San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyer

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Truck accident cases are complicated. Accidents involving semis, big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor-trailers often involve many vehicles. Such collisions may lead to catastrophic injuries or even death.

If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a truck accident collision, you should reach out to a San Bernardino truck accident lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you with the legal aspects of your personal injury case. They can guide you through California’s personal injury laws, ensuring you don’t jeopardize your claim.

The legal team at Crockett Law Group is ready to represent you and protect your legal rights. We won’t rest until we establish fault and help you secure maximum compensation. Our lawyers are ready to answer any questions that you may have. Call (888) 965-3827 now to schedule your free case review.

Truck Accident Statistics in California

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 5,005 people were killed in accidents involving large trucks in 2019. This was almost the same as the previous year — 5,006 fatalities. According to the NHTSA, 71% of the people killed in these crashes were occupants of other vehicles.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) reports that there were 375 and 408 fatalities in California that involved large trucks in 2018 and 2019, respectively. San Bernardino County reported 46 fatalities in 2019.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

The actions you take after an accident in San Bernardino, CA, can make or break your truck accident claim. It’s important that you remain calm after an accident and critically think about what you need to do. Here are the steps that the truck accident attorneys at Crockett Law Group recommend.

Call 911

Contacting the police is critical after an accident. Never disregard reaching out to the police after an accident. If the other driver tries talking you out of this step, please ignore them and call 911.

Remember, your insurance provider may require a police report before paying any damages. This report is only available after reaching out to the police.

Help Others

After an accident, it’s important to check if you are okay. Make sure you don’t have any visible injuries.

You can help other victims at the scene of the accident. If someone is severely hurt or in danger, offer reasonable assistance. You should use your best judgment to make sure you don’t end up worsening their injuries.

For example, if someone is stuck in a burning car, it’s common sense that you should help them. You may save the person’s life if you pull them out in time.

Exchange Information

It’s critical that you get the name of the truck driver, their trucking company details, cargo information, insurance details, and make, model, and license details of their truck.

When exchanging information with other involved parties, make sure you don’t engage in arguments. You may end up admitting fault or apologizing during such instances.

Document the Scene and Speak with Witnesses

Eyewitnesses can help you build a strong truck accident claim in San Bernardino, California. Make sure you note down their details, including their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Your lawyer can interview them to establish fault in your personal injury case.

Evidence from the scene of the accident can also help to determine fault. Make sure you take photos and videos of your visible injuries, vehicle damage, road signs, skid marks, and road conditions after your accident.

Seek Medical Attention

Your wellbeing is very critical after a truck accident. You should visit a hospital for a medical checkup after a truck wreck. Remember, some injuries like concussions may not be apparent after an accident.

Don’t forget to keep a record of your hospital visits, bills, prescriptions, and treatments.

Contact an Attorney

A reputable truck accident law firm in San Bernardino can protect your legal rights, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. At Crockett Law Group, our lawyers are ready to guide you throughout the truck accident claims process. Call us immediately after your crash to get sound legal advice and representation.

What are the Laws Regarding Truck Accident Liability?

California follows a comparative fault system when determining fault. Under this legal doctrine, multiple parties can be held liable for a truck accident. The damage one receives is reduced by their liability. You may be able to receive compensation even if your fault for a truck accident is 95%. In such a case, you may be entitled to 5% of the damages.

Vicarious liability also applies under California’s personal injury law. Here, an employer can be held indirectly liable for injuries and damages, even though they didn’t cause them.

For example, an employer who allows an unqualified driver to operate a truck or if they employ a driver with a history of drugged driving convictions may be held liable for their negligent or reckless actions. It is the duty of employers to make sure their employees are qualified and reasonable enough to operate their vehicles.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

It’s advisable to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible after your truck accident. At Crockett Law Group, our legal team is ready to advise you regarding your legal options. Here’s how our experienced attorneys can help you.

Investigation

Our lawyers will gather and analyze evidence such as medical records, eyewitness statements, photos from the scene, and police reports to determine if you have a valid San Bernardino personal injury claim.

Filing a Claim

After concluding investigations, our attorneys will file a demand letter with the insurance company, seeking maximum compensation for your damages. We will file your claim on time to ensure we don’t jeopardize your truck accident claim.

Negotiations

You require the help of skilled negotiators to get the best compensation for your damages. At Crockett Law Group, our lawyers are prepared to handle all settlement talks while you rest and recover. Rest assured, our attorneys won’t accept any lowball offer that doesn’t represent the true value of your truck accident claim in San Bernardino, CA.

Litigation

If out-of-court talks don’t work out, we are prepared to represent you in front of a judge and jury in California. Our trial lawyers will aggressively fight for your rights to ensure you get a favorable ruling. We are prepared to seek punitive damages — if need be.

