Sherman Oaks
Truck Accident Attorney

Any type of auto accident can cause serious or even fatal injuries. However, when a tractor-trailer or semi-truck is involved, the potential for catastrophic injuries is even greater. Under federal law, trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they are fully loaded. Compared to the average weight of a passenger vehicle, which is only 4,000 pounds, it is easy to see how occupants of smaller vehicles can suffer significant harm when they are involved in a crash with a truck.

Truck accidents have many different causes, but they are usually the result of negligence. If you have been hurt, you can file a claim against the at-fault party to recover monetary compensation. Unfortunately, these claims are incredibly complex. They involve not only state law, but federal law, as well, and you will have to deal with large insurance companies who want to protect their profits. A Sherman Oaks truck accident attorney can help you through the process so you obtain the full damages you deserve.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Like car accidents, crashes involving trucks have a number of different causes. Truckers drive for a living and so, they spend long hours behind the wheel. As such, they are sometimes more likely to make mistakes. Truck drivers, and the companies that hire them, must comply with a complex set of state and federal laws. These laws govern every aspect of the trucking industry, from how long truckers can be on the road without taking a break, to the type of mud flaps a truck must have if it will cross state lines. 

Most truckers and trucking companies comply with these laws, while others cut corners to boost their own profits. Unfortunately, these shortcuts also cause many accidents. The most common causes of truck accidents are as follows:

• Fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Impaired driving
• Failure to obey traffic law
• Inexperienced truck drivers
• Poor judgment

Any of the above acts of negligence can cause serious, and even fatal, truck accidents. In some instances, the crash is linked directly to a violation of state or federal laws that govern trucks and other commercial vehicles. For example, federal law strictly limits the amount of time truckers can remain behind the wheel, based on what it is transporting and the type of truck. Once truck drivers have reached that time limit, they must stop and rest for a certain amount of time.

It is also not uncommon for trucking companies to give incentives to their drivers to violate the hours-of-service rule. For example, a company may financially compensate drivers for getting to their destination in a shorter amount of time, or they may set deadlines that can only be met if the driver remains on the road longer. In addition to the hours of service violation, truckers may also speed up delivering their cargo sooner.

Regardless of the cause of a truck accident, a Sherman Oaks truck accident attorney can evaluate your case and conduct an investigation to determine how a crash occurred. From there, an attorney can build a compelling case that will allow you to obtain the maximum amount of compensation allowed under the law.

How to File a Truck Accident Claim

Like other personal injury claims, those involving truck accidents are based on negligence. Any time a person fails to exercise a reasonable level of care that keeps others safe, they are considered negligent. Proving negligence involves establishing four elements of the case: duty, breach, causation, and damages.

Proving the negligent party owed you a duty of care is fairly easy in any motor vehicle accident, as all drivers have a duty to drive in a safe and reasonable manner. Complying with posted speed limits and concentrating on the road are examples of meeting the duty of care, while speeding and impaired driving are examples of breaching that duty.

The second element you must prove is that the at-fault party breached their duty of care. A breach of duty of care can happen in several ways. Following too closely, also known as tailgating, texting while driving, and fatigued driving are all examples of breaching a duty of care. When a negligent truck driver or trucking company violates the law, this is often enough to show that a breach of duty occurred.

Thirdly, you must then show a direct link between the breach of duty and the accident. Known as proximate cause, this is also known as “but for,” because you must show the crash would not have occurred “but for” the breach of duty of the negligent driver.

The last element you must show is that you suffered damages or losses. Truck accident claims are intended to restore you as wholly as possible to the same position you were in before the accident. If you did not suffer losses, there is no basis for a personal injury claim. Within your truck accident claim, you can claim losses such as lost wages, medical expenses, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and property damage.

Damages Available in Truck Accident Claims

If you are successful with your lawsuit, you may be able to recover three types of damages. These are as follows:

• Economic damages: Economic damages are those that have a quantifiable value. Medical expenses, lost income, and property damage are a few types of economic damages.
• Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages are not as easy to calculate because they do not have an actual dollar value. A Sherman Oaks truck accident attorney will know how to quantify these damages.
• Punitive damages: Punitive damages are not meant to compensate you for your losses but instead, punish the party that caused the accident for gross negligence or recklessness. These damages are rarely awarded, but an attorney can fight for them when appropriate.

Our Truck Accident Attorney in Sherman Oaks Can Advise on Your Case

There are few types of crashes on the road that are as devastating as truck accidents. At Oaks Law Firm, our Sherman Oaks truck accident attorney can provide the legal advice you need and help you claim the full settlement you deserve. Call us now at 877.539.5366 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

CALL TODAY! (877) 539-5366

Recovering the Damages You Deserve

If someone else is to blame for your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for the full amount of damages you've suffered. These damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, as well as pain and suffering. You must bring forth your claim within one year of the accident date. Not filing your case within one year will bar you from recovery.