Roseville Truck Accident Attorneys
With Interstate 80 running through Roseville, our area sees much daily commercial vehicle traffic. However, with the ever-increasing amount of passenger vehicles and big rigs in Northern California, there comes a greater risk of being involved in a large truck accident.
Any collision involving a commercial vehicle can be particularly dangerous due to the overall size and weight of the semi compared to smaller passenger vehicles. Sadly, many truck accident victims suffer serious injuries that can take considerable time to heal, leaving injury victims to wonder how they can support themselves and their families. In other instances, accident victims may suffer catastrophic injuries that leave them permanently disabled and without the ability to return to work.
California law allows individuals to file personal injury claims to pursue compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. However, many trucking companies and insurance providers often look for loopholes to deny or delay claims.
The Weinberger Law Firm of Roseville, CA, is dedicated to helping truck accident victims recover full and fair compensation for their injuries and property damage. Our personal injury law firm is passionately committed to helping truck crash victims seek justice and the fair treatment they deserve.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact our Roseville truck accident lawyer today to schedule a free initial consultation so that we may review your case and determine what legal options suit your needs.
Why Do Truck Collisions Occur in the Roseville Area?
Unfortunately, truck collisions occur routinely in the Northern California area. In most instances, driver error or negligence are the most commonly cited factors listed on truck accident reports.
Truck drivers are often distracted by their cell phones or GPS, quickly leading to dangerous crashes. In other cases, drivers tailgate other vehicles, leading to chain reaction collisions.
Other predominate factors that lead to truck accidents in the Roseville area include:
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Failure to perform safety inspections
- Lack of driving experience
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Driving on old, worn-out tires
- Improperly loaded cargo
However, driver fatigue is one of the most preventable causes of truck accidents. Trucking companies often push their drivers to operate their vehicles past their federally regulated Hours of Service (HOS) so they can deliver loads early and go on to their next pickup. Truck drivers who lack adequate rest are more likely to be involved in serious accidents that lead to injuries or even fatalities.
What are the Most Commonly Reported Injuries in Truck Crashes?
Although any motor vehicle accident can have serious consequences for those involved, truck accident cases typically leave victims with severe or catastrophic injuries. Individuals who sustain injuries in a truck or car accident often need considerable medical care and an extended amount of time to recover. However, one of the most predominant factors distinguishing trucks from car accidents is the overall size and weight of semi-trucks and the speed at which they travel during the crash.
Some of the most frequently reported injuries listed in truck accident claims include:
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Fractured or broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Cracked or broken ribs
- Herniated discs
However, as is often the case in truck accident cases, victims are more prone to suffering catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries are those that leave victims permanently disabled or have long-term effects on their well-being.
Common catastrophic injuries experienced by truck accident victims may include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Amputations
- Organ loss
If you have suffered injuries in a Roseville truck accident, you must hire an attorney who will fight to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. The Weinberger Law Firm will act as your legal advocate to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions and help you receive the justice you deserve.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Commercial Truck Accidents?
Determining liability issues is one of the most challenging aspects of a truck accident claim. Although the truck driver is always the first person to come to mind when considering who is to blame, more than one party can be liable for accidents and injuries.
Even though it is often determined that the truck driver was negligent while operating their vehicle, other parties may be held responsible. For example, suppose evidence such as calls, texts, or emails demonstrate that the trucking company ordered their driver to operate over their allowed daily hours. In that case, they may also be forced to compensate accident victims.
Other examples of who may be held liable for trucking accidents include:
- Cargo loading companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Tire manufacturers
Government entities that should have fixed the existing hazardous road conditions and contributed to the truck accident may also be held liable.
However, manufacturers and trucking companies typically face numerous insurance claims yearly, significantly affecting their profitability. These companies hire skilled attorneys whose only job is to find ways to avoid paying out large claims.
If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, you need a truck accident lawyer in Roseville who will stand by your side and determine multiple liability issues. Contact our law office today to learn how to file a personal injury claim and who should be held responsible for damages.
How Can I Recover Compensation After Being Involved in a Truck Accident?
Our personal injury law firm recognizes that one of the most critical issues for injured clients is to pursue compensation for lost income, emotional distress, and other accident-related damages. However, pursuing compensation is not always easy and requires the help of an experienced lawyer familiar with the legal complexities of filing truck accident claims.
