Temecula 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 Temecula Truck Accident Lawyers Offer Legal Representation Centered On Your Needs
The trucking industry in California makes a significant contribution to the state’s economy, but it also poses an increased risk of accidents. If you’re a victim of a truck crash, our Temecula truck accident lawyers will assess your case and help you pursue damages through a settlement or in court, if necessary. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial case review, and we will help you understand your legal options.
Temecula sits alongside a major freeway linking San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties. This busy route, particularly the stretch of Interstate 15 near the 215 junction during peak hours, sees a constant stream of trucks. As a result, Temecula has become a hub for heavy truck traffic, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
Don’t let a truck accident leave you empty-handed. Arash Law’s truck accident attorneys in Temecula offer legal representation to injured victims. We can protect your rights and assist you in pursuing fair compensation, drawing on decades of combined experience handling a wide range of injury cases across California, including those involving truck accidents. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For more information, contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391.
A farm worker, suffered multiple broken bones and other orthopedic injuries resulting from an auto accident where the defendant driver attempted to make a left turn in front of our client in heavy fog.– ARASH KHORSANDI
Why Choose Our Temecula Truck Accident Lawyers For Your Personal Injury Case?
Understanding the challenges of a commercial truck accident claim in California can be overwhelming for the victim. Sadly, trucking companies and insurers often limit their payouts when offering potential settlements to victims. They might use different tactics to reduce the perceived value of the victim’s claim.
Truck accident cases can also be intricate. Multiple parties might be responsible, and trucking companies often fiercely defend themselves in lawsuits. Our Temecula truck accident attorneys have extensive experience handling cases of this nature.
Arash Law’s knowledge of state and federal trucking regulations can be invaluable in determining liability. Our skilled attorneys work to meticulously analyze your case and collaborate with accident reconstruction experts to pinpoint the cause of the collision.
We also advocate for our clients, negotiating with insurance companies to pursue fair compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Additionally, we provide legal representation for families who have tragically lost loved ones in truck crashes, whether through wrongful death claims or lawsuits.
We strive to provide legal representation to victims regardless of their financial circumstances, which is why we do not charge upfront fees for our legal services. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only receive payment if we successfully resolve your case. However, please note that we may still incur additional case-related fees, which we can discuss during your consultation to prevent any surprises.
What To Do After A Trucking Accident In Temecula, CA
The rush of adrenaline after a truck accident can make it difficult to think clearly. While every situation is different, there are general steps that many people find helpful after a collision. These recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. They should only be followed if it is safe to do so. If you’re conscious and able, you may consider the following:
- Check for Injuries – After moving to a safe location, assess yourself and your passengers for any injuries, no matter how minor. If anyone appears seriously hurt, call emergency services immediately.
- Contact the Authorities – Report the accident to the police. Their investigation will document the scene and gather valuable information.
- Exchange Information – Gather details from the truck driver, including their name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance provider.
- Document the Scene – Capture the scene with photographs and videos. Include damage to vehicles, debris, skid marks, and any visible injuries.
- Mind Your Words – Avoid admitting fault or discussing the accident in detail. Stick to factual statements about the incident.
- Secure Witness Information – If possible, note down the contact details of any bystanders who witnessed the accident. Their testimony can be invaluable later.
- Seek Medical Attention – Even if you don’t feel immediate pain, get checked out by a doctor. Some injuries may not manifest immediately, and seeking prompt medical attention can support your claim.
- Seek Legal Counsel – Consider consulting a truck accident lawyer. They can guide you through the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and help you seek fair compensation.
Following these steps strengthens your case and is helpful during negotiations with insurance companies, who may deny your potential claim or offer lowball settlement offers. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your truck accident lawyers in Temecula can represent you in court to pursue compensation.
Common Injuries After A Truck Accident
- Broken Bones — The immense force of a collision can easily fracture bones, both from the initial impact and from secondary crashes within the vehicle.
- Head Injuries — Truck accidents can cause drivers and passengers to hit their heads or experience violent jolting that makes the brain move inside the skull, even without a direct blow, causing traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries can be life-altering due to potential permanent damage.
- Burns — Vehicle fires or contact with hot metal or asphalt can cause serious burns, leading to permanent scarring and increased risk of infection.
