An 18-wheeler can cause unimaginable damage in an accident. Fortunately, a Santa Monica truck crash lawyer can help you get the compensation you need to recover from your serious injuries.
Semi-trucks are a convenient way to ship things across the country, and they’re a familiar sight to almost all motorists. You’ve likely gotten stuck beside or behind one on a drive. Unfortunately, you might have also been hit by one.
Commercial truck accidents happen every day, and they’re especially terrifying. After all, 18-wheelers weigh many times more than your typical vehicle, and the damage they can cause—not just to your car, but to you—is devastating. After such a crash, it’s difficult to pick up where you left off as you deal with your injuries.
A Santa Monica truck accident lawyer at Haffner Law will understand your struggles. Dealing with any accident is tough, and when you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler, you need all the help you can get. We’re here to give you that.
Finding Fault for Santa Monica Truck Accidents
Unfortunately, determining fault can be the biggest obstacle in your case. It’s rare, after all, that the fault rests solely on the truck driver, and you’ll need to identify all at-fault parties to recover full and fair compensation. Another party your truck accident lawyer in Santa Monica can examine for liability is the trucker’s employer.
While California is a “fault” state, meaning that residents who cause accidents are responsible for the damages, employees are governed by the wider doctrine of respondeat superior. This means that, when a person is acting within the bounds of his or her employment, the employer may be responsible for any injuries the employee causes.
As such, finding your defendants is often a matter of finding the trucker’s employer. Fortunately, an attorney will have the resources to help with the search and pinpoint the correct person to compensate you for your damages.
What You Could Win
Once you find the correct person to file your claim against, you’ll have several options for compensation, depending on the severity of your injuries and damages. This can be difficult to calculate when it comes to non-economic damages, but your attorney can help you determine the true value of your case.
Your Santa Monica semi-truck accident lawyer will help you consider all damages your injuries might have caused, such as the following:
- Medical Expenses – A hospital trip is expensive on its own, and serious injuries typically require multiple treatments. Be sure to consider both current and future bills.
- Lost Wages – If you’ve suffered a debilitating injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, you may not be able to return to work for some time, or you may only be able to return in a diminished capacity.
- Emotional Trauma – Severe injuries, especially loss of a limb or sensory capability, can be devastating, and conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can easily develop.
Get in Touch with a Santa Monica Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
Dealing with an 18-wheeler collision is tough, from the initial pain to the frustration of insurance and legal claims. Fortunately, a qualified lawyer can take some of the stress off of you so you can focus on getting better.
Haffner Law wants to make sure you get the compensation you need when you need it. If you’re struggling after being hit by a semi-truck, we can help, starting with a free, no-obligation consultation to review your case. Give a Santa Monica truck accident lawyer a call at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or fill out the online contact form below.
