Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer (All You Need To Know)

Looking for a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer?

Should you hire one?

What are the essential elements you should know!

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Let’s look at Los Angeles truck accident attorneys and what you should know!

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Who Is A Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer 

A Los Angeles truck accident lawyer is a legal professional specialized in dealing with legal matters involving truck accidents whether to seek compensation for a victim or defendant against a claim.

A truck accident is a general term referring to any type of accident that may implicate a truck, such as:

• A big rig
• Semi truck
• Tractor trailer 
• Garbage truck
• Dump truck
• Box truck
• Recycling truck
• FedEx trucks
• UPS trucks
• Amazon trucks
• Tow trucks
• Cement trucks
• Tank trucks 
• Delivery trucks
• Firetrucks
• Platform trucks
• Flatbed trucks
• 18 wheelers 
• Haul trucks 
• Ballast trucks 

Being educated in the field of law and practicing law in matters involving “truck accidents” in the Los Angeles area, truck accident attorneys Los Angeles are knowledgeable in filing claims or lawsuits to get compensation of accident victims by presenting the best possible case.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are on average 315 people killed every year in California as a result of truck accidents.

A truck accident can not only be catastrophic for those involved (the victim and victim’s family) but can be legally complex to handle.

An attorney specialized in truck accidents will understand the complexities and challenges involved in legal matters specifically relating to “truck” accidents as they are familiar with:

• Truck accident laws applicable in Los Angeles (state laws and federal laws)
• LA personal injury laws 
• Legal procedures and steps for filing a claim in Los Angeles for damages 
• Understands the legal requirements and statute of limitations related to a Los Angeles truck accident

If you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident Los Angeles, I think it’s important to call and speak to qualified and experienced truck accident lawyers for legal advice and possibly representation.

Why Hire Truck Accident Lawyers Los Angeles

Hiring a lawyer may not be an easy decision for many.

Lawyers can be expensive and you are not sure if it’s worth hiring one to help you recover damages following a truck accident in Los Angeles.

In the end, the ultimate decision to hiring an attorney comes to you and you must evaluate the pros and cons of hiring one.

The fact is that not all cases will require that you hire an attorney as the facts of the case may be simple enough for you to handle, the amount of damages is low, or you are able to take on the challenge.

However, for many, hiring a truck accident attorney in Los Angeles does bring value and has important benefits.

By hiring truck accident attorneys in Los Angeles, you can have experienced and qualified legal representation to:

• Evaluate and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case
• Gather and collect all evidence related to your truck accident in LA
• Review and understand medical reports crucial for your case
• Speak to the police authority, medical practitioners, and experts in the field
• File a claim against an insurance company (if possible) and negotiate with them
• Deal with sophisticated defendants such as truck companies, manufacturers, insurers 
• Prepare and file a lawsuit to get the best compensation possible for you
• Negotiate a fair settlement with the opposing counsel or defendant 
• If case is not settled, present the case to the court, judge, and jury for a successful verdict

As you can see, there are many steps, tasks, and requirements that need to be successfully handled for you to get a settlement or jury verdict following a truck accident.

If you make mistakes, skip a step, or do not act within the legal timelines, you may hurt your chances of getting a fair recovery of damages and in some cases fully lose your legal right to assert a claim.

From my perspective, the minimum you should do is to consult with experienced truck accident attorneys in Los Angeles and then determine if you wish to hire a lawyer or not.

Common Causes of Los Angeles Truck Accidents

There are potentially many reasons why a person may get into a truck accident in the Los Angeles area.

Here are some of the most common reasons why truck accidents happen:

• Driver fatigue
• Truck speeding over limits
• Traffic violations
• Truck driver distraction
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Lack of truck maintenance
• Inadequate truck inspection 
• Improperly loaded truck
• Cargo shifts
• Poor road conditions
• Illegal maneuvers 
• Inexperienced driver
• Tire blowouts 
• Following too closely 
• Negligent supervision 

The consequences of an accident can be devastating for the victim and the victim’s family.

As a result, no matter the cause of the accident with a truck or commercial motor vehicle, an experienced Los Angeles big rig accident lawyer or truck accident law firm Los Angeles can help you investigate the accident and put together a solid case for you to get compensated.