- Rib & Torso Injuries — Broken ribs and organ damage are frequent, especially with airbag deployment. Internal bleeding poses a critical threat if not treated quickly.
- Back & Neck Injuries — These injuries can affect movement and bodily functions, with spinal cord damage potentially causing paralysis and permanent disability. Less severe cases like whiplash, herniated discs, or fractured vertebrae can still be painful and have long-term consequences.
You shouldn’t have to face financial burdens on top of your emotional grief. We can assist you in handling the legalities, allowing you to focus on your well-being. Consider seeking legal assistance from our Temecula truck accident lawyers, who can guide you through every step of the process and provide experienced legal support.
Most Common Types Of Temecula Truck Accidents
Understanding what commonly causes truck accidents can help you become a safer driver. It equips you with the capacity to recognize potential hazards on the road. While you can’t control others’ negligence, being aware of these risks can help you react quickly and potentially reduce the severity of any injury.
The following are some of the most common types of truck cases our truck accident lawyers in Temecula handle:
- Truck Rollovers – This accident occurs when a truck’s center of gravity shifts, causing it to tip onto its side or even completely roll over. Common culprits include uneven road surfaces, sharp turns at high speeds, improperly loaded cargo, and driver fatigue. The sheer size and weight of a truck make rollovers highly destructive, often involving multiple vehicles and causing severe injuries.
- Rear-End Collisions – Sadly, distracted driving, tailgating, and sudden braking by trucks can lead to rear-end collisions. In these incidents, smaller vehicles bear the brunt of the impact, putting their occupants at significant risk. Maintaining a safe distance and avoiding distractions while driving near trucks is crucial to preventing such collisions.
- Head-on Collisions – These high-impact crashes often occur on two-lane roads due to factors like reckless overtaking, driver fatigue, or impaired driving. The head-on collision of a smaller vehicle with a massive truck can be devastating, with potentially fatal consequences. Staying alert, avoiding risky maneuvers, and adhering to lane markings are essential to prevent these tragic accidents.
- Jackknife Accidents – When a truck comes to a sudden stop, its trailer can lose momentum and swing out due to inertia, resembling a folding pocketknife. This “jackknife” effect can cause the trailer to slam into other vehicles or even jackknife again, creating a chain reaction of crashes. Maintaining adequate stopping distance and avoiding abrupt braking near trucks are critical to reducing the risk of these accidents.
- T-Bone Accidents – These occur when a vehicle collides with the side of a truck, often at intersections or when changing lanes. Blind spots around large trucks play a significant role in these accidents. Extra caution is vital when maneuvering near trucks and avoiding their blind spots to minimize the risk of T-bone crashes.
- Sideswipe Accidents – Misjudging lane width or attempting to squeeze past a truck while driving alongside can lead to sideswipe accidents. The protruding parts of trucks, like mirrors and cargo straps, can cause damage to smaller vehicles in such collisions. Maintaining proper lane position and avoiding close passing maneuvers near trucks are key to preventing sideswipe accidents.
- Wide Turn Accidents – Due to their size, trucks require wider turns than smaller vehicles. Miscalculating a turn and encroaching on another lane can lead to collisions with oncoming traffic. Being aware of a truck’s turning radius and staying vigilant near intersections are crucial to avoiding these accidents.
Suffering from an accident injury? Our dedicated truck accident attorneys in Temecula can help. We’re committed to pursuing the compensation you may be eligible for, determining the liable parties, and protecting your rights throughout the process. Our client-focused approach emphasizes your needs and goals when preparing your case.
Meanwhile, by understanding the common causes and types of truck accidents and practicing safe driving habits, you can enhance your safety and the safety of others on Temecula roads. Knowledge and awareness are your best tools for navigating the road alongside these massive vehicles.
Establishing Liability In A Temecula Truck Accident
Pursuing damages after a truck accident, like many personal injury cases, requires proving four things:
- Duty of Care – The defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care towards the victim.
- Breach of Duty – The defendant violated that duty through recklessness or negligence.
- Causation – The defendant’s actions directly caused the victim’s injuries.
- Damages – The victim suffered real physical, emotional, or financial damage due to the accident.
Truck accidents often involve complex liability beyond the driver. While negligent drivers usually bear responsibility in car crashes, truck accidents may implicate other parties:
- Trucking Companies – They can be directly liable for:
- Negligent hiring practices (e.g., hiring drivers with poor records).
