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AVAILABLE 24/7 (866) 236-5474 Weighing up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded and taking up the same amount of space as several commuter cars lined up end to end, commercial trucks are generally the biggest vehicles on any road they travel on. Unfortunately, that also makes them potentially the most dangerous vehicles on those roads if their operator fails to drive carefully or their owner does not ensure the truck is properly loaded and maintained.
If someone else’s misconduct led to you sustaining severe injuries in a 18-wheeler crash, seeking help from a personal injury attorney with experience handling cases like yours could be crucial to your chances of fair civil recovery. A knowledgeable Burbank truck accident lawyer could help you identify who is to blame for your accident, valuate your ensuing losses, and demand comprehensive compensation for those losses on your behalf.
Just like people who drive smaller and lighter cars, commercial truck drivers have an implicit “duty” to act in a reasonable and safe manner for every moment they are behind the wheel and in control of their vehicle. Accordingly, if a truck driver recklessly switches lanes without signaling, carelessly drives while distracted, or does anything else irresponsible that directly leads to an accident, they could be considered at fault for any resulting damages.
However, semi-truck drivers are not always the best parties to name as defendants in truck accident litigation, as they rarely have the personal financial resources necessary to cover the extensive losses that these incidents often lead to. Fortunately, the companies that employ negligent truck drivers can often be held vicariously liable for the irresponsible actions of their employee. In some cases, truck companies are even directly to blame for truck accidents in lieu of their drivers, such as by forcing their drivers to violate federal rules for maximum driving time in order to save money and time.
In other situations, third parties like suppliers who loaded a truck incorrectly, manufacturers who made faulty truck components, and even other drivers whose reckless conduct forced a trucker into an unavoidable crash could bear liability for damages. In light of all this, assistance from a knowledgeable local attorney could be absolutely essential to maximizing available recovery by first ensuring that the right parties are named as defendants in a plaintiff’s 18-wheeler accident claim.
A settlement agreement or court verdict in favor of an injured civil plaintiff may allow recovery for numerous forms of harm, including:
However, court precedent in California holds that plaintiffs who are found partially responsible for their own accident may be subject to a proportional reduction in recoverable compensation based on their percentage of fault. Additionally, California Civil Code §3333.4 bars plaintiffs without car insurance from recovering for any non-economic consequences of their wreck, regardless of actual fault for those damages. A truck crash lawyer in Burbank could explain these and other potential hindrances to recovery in more detail during a confidential meeting.
Whether they occur at low speeds in an intersection or high speeds on a freeway, big rig accidents almost always have severe repercussions for the people involved. Fortunately, no matter how serious your damages were from this kind of incident, you have help available from seasoned legal counsel in pursuing the civil compensation you may be entitled to.
A Burbank truck accident lawyer could serve as a crucial ally from start to finish of the litigation process. Call today to learn more.
Benji Personal Injury – Accident Attorneys, A.P.C.
