San Benito Truck Accident Lawyers
We’ll tell you if you have a case or not, call (888) 488-1391 — We’re here 24 hours a day.
Our San Benito Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Explore Your Options After An Injury
Truck drivers provide essential services, but not when big rigs meet accidents. A truck accident not only paralyzes an entire highway and inconveniences people but also poses a fatal risk to its victims. Here at Arash Law, our San Benito truck accident lawyers assist injured victims and families in pursuing compensation for injuries, medical expenses, and other losses. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
San Benito County shares a border with Santa Clara County and lies adjacent to the San Francisco Bay Area. The traffic conditions on Highways 25, 156, and 152 make residents and visitors in the county vulnerable to truck accidents.
If you have been injured in a truck accident in San Benito County, our personal injury lawyers offer legal representation and support in seeking compensation for damages. We handle all legal matters of your case so that you can focus on your recovery. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf. However, you may still be responsible for some case-related costs. Our lawyers can discuss these costs during your consultation.
Suarez v. Premium Packing (settled on 9/26/2023) – settlement involving a man who sustained multiple orthopedic injures and a mild traumatic brain injury when he was run over by a food truck.– TINA ESHGHIEH
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring Arash Law’s San Benito County Truck Accident Lawyers?
Being injured in a truck crash can be traumatic, so it is understandable to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Having experienced truck accident lawyers by your side can be helpful. They can guide you through the legal process and help you pursue compensation for your losses.
We can help you with your personal injury case in the following ways:
- Knowledge of Truck Accident Laws — Having a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations allows our San Benito truck accident attorneys to handle truck-related traffic accident cases. We carefully review your case to identify relevant details for your claim.
- Thorough Investigation — The details surrounding an accident must be carefully examined when filing a claim for personal injury. Our attorneys are capable of conducting an extensive investigation and gathering evidence, including accident reports and witness statements. With such a meticulous approach, we aim to strengthen your case.
- Strong Negotiation Skills — Our truck accident attorneys in San Benito can handle negotiations with insurance companies and other involved parties on your behalf. Their goal is to seek a settlement that takes into account medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and other applicable losses.
- Courtroom Representation — Should your case require a trial, we are prepared to represent you. We will advocate for your rights in court.
Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to serving truck accident victims in San Benito and throughout California.
Types Of Truck Accident Cases Our San Benito Lawyers Handle
Trucks are prone to catastrophic accidents because of their size and weight. They need to be operated by professional, responsible drivers. Therefore, truck drivers become negligent if they fail to avoid foreseeable accidents and collisions. The consequences of this negligence can include a variety of accidents, including:
Rollover Accidents
There are two types of rollovers: tripped crashes and untripped crashes. “Tripped crashes” involve the truck flipping as a result of hitting an obstacle, such as a curb or another vehicle. Meanwhile, untripped crashes occur when a truck flips due to losing traction, unsafe driving, speeding, or slippery road conditions.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when a semi-truck’s trailer folds in on the cab. Driver error may contribute to this type of accident, such as speeding, cutting curves too close, or ignoring roadway conditions.
Underride Accidents
Underride accidents happen when another vehicle, usually smaller, plunges into the underbelly of a big rig, either from the back or from the side. The roof of the smaller vehicle is often ripped away, exposing those inside the car to fatal injuries. Underride accidents present serious dangers to passengers in vehicles, as research indicates that underride happens in about 50% of deadly collisions between trucks and passenger vehicles.
Rear-End Collision
Rear-end collisions involving big rigs barreling into unsuspecting motor vehicles on the road are a common form of truck accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that a fully loaded semi-truck traveling at highway speed on good roads can take the length of nearly two football fields (end-to-end) to come to a full and safe stop. Attempting to outmaneuver a semi-truck is unwise.
If you suspect that a truck driver’s negligence caused your accident, our truck accident lawyers in San Benito can help explain the process of seeking compensation for your medical bills and other damages.
Determining Liability For Truck Accidents In San Benito
Truck accidents are often more complex than typical car collisions. They may involve multiple parties, commercial regulations, and other legal factors that can be difficult to navigate, especially when you’re dealing with serious injuries. Seeking legal guidance can help you manage these challenges more effectively. Our truck accident attorneys in San Benito can assist by thoroughly investigating the circumstances of the crash and identifying all potentially responsible parties.
Why are truck accidents so complicated? For one, truck drivers don’t usually own the truck. Unlike ordinary car accidents, there may be multiple parties who are potentially liable for your injuries, including:
- The truck driver (either an employee or an independent contractor).
- Employer of the truck driver.
- The company that owns the truck.
- The company that leased the truck from the owner.
- Owner or lessee of the trailer if it was carrying commercial cargo.
What To Do After A Truck Accident In San Benito, CA
Experiencing a trucking accident can be incredibly overwhelming. Knowing how to proceed immediately after the incident can help protect your health and legal rights in pursuing damages. Here are some suggestions you can follow after a truck accident:
- Check for Injuries — Prioritize your and everyone else’s safety and well-being. Assess your injuries. If severe, seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
- Call the Police — Report the accident to local San Benito law enforcement. Police reports are crucial documents that provide valuable information for insurance claims and legal proceedings. Make sure that you have a copy of the report for your records.