- Failing to maintain vehicles properly.
- Violating federal trucking regulations (e.g., exceeding hours of service).
- Vicarious Liability – Trucking companies are responsible for their employees’ actions while on the job, even if the company wasn’t directly negligent.
- Manufacturers and Maintenance Providers – They may be liable if faulty equipment or improper repairs contributed to the accident.
Knowing the legal complexities of a truck accident can be daunting, especially when it comes to pinning down who’s responsible. That’s where our truck accident lawyers in Temecula come in. We have the skills and resources to conduct thorough investigations to determine the cause of the accident and establish the liability of those responsible. Contact our Temecula personal injury law firm for a free initial consultation to understand your case. Contact us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form.
Compensation And Damages For Truck Accident Claim In Temecula, CA
California’s pure comparative negligence law lets the court reduce accident victims’ compensation based on their share of fault. If a victim is 25% responsible, their damages are reduced by 25%.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSA) require commercial trucks to carry substantial insurance: $750,000 for regular cargo and $5 million for hazardous materials. This allows victims of truck accidents to seek compensation through this coverage.
The value of a truck accident claim depends on the specific case. Your potential settlement, handled by one of our experienced truck accident attorneys in Temecula, may cover various expenses, including:
- Property Damage — Repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged personal belongings.
- Medical Expenses — All past, present, and future medical costs related to your injuries, including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation.
- Lost Wages — Compensation for the income you lost due to your injuries and inability to work.
- Loss of Earning Capacity — If your injuries affect your future earning potential, you may seek compensation for the lost income you would have earned had you not been injured.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses — Reimbursement for any expenses incurred due to the accident, such as transportation costs, childcare, or home modifications.
- Life-Changing Disability, Disfigurement, or Scarring — Compensation for the physical and emotional impact of permanent disabilities or lasting scars.
- Mental Anguish or Pain and Suffering — Compensation for the emotional distress and physical pain you endured due to the accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life — Compensation for the inability to participate in activities you used to enjoy because of your injuries.
- Past and Future Losses — This includes all the damages you have already incurred and will likely face in the future due to the accident.
- Punitive Damages — In some cases, if the truck driver or trucking company acted with gross negligence or recklessness, the court may award punitive damages to punish them for their misconduct and deter future similar behavior.
Consulting with our Temecula truck accident lawyers can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation for your damages.
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
The Time Limit To File A Personal Injury Claim In Temecula, CA
Time matters in truck accident claims. You must report the incident to insurance carriers promptly to avoid delays or denials. In California, you have a two-year deadline from the accident date to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent trucking driver or company. This timeframe is legally known as the statute of limitations. Missing this deadline could jeopardize your ability to seek compensation for damages.
Truck Accident Statistics In California
Every year, roughly 100,000 large trucks are involved in crashes, causing injuries, and around 5,000 end up being fatal, according to the FMCSA. Due to its heavy commercial traffic, California is a hotspot for truck accidents, ranking second only to Texas in fatalities, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreover, the state sees a staggering 7,000 injury crashes and over 300 deaths annually from truck collisions, per data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers In Temecula For Experienced Legal Representation!
Those huge trucks we see on the road, often referred to as big rigs, semis, or 18-wheelers, can cause severe injuries and extensive damage in the event of an accident. People who get hurt by these massive vehicles have their lives turned upside down. It’s important to remember that these trucking companies and their insurance have lots of resources to fight claims, and they’re not looking out for you.
Our truck accident lawyers in Temecula have the experience to handle truck accident cases. We have experience in dealing with large insurers of trucking companies and understand the tactics they use to undervalue victims’ claims for their losses. Our attorneys prepare trial-ready cases, so if a potential settlement is insufficient for your losses, we can represent you in court to help you pursue compensation.
We know the legal complexities of truck accident claims and can help you navigate the process. Our goal is to help you seek the compensation you may be entitled to and handle the case so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Consider scheduling a free initial consultation with us by calling (888) 488-139.
The truck accident attorneys in Temecula also serve injured victims in the neighboring communities of Temecula, including La Cresta, Murrieta, Deluz, De Luz Heights, Rainbow, Valle De Los Caballos, Glenoak Hills, South Park, Sage, and French Valley.
