Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers

with over $500 Million Recovered in Compensation for Injury Clients.

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Table of Contents

Truck Accident Statistics in California
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Santa Clara
Common Kinds of Injuries Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers Help Victim Recover From
Common Liable Parties Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers Help Determine
What You Should Do After Truck Accidents
Compensation for Truck Accident Claims
Understanding The Full Picture of Negotiating with Insurance Companies and Their Lowball Settlement Offers
Fault for Commercial Truck Accidents
Impact of The Statute of Limitations on California Injury Claims

Award-Winning Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers who Don’t Just Win, They Win Big

You may face a lifetime of expenses if you are injured in a commercial truck accident in Santa Clara, California, due to mounting medical bills, vehicle repairs, and possibly an inability to return to work. Founded by renowned attorney Arash Khorsandi, Esq., Arash Law is a well-established law firm serving accident victims across California. Our Santa Clara truck accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your crash to determine all liable parties and ensure they are held fully accountable.

Commercial trucks operate incredibly frequently in California because the state is a major hub for shipments across the country. There are commercial trucks departing facilities all over California regularly. As a heavily regulated industry, there is an increasing emphasis on ensuring commercial truck drivers are fit behind the wheel. For example, truck drivers face stiff federal regulations relating to the number of hours they can work.

However, even with rigorous training, commercial truck drivers are just as human as other drivers on the road. They, too, can be involved in automobile collisions. The difference is that a crash involving a commercial truck is far more likely to cause significant property damage and injuries.

In addition to concerns about possible driver fatigue, truck drivers can still be subject to many of the same mistakes other drivers make that can cause traffic accidents. Truck drivers, for instance, can become distracted by cell phones or other objects within their vehicles, and such common mistakes can lead to devastating crashes.

Trucking Accident

$3,120,000.00

Paz v. Airfax Logistics (settled on 5/26/2020) – settlement in a case involving a client who was involved in a trucking accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury and other trauma.

– TINA ESHGHIEH

Truck Accident Statistics in California

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported 7,009 injuries from truck crashes and 344 fatal truck crashes in 2019. The fatality was the highest of the most recent five-year period, while the number of injuries was second only to the 7,223 in 2018.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported 416 trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2021, which was 6.8 percent of total vehicles in fatal crashes and 7.3 percent of the American total for large trucks. California ranked second in the nation with 437 deaths, behind only Texas with 806.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 364 fatal crashes involving large trucks in California in 2020. These accidents caused 398 fatalities, and both totals were the second-highest of the most recent 10-year period, behind only the 365 fatal crashes and 418 fatalities in 2019.

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported 247 fatal and injury accidents in Santa Clara in 2020. This total included 22 accidents involving pedestrians, 26 involving bicyclists, and 20 involving motorcycles.

OTS also stated that 15 crashes were alcohol-involved, with one crash involving a drunk driver under 21 years of age and three being between 21 and 34 years of age. There were also 31 speed-related crashes, 12 nighttime crashes (9:00 p.m. – 2:59 a.m.), and 17 hit-and-run crashes.

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My husband had an accident 2 years ago, a 85 years old man hit him, the Arash law group works very well on my husband case that took 9 month and he won the case and my husband was happy with the results. A year later I got into an accident as well and I’m still waiting in my case is almost resolving and it’s 9 months already. This people knows the law and they do their job right to help you out in getting the most for you to fight on your behalf. I strongly recommend the Arash Law firm they do things right in a efficient and professional manner.

Had a great experience with all the people at Arash law. Long story short was in a bad car accident. It was overwhelming and the whole process was a lot, but they kept me in the loop. They answered all my questions and gave me great advice. Couldn't be any happier. Would definitely recommend anyone looking for a personal injury lawyer. They'll guide you through the whole process!

Having Arash Law handle my auto accident was the best decision I could have made. Everyone I interacted with was kind, professional and detail oriented. I am extremely happy with the outcome and would recommend them highly.

