Santa Maria Truck Accident Lawyers
Trust Our Santa Maria Truck Accident Lawyers To Help You Win The Fair Compensation You Deserve
Trucks are integral in California’s commerce industry, but commercial truck accidents are becoming more common across the state each year. The more there are truck drivers on the road, the greater the potential for accidents. Arash Law’s Santa Maria truck accident lawyers are committed to confronting the legal challenges you will face after a truck crash. Call us at (888) 488-1391 and take advantage of our free consultation and legal assistance in recovering a settlement award.
Crashes with big rigs are very serious and have a greater likelihood of causing massive damage if involved in a traffic accident. A negligent truck driver can leave the victim and their family with permanent damages and losses. These cases can be complex and require expert legal assistance to get a successful outcome.
If you suffer due to an accident with a commercial truck driver, you need a prominent law firm with a track record of success to help you get your life back on track. The attorneys at Arash Law, with decades of experience under the leadership of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have helped injured Californians recover over $500 Million in settlement awards thus far. Contact us today to schedule a free no-obligation case evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you.
2019: $27M confidential settlement in a case involving multiple plaintiffs.– BRIAN BEECHER
How Dangerous is Traffic in Santa Maria?
Traffic accidents are far too common, especially those involving large commercial trucks. Santa Maria, California, is a hub for agricultural commerce. Trucks deliver and pick up goods from local farms and manufacturing plants daily. The number of trucks, therefore, can take up multiple lanes of traffic. Passenger vehicles share the road on areas like Highway 166 and rural roads. Every traveler should thus pay close attention to their surroundings.
Common Causes of Santa Maria Commercial Truck Accidents
Accidents happen for a variety of reasons. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, most truck accident cases are caused by driver error. Santa Maria residents are likely to get into traffic accidents with commercial truck drivers in the following situations:
Following Too Closely
It is dangerous for a truck driver to follow a passenger vehicle too closely and vice versa. Passenger vehicles sit much more closely to the ground, and if a commercial truck follows too closely, it could override the other vehicle and cause a serious accident. Following too closely can also cause either driver to suddenly hit their brakes and cause a rear-end accident.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common reasons for traffic accidents. Large trucks take significantly longer time than passenger vehicles to come to a complete stop, so the truck driver must maintain a proper speed.
Driver Distractions
Distracted drivers cause many accidents annually. Any pause in concentration can end in an accident that causes life-threatening injuries. A commercial truck accident can happen in the blink of an eye. It’s thus imperative that commercial truck drivers always keep their eyes on the road.
Drug and Alcohol Impairment
It is always negligent to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A truck driver that is impaired is wielding a deadly weapon. Unfortunately, drunk and drug accidents are far too common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,384 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents in 2021, which is a 14 percent increase from 2020 data. On average, one drunk-driving death occurred every 39 minutes in 2021.
Driving under the influence leads to lowered inhibitions, visual impairment, and other problems that lead to serious injuries. If you or a loved one has been in an accident with an impaired truck driver, contact our experienced Santa Maria truck accident lawyers at Arash Law to learn more about your legal options for financial recovery after an accident.
Driver Fatigue
Commercial truck drivers are often placed under tremendous pressure to meet tight deadlines. This means that they may be tempted to drive while sleepy. However, this is an unsafe practice. Falling asleep for even a moment can lead to a deadly accident.
Because these cases are particularly complicated, having an attorney to help you understand your rights after an accident can protect your access to full and fair compensation. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a commercial truck accident, call our truck accident attorneys in Santa Maria immediately to begin your case.
How Vulnerable is My Vehicle Against a Big Rig?
If you are driving a passenger vehicle, you and your passengers are vulnerable to serious and life-altering injuries, even death, when you get involved in a collision with commercial trucks like 18-wheelers and semi-trucks. Thousands of traffic accidents involving these large vehicles happen each year, and of these accidents, thousands involve the death or serious injury of passenger vehicle drivers and passengers.
Commercial Trucks vs. Passenger Vehicles
There are some obvious differences between normal-sized passenger vehicles and large commercial trucks, such as in size. Commercial trucks weigh tens of thousands of pounds more than normal passenger vehicles. In fact, a fully loaded truck can weigh around 80,000 pounds. That is the size of 20 to 30-passenger vehicles!
Because of their size, traffic collisions that involve big rigs tend to have more injurious and catastrophic results. Big trucks also need more time to stop than other cars. Large trucks take, on average, 40 percent longer to come to a complete stop than passenger vehicles.
I Was Injured in a Santa Maria Truck Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you need the help of dedicated Santa Maria truck accident lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation and to be repaid for your medical expenses, lost wages, repair costs, and pain and suffering.
Truck accidents can get extremely complicated very quickly. The assistance of truck accident lawyers Santa Maria trusts will help ensure that you gain access to the maximum settlement award you deserve.
Who Can I Sue in a Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident cases are highly complicated, as they often involve multiple parties, so it is hard for injury victims to represent themselves effectively. One way that Santa Maria truck accident attorneys can help is by assisting you in finding each potentially responsible defendant who may have contributed to the accident.
