To find out how to obtain compensation for your Long Beach truck accident injuries, speak with a lawyer.
The weight of the average car hovers at around 4,000 pounds. Semi-trucks can legally weigh up twenty times more at 80,000 pounds. When a semi-truck slams into a car, it’s clear the damage is going to be catastrophic.
A crash of that magnitude is likely to leave you with some serious injuries. Luckily, if you’ve been injured in a truck collision and you weren’t the at-fault party, you could receive compensation.
The drivers of 18-wheelers have to abide by strict rules because the size and weight of their vehicles can cause extensive damage. If it’s determined that a truck driver caused your accident due to negligence, you may be able to hold the trucker, the trucking company, and several other potentially negligent parties accountable.
But it’s not as simple as it sounds. You’re going to have to face the insurance company and the trucking company’s lawyers as you seek compensation. That’s not a fight you want to have without some legal help on your side. Call a Long Beach truck accident lawyer at Haffner Law.
Factors That Lead to Semi-Truck Collisions
Vehicle accidents are caused by many different factors, but a few are common to commercial truck collisions.
Your Long Beach truck wreck attorney’s job is to find the at-fault party in the accident and seek compensation for your damages. We will gather all the evidence in your case and seek the best possible outcome.
Below are some of the major factors that lead to truck crashes in Long Beach:
- Unsecured Cargo – Commercial vehicles often carry heavy and dangerous loads. If a cargo team failed to properly secure cargo that fell off the truck, causing your injury, you could pursue compensation from the cargo loader.
- Distracted Driving – This kind of dangerous driving isn’t unique to truck drivers, but it’s far worse because of the devastation associated with crashes involving semi-trucks.
- Unsafe Roads – Potholes, sharp turns, poor signage—these are all examples of unsafe road conditions that could cause a truck collision. In cases like this, you might name in your claim the government entity responsible for keeping the roads safe.
- Defective Manufacturer-Installed Parts – If the brakes in an 18-wheeler fail, the danger this poses to other drivers on the road isn’t difficult to imagine. If the brakes failed because the truck manufacturer installed or produced faulty parts, the manufacturer could be held liable or partially liable for the accident.
- Tired Drivers – Truckers often drive for extended periods of time. If it’s found that the truck driver in your accident didn’t follow proper rules for resting, he or she could be liable for your injuries. The trucking company could also be found liable in such a case.
Dealing with a Trucker’s Insurance Company
Insurance companies are never fun to deal with, but when you’re involved in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, it’s even worse. That’s because the trucker’s insurance company will know how expensive the settlements can get for collisions involving semi-trucks, and it won’t want to pay.
Insurance adjusters will try to offer you a quick settlement, hoping you’ll accept before an attorney gets involved. They know that if you hire a Long Beach truck crash lawyer, you are far more likely to win a higher payout.
Another technique insurance adjusters like to employ is tricking you into admitting fault or partial fault. That’s because if you accept some blame for the accident, the value of your claim could decrease.
Let your truck wreck attorney handle the insurance companies. We’ll make sure you aren’t assigned responsibility for the truck collision when you weren’t to blame.
The Effects of Serious Truck Crash Injuries
After being injured in a commercial vehicle crash, your entire world is turned upside-down. You were probably working every day or providing other services for your family, both of which are dependent upon your mobility. Now that you are seriously injured, you may be struggling to get out of bed, let alone provide a life for yourself and your family.
When all of this pain and upset to your life is caused by someone else’s negligence, don’t you think you deserve compensation? We do, too.
Catastrophic injuries can impact your life in many ways—and some of those ways are permanent. Here are just a few types of injuries that can be detrimental to your future:
- Serious burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Organ damage or damage to major body systems
- Neck or back injuries
- Lost limbs
18-Wheeler Injury Compensation
When you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, the damage to your body can be devastating. It’s possible you will never be the same again. After a wreck, you are likely worried about when or if you’ll ever be able to work again and how you will pay for all of your medical bills.
In some cases, you may never be able to return to work, so how will you provide for your future? If you were not the at-fault driver in your Long Beach truck crash, your settlement can provide you with compensation for your injuries.
Here is a list of some of the hardships you can be compensated for:
- Your pain and suffering
<li “>Lost wages and lost future income
- Mental distress or treatment
- Damaged property, including your vehicle
Long Beach Truck Accident FAQ
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about truck accidents and injury claims, and you can’t rely on your insurance company to give you a straight answer. That’s why we’ve outlined the answers to some common questions below.
What evidence will I need to support my truck accident claim?
Your Long Beach truck accident injury lawyer will gather the evidence for you, but the more you can bring to him or her, the better.<?p>
In general, the evidence needed to show what caused your truck crash, who is at fault, and how severe your injuries are includes the following: photos and videos of the crash, police reports, medical records, witness statements, and trucking company driver logs.
My close family member was killed in a truck crash. Can I pursue compensation?
In most circumstances, yes. You are likely eligible to file a wrongful death claim as long as the trucker was at fault and you are directly related to and dependent upon the deceased.
What if the insurance company refuses to offer me a settlement?
In many cases, insurance companies are eager to settle out of court because they know that taking a truck accident injury claim to court can lead to them having to pay you more. However, sometimes insurance companies will outright refuse to settle or offer a satisfactory amount.
When that happens, we won’t hesitate to take the negligent party to court. There, we’ll fight tirelessly for the compensation you truly deserve.
Work with a Long Beach Semi-Truck Wreck Attorney
A commercial truck wreck is probably the last thing you wanted to be involved in, and although you can’t change what happened, you can improve your future. Don’t let the insurance and trucking companies keep you from getting the compensation you deserve.
Fortify your claim for compensation by teaming up with a Long Beach truck accident lawyer at Haffner Law. Give us a call at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or head to the bottom of this page and fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