From start to finish, Arash Law firm is there every step of the way with close, constant, personal contact and attention. I never knew a Law firm could actually care so much for me as a person and what I was personally going through as well as the settlement I was going to recieve once my case was finally completed. Thank you to everyone at Arash Law for your ongoing support and communication. You are the ONLY firm I will ever recommend to someone who is need of a great attorny.

I had an excellent experience with Arash Law. I will definitely recommend to my family and friends. I interviewed a few firms before deciding to work with Arash Law. What made my experience excellent was (i.e. head attorney being accessible to talk to and he answered all my questions and concerns, sensitive and thorough personel who completed in home intake & follow up process, being connected immediately to quality Physicians who addressed my injuries and recovery process, clear contract-read throughly to ensure its something you can commit to). Being in a car accident is a traumatic experience and I had a sense of peace knowing Arash Firm was walking with me throughout the whole process. Thank you Arash Firm for all your hard work and help. I am so grateful and appreciative for you all! 🙏 With Gratitude, Monica Parra

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Santa Clara

No two truck accidents are ever the same, and the possible causes of a truck crash can vary from case to case. As a victim, you should have experienced truck accident attorneys in Santa Clara perform an independent investigation to pin down the exact cause of a wreck to determine exactly who can be held liable.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents generally include, but are not limited to, what follows.

Driver Fatigue

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that NTSB analysis of Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) data indicated 3,169 fatal accidents in which 3,783 people were killed. Fatigue was coded as a related factor for at least one truck driver in 1.67 percent (or 53 of 3,169) of the fatal heavy truck accidents.

NTSB said it believed the frequency of driver fatigue was underreported in FARS with regard to truck drivers. Research suggested that fatigue was a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck accidents.

They completed a study on 182 fatal heavy truck accidents involving truck drivers, constituting a census of such incidents in eight participating states. The NTSB believed that the 31 percent prevalence of fatigue in these fatal accidents provided a reliable estimate of the frequency of fatigue in truck accidents.

Distracted Driving

According to Truckinginfo.com, the most common distractions for truck drivers associated with collisions were talking on mobile phones (90.3%), texting or dialing on mobile phones (60.7%), grooming or personal hygiene (42.8%), other tasks (38.8%), operating another mobile device (33.4%), earphones or headphones (31.8%), food (27.2%), paperwork (26.2%), possession of mobile phones (26.1%), beverages (25.3%), hands-free talking on mobile phones (17.6%), and smoking (14.8%).

Speeding and Aggressive Driving Habits

FMCSA reported that 127 trucks (2.9%) were involved in crashes in which speed limits were 25 miles per hour (mph) or less, 291 (6.5%) at 30-35 mph, 621 (14.0%) at 40-45 mph, 1,491 (33.6%) at 50-55 mph, 860 (19.4%) at 60-65 mph, 859 (19.3%) at 70-75 mph, and 28 (0.6%) at 80-85 mph.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

FMCSA reported that 1% of truck drivers were found to be DUI of alcohol while another 2% were intoxicated by illegal drugs, and 17% took over-the-counter drugs while 26% were on prescription drugs.

Tailgating

Insurify reported that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data showed that 14 out of every 10,000 drivers nationwide have prior citations for tailgating, while 33% of car collisions are rear-end impacts.

Improperly Loaded Trailers

The cargo on the back of a commercial truck is several thousands of pounds. When it is loaded improperly, a load can come crashing off of a vehicle or cause an imbalance for the truck that causes it to either tip, jackknife, or crash. FMCSA reported that only 4 percent of truck accidents are cargo-related, but that still ranked within the top 10 causes of semi accidents, and improperly loaded cargo had a relative risk of 56.3 percent.

Poor Maintenance and Equipment Failure

While both federal and state regulations are intended to keep trucks properly and regularly inspected and maintained, many truck drivers and trucking companies delay performing inspections or making necessary repairs to save time and money. Inadequate maintenance often leads to malfunctions or mechanical failures, resulting in preventable crashes.

