Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto represent box truck accident victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a box truck accident in Modesto, our team of experienced accident attorneys will provide you with the legal expertise necessary to get you fully compensated for your damages. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Box Truck Accident in Modesto?
Box trucks are commercial vehicles with a box-shaped cargo space. Some drivers may refer to them as box vans, cube vans, bob trucks, or cube trucks. These trucks are often seen on the road for delivery purposes by delivery corporations or individuals moving their belongings. Despite their practical use, an accident with a truck this size may leave accident victims with serious injuries and financial damage. If the driver was responsible for the accident, then the driver, or the company they’re driving for, could be found liable for damages.
However, box truck accidents typically involve multiple liable parties. A personal injury attorney can help you determine who is liable and file a lawsuit against them. In addition to filing a lawsuit, an attorney can:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- The percentage of blame assigned to you in the accident (ranges anywhere from 1% – 99%)
- Your age at the time of the accident
- Your education level and occupation
- Loss of enjoyment you’ve suffered due to injuries or mental trauma sustained from the accident
- Loss of earnings
- Future and present medical treatments
What Should You Do After a Box Truck Accident?
Let’s say you’ve just finished 18 holes at Dryden Park Gold Course and you’re pulling out onto Sunset Avenue when a box truck runs a red light, plowing into the side of you. What should you do? The steps you take after an accident will be important to ensuring you and your passenger’s safety, as well as protecting your right to compensation if you decide to take legal action. You should consider the following steps after a box truck accident:
- Ensure the safety of you and your passengers: Depending on the situation, this could mean moving your car to the side of the road, or if you are severely injured, it could mean remaining where you are until help arrives. Check yourself for burns, lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
- Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to back up your claims later.
- Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather witness statements and bus driver information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Photograph the employee’s employee ID number or take down their bus number if possible. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case.
- Do not admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault.
- Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours, or even days later.
When Can I Expect a Settlement from a Box Truck Accident?
There are no set times for box truck accident settlements. They can occur at any time between the immediate aftermath of the truck accident and the moment before the jury delivers a verdict in court. During this time, it is not uncommon for the insurance adjuster of the liable party to attempt to make a settlement offer. Settlements are reached in 95% of all personal injury lawsuits as neither side wants to settle matters in court.
Jury trials are risky as the potential rewards could be ten times more, or ten times less than what would have been reached during a settlement. By going to trial, both sides release control of the outcome of the case to the judge and jury. Trials are also costly affairs with the majority of the money being spent on travel, lodging, expert witnesses, court fees, and attorney fees.
What Compensation Can I Expect from a Box Truck Accident in Modesto
The payout for accidents involving box trucks varies on a case-to-case basis, however, an experienced accident attorney will let you know what you can expect once they understand the specifics of your case. The following factors will decide your compensation:
- Medical expenses for future and present treatment
- Other medical costs needed to facilitate your injuries such as a wheelchair, crutches, or in-home care
- Pain and suffering, which include trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life due to the accident.
- Damage or destruction to your property
- Loss of income if your injuries prevented you from working
- Loss of consortium (to be filed by the spouse or immediate family member for loss of companionship or love)
- Wrongful death benefits if a life was lost in the accident
To reach a successful personal injury claim verdict, you will need to prove:
- The box truck driver or company owed you a duty of care
- The trucking company breached that duty
- The breach caused your injury
- Your injury resulted in damages
Contact a Box Truck Accident Lawyer in Modesto
If you or a loved one have been injured in a box truck accident in Modesto, the Modesto accident attorneys are standing by to help. Even a minor accident can have a major impact on your health and finances over time. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get the legal advice you need. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront costs for our legal services and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.