Any of the following parties may share responsibility for paying for your losses, injuries, or other damages:
Independent Truck Drivers
If you get into an accident with an independent truck driver and they are held liable for it, you may be able to sue their commercial truck insurance to cover your damages. You need a personal injury attorney to help you find and bring the independent driver who caused the accident and their insurance company to justice.
Trucking Companies and Delivery Companies
Trucking and delivery companies are employers. They are responsible for completing background checks on each potential employee before making a hiring decision. Trucking and delivery companies must institute safety guidelines and make sure that employees comply with them.
Failure to supervise employees may make an employer legally liable for mistakes the employee makes. An employer may also be found legally liable for the damages drivers cause if they fail to maintain their trucks.
Truck Manufacturers
One reason truck cases are so complex is many people and entities hold responsibility for ensuring the trucks are safe. If a part malfunction or a defect in the truck caused the accident, the truck manufacturer may be responsible for paying your damages. Keep in mind that truck manufacturers must check for recalled parts or products, too. Failure to do so can lead to legal liability on the part of the truck manufacturer.
Truck Maintenance
Truck companies and drivers are responsible for properly maintaining their rig’s safety features. Poor maintenance can cause an unexpected traffic accident. For example, if the truck driver fails to check the wheels, there could be a tire blowout accident. If an accident investigation finds that the crash happened because of failure to conduct proper maintenance, the overall monetary value of your claim could increase.
The Company Responsible for Loading the Cargo
Loaders must properly pack a commercial truck. Improper loading can lead to a rollover accident where the truck tips over and lands on its side or its roof. If the accident happened because of improper loading, the company that commissioned the labor and the loaders may be legally liable to an injury victim.
Types of Truck Accident Cases
There are many types of truck accident cases. Having Santa Maria truck accident lawyers on your side will help increase your chances of a successful outcome, no matter the type of accident. Common types of Santa Maria truck accidents include the following:
- Blindspot accidents
- Tire blowout truck accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Fatigue-related truck accidents
- Accidents caused by spilled or shifting cargo accidents
Do I Have a Case?
One of the first questions that truck accident victims have is whether they have a case. To determine if you have a legal claim for damages after an accident, you must determine if you can prove damages. Experienced Santa Maria truck accident attorneys will help you understand if your claim is viable, prove damages, and establish liability.
If you were injured by a truck driver, it is important to find out if the driver was employed by a trucking company. California state law recognizes a legal doctrine called respondeat superior, which allows an injury plaintiff to sue the driver who caused the accident and their employer. However, if the truck driver was an independent contractor, that doctrine does not apply, and the plaintiff will be limited to suing the driver and other potential plaintiffs besides the trucking company.
Potential legal claims against the employer can include failure to properly train, inadequate hiring, improper or inadequate maintenance and operation of their vehicle, and overworking the driver. Trucking companies must not require their employees to work past federally regulated limits.
A legal counsel will help you identify every potentially liable party. After an in-depth investigation, your Santa Maria truck accident lawyers will help you determine the cause of the crash. Identifying every potentially responsible party will increase your odds of recovering the economic damages that you incurred after the accident.
Another benefit of naming all potentially responsible parties is that if one defendant does not carry adequate insurance coverage, it is likely that another defendant will make up the difference.
Settlement in a Wrongful Death Motor Vehicle Accident – largest Wrongful Death Settlement in Monterey County in 2020 – Top 20 Wrongful Death Settlement in California for 2020;– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Can Santa Maria Truck Accident Lawyers Help Me With My Truck Accident Case?
After an accident, you need an attorney to help you pursue a settlement award and financially recover. Your legal counsel will be laser-focused on getting you the compensation you deserve after the unfortunate event. A potential benefit of having a legal professional to look after your case is getting help with insurance company negotiations.
Help Negotiating with the Insurance Company
Getting the financial reparation you deserve from an insurance company can be difficult. Even if you file a claim with your own insurance provider, you may find yourself facing an uphill battle when it comes to getting paid for your losses after an accident. Truck accidents usually involve multiple large insurance companies. Having seasoned truck accident lawyers in Santa Maria help you negotiate the terms of a settlement ensures that you will not be taken advantage of as you pursue full and fair compensation.
Call Us Today to Speak with Our Award-Winning Santa Maria Truck Accident Lawyers
If you suffered an injury or a loved one was killed in an accident with a large truck, you need experienced Santa Maria truck accident lawyers to deal with the legal process of obtaining financial recoveries. The legal team at Arash Law, under the leadership of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., has decades of experience getting our clients the money they need to recover after an accident. We want to help you, too.
Our lawyers at Arash Law do not charge clients upfront. Handling cases on a contingency fee basis, we only get paid once we win your case. Contact us today at 888-488-1391 or complete our online form to schedule a free no-obligation case evaluation.
Our truck accident lawyers in Santa Maria also serve neighboring cities and communities, including Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Atascadero, Isla Vista, Goleta, Santa Barbara, Taft, Carpinteria, Avenal, Shafter, and Wasco.