Natural Disasters

Another possible cause of accidents beyond the control of truck drivers concerns basic weather conditions. California has periods of heavy rain or snow that may cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

Common Kinds of Injuries Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers Help Victims Recover From

People can suffer a wide range of possible injuries in a truck accident. Some of the most frequent kinds of injuries Arash Law’s Santa Clara truck accident lawyers have helped people recover from include:

Fractures or broken bones
Concussions
Crush injuries
Closed head injuries
Back injuries
Knee injuries
Leg injuries
Neck injuries
Arm injuries
Internal injuries

Skull fractures
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Spinal cord injuries
Permanent nerve injuries
Amputations
Paralysis
Severe burn injuries
Wrongful death

Common Liable Parties Santa Clara Truck Accident Lawyers Help Determine

The primary reason you will want to work with proficient Santa Clara truck accident lawyers following an accident is to determine exactly who was liable for the crash. While many people automatically assume truck drivers were at fault, there are other parties who may also be accountable.

For anyone who suffers injuries in a truck wreck, working with reliable truck accident attorneys in Santa Clara is incredibly essential because it allows them to get answers as to who might be responsible for the accident. Some of the most common liable parties in these cases are:

Truck drivers – Truck drivers are commonly liable parties, but they also rarely have the wealth necessary to pay much larger jury verdicts or settlements. A truck driver can be liable for all kinds of crashes caused by their negligence.
Trucking companies – A trucking company can be liable for an accident when they violated federal or state regulations in hiring their drivers.
Truck part manufacturers – When a truck accident results from a defective part on a commercial truck, then the manufacturer of the part involved can be liable through a product liability claim. If the truck driver blames an accident on issues with their steering system, brakes, or tires, manufacturers may bear liability in those cases.
Cargo loaders – Many commercial trucks have third parties responsible for loading their vehicles. These parties can become liable for crashes when the cargo loading issues caused the wreck.
Truck owners – When a trucking company is not the actual owner of a commercial truck, then the company or other party they were leasing the vehicle from can also be liable for damages.

What You Should Do After Truck Accidents

When it comes to truck accidents, the first thing you should do is ensure your safety and that of your passengers. If you know you have legal claims to recover financial compensation for your losses associated with a crash, then take the following steps:

Call 911 – Truck crash victims should contact the local law enforcement agency so police officers and emergency medical personnel are dispatched to the scene. You must guarantee a police report is completed and filed, and then ask for a police report number. The police report is often the basis for most personal injury claims.
Seek medical attention – Anyone involved in a truck accident should go to a hospital or other medical care provider as soon as possible, even when they do not think they suffered injuries. You need to remember that many injuries have delayed symptoms. Avoid seeing a doctor several days or weeks after the crash because the insurance company will presumably claim your injuries were not connected to it.
Take pictures – People involved in an accident should use the cameras on their phones to capture as many photographs or videos of the crash scene as they can. Get images from multiple angles and distances, and look for important time-sensitive signs relating to the accident, such as skid marks. You should also take pictures of your injuries while they are at their worst.
Get the truck driver and vehicle information – You should get the name of the truck driver as well as their phone number, driver’s license number, insurance information, and the truck license plate information. When it is possible, determine the trucking company involved as well.
Get witness information – If other people saw your crash, you should also ask them for their contact information. But do not press them for details when they don’t want to share. Try to relay to your legal counsel that there were witnesses instead.
Contact the best truck accident lawyers Santa Clara trusts – It is always in the victim’s best interests to get an experienced attorney involved in their case as soon as possible.

Compensation for Truck Accident Claims

When a person suffers injuries in a truck accident, they are often entitled to compensatory damages intended to restore them to their original condition. Compensatory damages typically come in two forms: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages relate to actual tangible costs people can prove in court, such as:

Past and future medical bills

Lost income

Motor vehicle damage

Non-economic damages are far more subjective and generally do not have inherent financial values, but may include:

Pain and suffering

Emotional distress

Loss of consortium

Another less common kind of damages is punitive damages, which California state law allows when the victim proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice.

