage to your vehicle, whether it is repairable or not. Expenses for loss of use of your vehicle and diminution of value of your vehicle after it has been repaired. We also look into any bodily injury you and your passengers suffered, including physical injuries to your body and psychological and emotional injuries because of the severe and violent nature of trucking accidents. They can be so violent that it can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be a long-lasting and a very significant element of your damages. Past and future medical bills for necessary treatment, testing, hospitalization, medications, assistive devices, etc. can be added up and recovered as part of damages in a personal injury claim. We will also evaluate your loss of income, both the past and future, due to injuries. Even if you are not currently working, but are taken out of the job market due and cannot even look for work due to your injuries from the collision, you can be compensated for future potential earnings. If you need training for a different type of job, you have the right to compensation to pay for that training. We employ economists and vocational rehabilitation experts to evaluate these issues and calculate the cost and economic value of your losses in terms of what your injuries have taken and will continue to take from you economically.

Another type of compensation or damages one might seek is through the assistance with a life care planer. Anyone who is severely injured, probably will need assistance, even with simple activities of daily living. A life plan evaluates the cost of lifetime nursing home needs, in-home care, and medications and personal assistance. We must be very focused and precise when seeking this compensation, especially if it is a lifelong need. Once your claim is settled, whether through a trial or a settlement, you cannot go back and ask for more. You need experienced counsel who knows how to get all of the information, documentation, expert opinions and date first time around. In addition to these economic losses, your general damages for pain and suffering, grief, humiliation, embarrassment, disfigurement, are often the single largest element of damages. A trucking collision can be a life altering event that is different for everybody. There is no alternative to retaining the best and most experienced attorney you can find.

For more information on Trucking Accidents Law In California, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (818) 530-1770 today.