California Truck Accident FAQs

If you’ve been hurt in a Los Angeles truck accident, you likely have questions about your rights to compensation. At Custodio & Dubey LLP, our truck accident attorneys can answer your questions and help you seek justice.

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about truck accidents. But keep in mind that every case is unique. For guidance about your particular case, call or contact us for a free consultation with a proven California truck accident lawyer.

How much is my truck accident claim worth?

It’s hard to say what your particular injury claim might be worth until we’ve had a chance to review your case. That said, we can discuss the types of compensation you may be entitled to.

California law allows truck accident victims to recover compensation if they were injured due to someone else’s recklessness, also known as negligence. You could receive compensation for:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity, income you will lose in the future
• Cost of home health care, assistive medical devices, and renovations to accommodate accident-related disabilities
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Do I need a lawyer after a truck accident?

The law doesn’t require you to have a lawyer to file an injury claim, but it’s wise not to fight this battle alone.

Truck accidents often cause severe injuries that have long-term consequences. As a result, the value of the claim is usually higher than for the average car accident case. Truck accident claims are also more complicated than car accident claims because several possible parties could be held liable. A truck accident attorney can investigate your claim to ensure that all potential defendants are identified.

In addition, trucking companies and their insurers have teams of lawyers who see cases like yours every day. Their job is to protect the company’s bottom line, which means doing everything they can to minimize the compensation awarded to you. You’ll even the playing field by hiring a skilled truck accident lawyer to protect your interests.

Why are truck accidents usually worse than car accidents?

Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are taller, longer, and much heavier than even the largest cars and SUVs. This means that when trucks hit something, they strike with much more force. The greater the impact, the more likely a person is to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Why are truck accident cases more complex than car accidents?

The trucking industry relies on many different individuals and entities to transport goods successfully. With so many moving parts, one or more parties could have played a role in causing the wreck. It also means more insurance policies to unravel, more people to communicate with, more legal deadlines to juggle, and an increased likelihood for disputes over who should shoulder most of the blame.

Potentially liable parties in your case could include:

• The truck driver
• Trucking company
• Truck’s owner
• Maintenance companies
• Parts manufacturers
• Cargo loading companies
• Other drivers

Because of these complexities, you need an attorney with a history of handling truck accident cases to manage your claim. The right lawyer will know what evidence to look for, which questions to ask, and how to identify any and all parties who should be held accountable.

What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Fatigued driving/hours-of-service violations
• Reckless driving
• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Driver inexperience
• Truck company negligence
• Poor maintenance
• Negligence on the part of other drivers
• Overweight or improperly loaded freight
• Defective truck parts

How long do truck accidents take to settle?

It’s hard to predict how long it will take to settle your truck accident case. The timeline depends on many factors. The strength of your evidence, the severity of your injuries, and the circumstances surrounding the crash will all be factors in reaching a resolution.

If a truck accident lawsuit needs to be filed and the case ends up going to trial, it might be many months or even a few years before your case is resolved. Don’t get discouraged, though. It often takes time to conclude a particularly complex case, but a skilled lawyer will be able to guide you with as few disruptions to your life as possible.

Get Legal Help Now

If you have additional questions about truck accident claims, we’d be happy to answer them for you.

Get a free initial consultation with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer at Custodio & Dubey LLP today. Call or contact us online now.