Accident victims injured by tractor-trailers have a legal right to seek economic and non-economic damages to compensate them for damages they have incurred.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those expenses that accident victims have paid out of pocket or may have to pay in the future. In most instances, individuals who have suffered injuries due to truck accidents require expensive medical treatment to fully recover. Even with health insurance, the medical costs associated with physical therapy, rehabilitation, or stays at treatment facilities can be costly and create a financial burden for families.
However, a skilled motorcycle accident attorney may be able to request that economic damages also be awarded to pay for future medical expenses. Other commonly awarded economic damages may include:
- Past medical bills
- Loss of income
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Non Economic Damages
Non-economic damages do not have a set financial value but compensate the victim for intangible losses. It should be noted that if non-economic damages are granted to an accident victim, they are based on the facts involved in the truck accident case and may greatly vary from other personal injury claims.
Commonly awarded non-economic damages often include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional trauma
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
Regardless of the circumstances of your case, it is always in your best interest to hire a knowledgeable accident attorney who can determine what damages are appropriate for your needs.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Roseville Truck Accident Lawyer to Help Me Deal With the Insurance Company?
Many past clients have come to us and questioned why they need a truck accident lawyer to help them deal with the insurance company. Many individuals who have been involved in accidents with commercial trucks believe they can handle the legal process of filing a claim independently, only to discover it is more challenging than they initially believed.
Insurance companies do not have claimants’ best interests at heart and are more concerned with protecting their profits for their shareholders. As a result, insurers have legal teams that look for ways to undervalue or deny claims to injury victims.
Therefore, if you have been injured in a truck crash, there are several crucial steps to follow.
- Do not agree to speak with any of the other parties insurance companies without first consulting with an attorney
- Only agree to give a recorded statement providing details related to the accident with your accident lawyer present. Insurance providers have the right to use your statement against you to try and deny or reduce settlement amounts
More importantly, an insurance representative may reach out shortly after the accident to offer you a quick settlement. Although the promise of a quick settlement may seem appealing, it most likely does not account for future medical treatment or pain and suffering. Instead, allowing a Roseville truck accident lawyer to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf would be best.
The Weinberger Law Firm is passionately committed to helping truck accident victims seek full and fair compensation for their injuries. When you come to us for help with your truck accident claim, we will act as your legal representative with the insurance provider to ensure you are treated fairly.
Who Has the Right to File a Wrongful Death Claim After Losing Their Loved One in a Truck Accident?
State law allows families of those killed in truck accidents to file wrongful death claims to try and recover compensation if their family member died through the wrongful act or neglect of another. However, California has laws on who may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a family member. In order, these family members include:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Children of the deceased or minor children for whom the decedent provided at least half of their financial support
- Parents
- Individuals who are entitled to inherit based on the state’s intestate succession laws
- A personal representative of the decedent’s estate
Damages that may be recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Compensation for medical care or bills incurred by the deceased due to their fatal accident
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
Families who have lost loved ones in fatal truck accidents should know that only one person can file a wrongful death claim to try and recover compensation. If successful, the settlement proceeds will be divided among eligible family members.
Contact our Roseville truck accident lawyer immediately if you have lost a loved one in a truck accident. State law only allows families up to two years from the date of death to file a compensation claim. The time frame may be considerably shorter when government entities are involved. Failure to file a claim on time will most likely result in the court throwing your case out.
Why Should I Trust Your Law Firm to Help Me Obtain Fair Compensation After a Commercial Truck Accident?
The Weinberger Law Firm has a proven record of assisting truck accident victims in collecting maximum compensation for their injuries and other damages. When we agree to take your case, we will gather crucial evidence, such as police reports and medical records, to strengthen your claim.
Our skilled legal team has considerable experience helping clients obtain compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering and would be honored to review your truck accident claim. We will negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you are treated with the dignity and respect you deserve after being injured in a truck crash.
Unlike other Roseville truck accident attorneys who often make promises they cannot keep, we provide our clients with honest evaluations, so they know what to expect as their case proceeds. Contact our Roseville truck accident attorney by calling our law offices at 916-619-0955 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.