Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto represent victims that have been hurt in truck accidents throughout the area. A truck accident gives you the same legal options as any other vehicle accident, but the injuries and other damage from them are usually much more severe. To learn more about what you need to do if you’re involved in one, contact us today to set up a free consultation.

Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Most truck accidents are much more serious than a regular car accident, and it’s not complicated to see why: a big rig is so much heavier and larger than normal cars, meaning there’s more force on impact. But at the same time, even every truck accident varies in terms of severity. If your accident is on the relatively minor end of things, you probably don’t need to hire a lawyer.

However, in the event that your injuries or accident is more in line with a typical truck accident, our team can be a great benefit to you and your family. Here’s how we approach these cases

  • Legal help – First and foremost, we will guide you through the legal process, meaning explaining your options and what the path forward looks like.
  • Investigating the accident – We look into accidents thoroughly. This means gathering evidence, talking to witnesses, and figuring out who’s at fault.
  • Protecting your rights – We talk to insurance companies and others involved in the accident for you. This keeps your rights safe and makes sure you don’t say anything that could hurt your case.
  • Skilled bargaining – When it comes to dealing with insurance claims or settlements, our team is experienced at negotiating. We aim to get you a fair deal that covers everything from medical bills to lost wages.

We understand that dealing with a truck accident and its aftermath can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help. We’ll take the pressure off you and your family, making sure you’re treated fairly and get the care you need.

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What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

Modesto is like many places in California in that it has busy roads and streets with numerous vehicles. With that in mind, you probably have shared the road with many big rigs and other types of commercial trucks. means there’s a higher chance you might get into an accident with one. It’s not nice to think about, but it’s important to stay calm and do these things to keep yourself safe and sort out any problems:

  • Stay safe – If there’s an accident, move to a safe place and check if anyone is hurt. If they are, call for help right away.
  • Call 911 and get medical care – Call 911 about the accident so they can respond. This will allow you to get medical care on the scene, and you should get further medical care at an emergency room or urgent care.
  • Report the accident to police – Also, 911 should let the police respond to the scene. They’ll get important information from everyone involved.
  • Gather information – Get the truck driver’s and other drivers’ contact details and insurance info. Write down their names, phone numbers, addresses, and license plate numbers. If there’s a company name on the truck, note that down too.
  • Get visual evidence – If you can do it safely, take photos or videos of the accident scene, showing where the cars are, any damage, and marks on the road.
  • Get witness information – If anyone saw what happened, ask for their contact details. Their story might help later.
  • Call your insurance – Let your insurance company know about the accident so they can help sort things out.
  • Keep records – Keep records and bills from the hospital, bills for fixing your car, and any money you spend because of the accident. This will be important for showing your losses.
  • Watch what you say – Don’t admit fault or talk about who caused the accident. Let our team figure it out.

Even though you do all this, dealing with a truck accident can still be hard. We can help you in this regard, but an important step is to understand how the claims process works.

Claims Process After a Truck Accident

Legally speaking, the claims process in a truck accident is the same as any other accident. The main difference is that figuring out liability is a bit more complicated. The reason for this is that there’s usually a number of responsible parties, not just the truck driver.

Still, negligence is the determining factor of who’s responsible for covering your injuries and other damages. Most of the time, this will fall on the truck driver for speeding, driving under the influence, driving while fatigued, etc. But, there’s others that could share some liability, like:

  • The truck company
  • The truck manufacturer
  • The company in charge of truck maintenance
  • The company loading the truck’s cargo
  • The truck’s owner or leaser
  • The manufacturer of specific truck parts if equipment fails

Damages

Once liability is established, seeking financial support through an injury claim is crucial. This can be done by either:

  • Making an insurance claim
  • Filing a personal injury lawsuit

The goal of the claim process is to secure financial support, called “damages.” Depending on the accident, these damages may cover:

  • Medical expenses
  • Ongoing treatment
  • Lost income
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Repair/replacement costs for your vehicle
  • Loss of companionship
  • Wrongful death expenses

The amount of damages awarded depends on medical bills and the emotional impact of the accident. In California, there’s a two-year time limit (statute of limitations) to file a claim, so it’s important not to miss this deadline. Otherwise, you might lose the chance to seek the support you need for recovery.

Injuries in a Truck Accident

No matter what the cause of the truck accident is, it’s likely to leave you with serious injuries. While this is true in any vehicle accident, it’s much more probable in a truck accident because:

  • Size and weight discrepancy
  • Lack of maneuverability of the truck
  • Dangerous or hazardous materials being carried
  • Force of the impact

Even with them being more likely, it’s hard to predict the injuries you might suffer in a truck accident. But collisions involving big rig trucks can lead to various injuries like:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
  • Burns
  • Broken bones
  • Loss of limbs
  • Ligament tears
  • Whiplash
  • Cuts and bruises
  • Back strains
  • Death, in severe accidents

What makes things worse is that any one of these injuries, when taken together, can eventually lead to life changes. That’s what makes the legal process so important, and our team will be there to support you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Proving a truck driver was distracted depends on the situation. This means looking at any citations issued, interviewing witnesses or obtaining and reviewing any available video footage of the accident can provide further proof.

Even in the event of a jackknife, where the back end of the truck swings around in a V-shape, the truck driver remains responsible for any accidents they cause, including collisions with a jackknifed truck.

There’s no upfront cost when hiring one of our personal injury lawyers at Maison Law Modesto, because we work on a contingency basis, meaning our fee is a percentage of any result we recover for you.

Modesto Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You

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