Common Types of Los Angeles Truck Accident Injuries

Since trucks weigh more than a conventional passenger automobile, accidents with a truck can result in more serious damages and consequences.

Statistics show that more people are injured in truck accidents and are killed than other types of road accidents.

The most common types of injuries that may be suffered in a truck accident are as follows:

• Amputation 
• Bone fractures 
• Brain trauma
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Death 
• Disc injuries
• Disfigurement
• Internal bleeding
• Ligament injuries 
• Limb loss
• Neck injuries 
• Nerve damage 
• Organ damage 
• Paralysis
• Paraplegia 
• Post-traumatic stress 
• Quadriplegia 
• Severe lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash 
• Wrongful death 

There may be more injuries suffered by the victim of an accident with a truck and so this list is to give you an overall view.

Anyone injured in a truck crash or collision should consult with a good attorney to assess his or her legal options in filing a lawsuit or a claim to get compensated for financial and non-financial losses suffered.

What To Do After A Truck Accident In Los Angeles

Nobody wants to get into an accident with a truck of any kind.

However, knowing what to do if a truck accident does happen is important.

Here are some of the measures you may need to take immediately after an LA truck accident:

• Make sure you and everyone are ok
• Get the proper medical attention 
• Make sure to file a police report 
• Take good notes of how the accident happened
• Get the contact information of the other drivers involved in the accident 
• Ensure that you identify the truck driver and the trucking companies involved 
• Get every driver’s car insurance policy details 
• Get contact information from all the witnesses on the scene
• Take a lot of pictures of the scene of the accident 
• See if there were videos or security cameras recording the event

Once you were treated for your injures and have gathered all your documents (and evidence), it’s important to contact a truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles to better understand the legal consequences of your case. 

By consulting the best truck accident lawyer Los Angeles, you will be able to:

• Understand who is liable in a truck accident
• Assess how much damages you may be entitled to
• Understand the legal procedures that you need to take
• Get a better sense of how the Dallas accident attorney dealing with trucks can help you

Who Is Liable For A Truck Accident

Truck companies will be directly liable for many truck accidents in Los Angeles as they are responsible to ensure the trucks are properly inspected, maintained, and respect the federal safety regulations and truck laws.

In addition, truck companies will be liable for the conduct of their employees and agents through the rule of vicarious liability.

If a truck driver was negligent, the cargo loader did not load the truck properly, the ground controller failed on the job, or another employee was responsible for the accident, the trucking company will also be held responsible for the negligence.

There are also other potential defendants in an LA truck accident, namely:

• Drivers not directly implicated in the accident but caused the accident
• Truck manufacturers for producing a truck that was defective
• Truck retailers for selling defective products
• Truck repair facilities for faulty truck repairs and maintenance 
• Government entities for lack of proper road maintenance or hazardous road conditions 

There are possibly many parties that may be responsible for a truck accident even though we tend to assume that the truck driver or trucking company are generally the only parties at fault.

It’s important to consult with an experienced attorney who will assess the facts of your case to determine who is liable for your truck accident.

How To Prove Fault In A Truck Accident

In the state of California and Los Angeles, in many cases, truck accident claims are based on the legal notion of negligence.

In other words, for you to win your case and get compensation, you will need to prove the following elements of negligence:

• The truck driver, trucking company, the truck manufacturer (or defendant) owed you duty of care
• The defendant breached its duty of care 
• The breach of duty actually resulted in your accident or was the proximate cause of your accident
• The accident caused resulted in damages to you

Damages Caused By Truck Accidents In LA

Depending on the nature of your truck accident in LA, you may suffer minor damages all the way to severe or catastrophic damages.

In minor cases, the victim may suffer property damage to his or her vehicle or minor physical injuries.

However, in serious accidents, the victim may end up being severely injured, get paralyzed, or even lose his or her life.

The sheer size of a truck and its weight colliding with a small car, bicycle, or pedestrian can result in catastrophic injuries.

Generally, a person involved in an important Los Angeles truck accident can suffer the following damages:

• Medical expenses
• Surgery costs
• Emergency room costs
• Physical therapy 
• Loss of earnings 
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Therapy costs
• Medical device and equipment costs 
• Diminished earning capacity 
• Vehicle damages 
• Out-of-pocket expenses 

In addition to direct financial losses caused by the accident, the victim can also suffer non-monetary damages such as:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Stress and anxiety
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish 
• Disfigurement 

These are emotional and psychological damages caused to a victim who may suffer long-term consequences resulting from the truck accident.