What Types of Compensation Can I Receive?

After a truck accident, an experienced San Bernardino truck accident lawyer can help you recover these damages.

Economic Damages
These are out-of-pocket expenses that have specific price tags. Economic damages are contained in bills and receipts. They include:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Vehicle damage
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses

Non-Economic Damages
These damages are hard to compute since they don’t have specific dollar amounts. For example, it’s impossible to measure someone’s mental anguish after losing their loved one. Non–economic damages may include:

• Humiliation
• Lost companionship
• Disfigurement
• Loss of reputation

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages in San Bernardino truck accident claims are awarded when the defendant’s actions are considered particularly egregious or careless. These damages are meant to punish the at-fault party for their actions or omissions.

How Much is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?

Every truck accident is different. To determine the worth of your accident claim, a skilled San Bernardino truck accident attorney will consider various factors. The severity of your injuries, liability, and policy limits play a major part in the amount of compensation one receives.

For example, a plaintiff who suffers flesh wounds won’t receive the same compensation as one who is left brain dead after a truck collision. An experienced truck accident lawyer near San Bernardino can look into the facts of your case to determine the amount of compensation you may receive for your truck accident claim.

Is There a Deadline for Filing a Claim?

California has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This is the time period that the court will require you to file your lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you can no longer have a legal truck accident claim.

You have two years from the date of your injury; to file a claim in California. For property damage claims, you have three years from the date of the damage to file your claim.

How is Fault in a Truck Accident Determined?

An experienced truck accident lawyer from San Bernardino can help you determine liability in a truck accident case. To do this, your lawyer should look into the facts of the case to establish any form of negligence. This is critical when building a personal injury claim.

At Crockett Law Group, our legal team will analyze evidence such as:

• Photos and videos from the scene
• Dashcam footage
• Phone call records
• Maintenance records
• Driving logbooks
• Police reports
• Black box data

Our reputable personal injury law firm in San Bernardino is also prepared to work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to build a strong truck accident claim.

Can a Lawyer Prove the Truck Driver was Negligent?

California applies pure comparative negligence rules when determining fault. To establish fault, a plaintiff must prove various elements in a personal injury claim.

• Duty: The defendant had a duty to act or not act in a certain manner
• Breach: The defendant breached their duty of care
• Causation: This breach led to the plaintiff’s injury. The defendant should’ve foreseen the likelihood of someone being hurt by their recklessness.
• Damages: The injury led to actual damages such as lost wages, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, or medical expenses

Who Can be Held Liable?

In a truck accident claim, a knowledgeable lawyer should look at the facts of the case and determine who is to blame for the crash. At Crockett Law Group, our legal team will go through all pieces of evidence to determine who is liable for your injuries and damages, including:

• Truck drivers
• Trucking companies
• The company that loaded the truck
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers
• Government agencies

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Most truck accidents that happen on our roads are avoidable. If all road users follow state and federal traffic rules, there will be a decline in the number of truck accidents. However, due to the reckless actions of drivers, accidents happen every day on our roads.

Here are some common causes of truck accidents in California.

Driver Fatigue

Drivers deserve to rest after driving their trucks for long hours. If they disregard getting some sleep to recover, they endanger the lives of other road users.

Distracted Driving

Eating, applying makeup, texting, and talking on the phone are actions that can lead to distracted driving accidents.

Reckless Driving

Actions like speeding, swerving on the road, reckless overtaking, and aggressive driving may result in truck accidents.

Drug Use

Alcohol and drugs can impair a truck driver’s judgment and reaction time. In California, it is illegal to drive a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or more.

Improper Cargo Loading

A truck’s cargo can affect its center of gravity and interfere with the truck’s integrity. This may make it harder for a truck driver to control their vehicle, especially when negotiating sharp corners.

Driver Inexperience or Poor Training

It is the responsibility of trucking companies to employ experienced drivers who are adequately trained to operate commercial vehicles.

Poor Truck Maintenance

Truck parts such as brakes, tires, suspensions, and engines should be maintained to avert any accidents.

Equipment Malfunction

Faulty equipment like brakes can result in truck accidents in San Bernardino, CA.

Poor Road Conditions

Potholes, ice patches, cracks, and debris can cause a truck driver to lose control while on San Bernardino roads.

Call A San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Have you or a loved one been involved in a truck accident? Then, you may be eligible for compensation. You have the right to file a truck accident claim to secure settlement for your damages. An experienced San Bernardino truck accident lawyer can help you get the justice you deserve after a truck wreck.

The legal team at Crockett Law Group understands how devastating a truck accident can be. Over the years, Kevin Crockett has recovered millions of dollars for his personal injury clients. He is prepared to aggressively fight for your legal rights, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today to book your free case review. We are ready to answer all of your questions. Get started now before it’s too late.