- Seek Medical Attention — Get medical help to assess, diagnose, and treat injuries. If legal action is considered, this is beneficial as it demonstrates your commitment to the healing process.
- Gather Information — It is important to exchange contact information, insurance details, and vehicle registration details with the other parties involved. Photograph the accident scene, including the vehicle damage, license plates, and any relevant road signs.
- Seek Witness Information — Ask for the contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Their statements can provide further insight into the events leading to the accident and may be crucial to your case.
- Consult a Truck Accident Lawyer in San Benito — Our San Benito personal injury lawyers have the experience and skills to handle your case. They can also connect you to qualified medical specialists for further assessment and treatment. An attorney can help you develop a case strategy and assist in seeking compensation for your damages.
- Preserve Evidence — Be sure to keep records of medical treatments and any damaged personal belongings. If your car is damaged, wait for an assessment before making any repairs. Your attorney can use these details to argue the extent of damages if a legal dispute arises.
What Type Of Damages Are Compensated In A Truck Accident Lawsuit?
It is possible to suffer lifelong injuries from a truck accident. Traumatic brain injury and paralysis are just two examples. These are not the kinds of injuries that heal after a quick visit to the emergency room. In many cases, victims find their quality of life significantly reduced.
After an accident, particularly one resulting in severe injury, compensation from the responsible party may be available. Here are the types of damages that you may be able to pursue depending on your case and available evidence:
- Economic Damages
- Legal fees
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Loss of wages or wage-earning potential
- Non-Economic Damages
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Emotional distress
- Punitive Damages — These damages are monetary sums awarded by the court, but they are not intended to compensate the plaintiff for their losses. Instead, they punish defendants for grossly negligent or malicious behavior and discourage similar conduct in the future.
Common Causes Of Truck Accidents In San Benito
Here are the most common causes of truck accidents in San Benito:
- Driver Fatigue — Long-haul truck drivers are required to follow regulations regarding rest periods. However, external pressures, such as tight delivery schedules, can lead to extended hours behind the wheel. This often results in driver fatigue, which can impair decision-making and slow reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Excessive Speed — Failure to comply with speed regulations or adjust to road conditions increases the chances of devastating accidents.
- Overloading — Federal and state laws mandate strict adherence to specified load capacities for trucks. When overloaded beyond FMCSA regulations, trucks experience increased braking times, elevating the risk of severe accidents.
Like anyone who operates a motor vehicle on California roads, truck drivers owe a duty of care to other motorists and road users. If a driver’s negligence leads to an accident, the victims may have a right to seek compensation for injuries. San Benito truck accident lawyers can assist in holding the negligent driver and other responsible parties accountable for the damages caused in the accident.
What Is The Applicable Insurance Coverage For Truck Accidents In San Benito?
Larger commercial insurance policies typically cover commercial trucks and big rigs. Drivers and truck owners are covered by these policies, which often offer higher levels of coverage than private automobile insurance. The need for larger insurance coverage for trucks comes from the possibility of severe injuries and fatalities associated with truck accidents. Pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and occupants of smaller cars are often the victims in such accidents.
Statute Of Limitations For Truck Accidents In San Benito County
People injured in truck wrecks have a limited time to file a civil action under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Victims can file a lawsuit generally within two years from the date of the accident. Truck accident lawyers in San Benito provide legal representation and can help you track important filing deadlines.
December 2016: $22M+ verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case. The entire details of the case can be found in the public record filings by the defendant entity that sued its defense.– BRIAN BEECHER
Truck Accidents Statistics
The economy relies heavily on commercial vehicles like semi-trucks. Trucking companies in the US move goods worth billions of dollars annually. Due to the large number of semi-trucks on the road, accidents are more likely to happen.
Collisions involving large trucks contribute to around 11% of all fatalities in motor vehicle accidents, highlighting their considerable impact on traffic-related deaths. The massive size of big rigs makes it difficult for other vehicles to maneuver around them.
In 2022, 168,320 truck accidents were reported. Of these, 4,766 had been fatal to one or more victims. Texas leads the states with the most truck crashes, with 19,424 incidents reported. California follows next with 13,603 cases.
In the same year, a total of 76,180 people were injured because of truck-related traffic incidents. Nearly 71% of these were occupants of other vehicles. Meanwhile, 2% were pedestrians and bicyclists. The remaining 27% are truck occupants.
Overall, 5,370 people died in the United States in 2022 because of truck collisions and crashes. Roughly 72% were occupants of other vehicles, while 11% were pedestrians and bicyclists.
Speak To Our San Benito Truck Accident Attorneys
If someone else’s negligence caused you harm, personal injury lawyers in California can help you understand your rights and legal options for seeking compensation to help cover your medical expenses and other related losses. At Arash Law, our San Benito truck accident lawyers work diligently to provide dedicated legal representation to accident victims.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can use our online contact form to discuss your case.
We also serve clients in Los Banos, Watsonville, Salinas, San Jose, Modesto, Coalinga, Fresno, San Lucas, Soledad, Gonzales, Gilroy, San Martin, Santa Nella, Cantua Creek, Dos Palos, Mendota, and Bakersfield.