In more exceptional cases, the court may also award punitive damages to punish the conduct of the defendant that was reckless or deviated significantly from acceptable norms and standards.

Statute of Limitations For Commercial Accidents in California

If you are implicated in an accident with a large truck, big rig, 18 wheeler, or any other type of truck (or commercial vehicle), it’s important to file your truck accident lawsuit or claim within the legally established timelines.

In fact, you only have a limited amount of time to bring a legal claim following a truck accident.

In California, the statute of limitations for accidents involving commercial vehicles is generally two years from the moment of the crash or collision.

Two years can go by very quickly especially if you had to take several months to recover from your injuries and go through a rehabilitation process.

In Los Angeles (and in California), truck accident claims are typically based on the legal notion of “negligence”.

In other words, a trucking accident attorney Los Angeles will need to find evidence to prove that the truck driver, trucking company, or the at-fault party was negligent, reckless, or careless causing the accident.

Putting together the evidence required to prove a negligence claim in two years can sometimes be challenging.

As a result, it’s important that you consult with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer as soon as you can so you can get started in putting your case and evidence together.

If you miss the statute of limitations timeline, your case will be legally time-barred even if your case is perfectly valid and compelling.

If you do have a case that you will want to pursue, make sure you don’t lose precious time and contact a qualified attorney near you or in the Los Angeles area as soon as possible.

Truck Accident Statistics in Los Angeles

Here are some interesting statistics for truck accidents in Los Angeles CA.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a large truck can weigh more than 40 times than a standard passenger vehicle.

Accidents with large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds to over 80,000 pounds in the case of an 18-wheeler can be devastating.

Over the years, commercial truck accidents in the state of California have been increasing and resulting in more and more fatalities.

In Los Angeles County, here are some truck accident stats:

• In 2013, there were 53 deaths and 1,689 people injured
• In 2014, there were 61 deaths and 1,635 people injured
• In 2015, there were 49 deaths and 1,722 people injured
• In 2016, there were 61 deaths and 1,948 people injured
• In 2017, there were 46 deaths and 1,918 people injured

Unfortunately, there are too many fatal accidents involving trucks leading to possible long-term adverse consequences to the victims and their families.

Truck Accident Attorney Los Angeles Takeaways 

So there you have it folks!

Truck accidents are inherently dangerous and possibly catastrophic leading to important injuries and possibly being fatal.

If you or someone you know was involved in a truck accident, you’ll need to quickly assess whether or not you will want to pursue a claim against the at-fault party, decide to hire an attorney or not, and take action.

In Los Angeles, in most cases, truck accident lawsuits are filed as negligence lawsuits and the plaintiff has two years from the moment of the accident to file a lawsuit.

By working with truck accident lawyers in Los Angeles, you can focus on your medical treatment, rehabilitation, and getting your life back to normal, your lawyer can focus on building your case to get you the compensation you deserve.

Truck accidents can be factually complex to prove and have unique legal implications that an ordinary person may not have the proper knowledge and experience to handle.

Hiring a big rig accident attorney in Los Angeles or law firm can provide you with the following benefits:

• You can deal with the complexities of the case
• You can negotiate and handle sophisticated defendants 
• You can deal with multiple defendants at once 
• Gather the right evidence to maximize your chances of winning in court
• Carefully assess how much damages you can legal claim and how 
• Have the skills needed to negotiate with tough defendants 
• Prepare for a truck accident litigation 

The choice of hiring an attorney is yours but it’s an important one.

The fact is that you don’t necessarily need to mandate an attorney to handle your truck accident claim but what may be worth it is to have a legal consultation with a trucking accident lawyer Los Angeles to get a high-level perspective of your legal rights and options.

Many lawyers and law firms offer a free consultation along with a no-obligation review of your case to assess its merits.

That may be worth exploring.

I hope I was able to provide you with the essential information you need relating to truck accidents and how Los Angeles truck accident lawyers can be of assistance.

Good luck!

Now, let’s look at a summary of our findings.

Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney Overview

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