When a truck accident causes the death of a loved one, the family can file a wrongful death claim. Having someone close to you killed in one is a devastating experience. Seeking legal guidance from truck accident attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., can help you make sense of the situation and your legal options moving forward, providing some relief during this overwhelming time.

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Gabriel M.

$7,750,000

Car Accident Settlement

This was a sad and tragic case in which our client was paralyzed after being struck by a distracted driver. The maximum policy settlement was 5.25 million and we were able to settle for the full amount. In addition, we were able to add additional workers' compensation benefits from our client's employer, as he was working at the time of the incident. The parties agreed to settle our client's workers' compensation claim for $2.5 million.

Car Accident Settlement

Understanding The Full Picture of Negotiating with Insurance Companies and Their Lowball Settlement Offers

The major problem with many truck accident cases is that insurance companies for truck drivers and trucking companies will aggressively attempt to settle these cases outside of court. Accident victims need to understand that settlement offers from insurers are usually very lowball amounts that are nowhere near what they are actually entitled to.

Accepting any offer without consulting a lawyer is risky because you will have to sign a release that frees the negligent party from any future claims. Many victims later find they require far more money to pay future bills and must pay these costs out of their own pockets.

Discuss your case with experienced Santa Clara truck accident lawyers before speaking to an insurer because they know how to calculate a far more accurate estimate of your losses. You will more likely recover an award that covers all your losses when you retain legal counsel.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$3,500,000.00

Settlement in a motor vehicle accident; client suffered internal injuries.

– JUDD ROSS ALLEN

Fault for Commercial Truck Accidents

California is a pure comparative fault state, which means people can still recover damages even when they were 99 percent at fault for crashes. The catch to this system, however, is that one can have their award reduced by their share of negligence in connection with an accident.

In other words, a person involved in a truck accident who was 25 percent responsible will have their $100,000 award reduced by $25,000, only receiving $75,000. These rules apply to court cases. However, many truck accident cases are resolved instead through settlements, which are not necessarily subject to the same provisions. Still, fault can play a role in arriving at a settlement amount.

It is always possible that multiple vehicles are involved in a truck accident. Therefore, other motorists besides the truck driver and the victim can bear responsibility for the crash. It is again vital for people to have legal representation for assistance in determining all liable parties. This way, the possible compensation the victim can receive will be maximized. Arash Law’s truck accident lawyers in Santa Clara have considerable experience in doing just that.

Impact of The Statute of Limitations on California Injury Claims

As the California Courts website notes, people generally have two years to file personal injury claims, although injuries not discovered right away can allow one to file a claim within one year of the date an injury is discovered. When a claim concerns property damage, then a person will have three years.

While the deadline can sound like a long time to some people, they should still seek legal representation as soon as possible because lawyers need time to perform an investigation before they can handle a case. The statute of limitations can play an enormous role in the threat of taking a case to trial when settlement negotiations prove unproductive. Let our Santa Clara truck accident lawyers handle your case’s deadlines and paperwork so you can focus on your recovery.

Contact The Award-Winning Truck Accident Lawyers Santa Clara Relies On

Did you suffer severe injuries, or was your loved one killed in a commercial truck accident in Santa Clara? Under the guidance of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., Arash Law’s Santa Clara truck accident lawyers have recovered more than $500 Million for its clients.

Our firm can immediately step in and take the necessary steps to achieve the most favorable financial recovery for your injuries. We have relationships with some of the top medical care providers in the state and can set you a meeting with one to determine the full extent of your injuries and losses.

Perhaps most importantly for you, we will not require any upfront payment for our services. We handle every case on a no-win, no-fee guarantee, meaning we only get paid when we win or settle your case.

You should also know that Arash Law is a bilingual firm, so we are capable of speaking with you in the language you are most comfortable conversing with. Call (888) 488-1391 or contact us online to receive a free consultation that will be totally confidential.

Our truck accident lawyers in Santa Clara also serve nearby cities and counties, including San Jose, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas, Saratoga, Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Stanford, East Palo Alto, Newark, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County.