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Temecula Truck Accident Lawyers

There are many different types of trucks involved in accidents, but all crashes have some common causes.

Trucks are an important part of the economy. They keep our communities running and deliver the goods that everyone needs. Unfortunately, as trucks make their way through Temecula, they sometimes cause accidents. Crashes involving trucks are far too common in the city, and when they happen, it is important to identify the cause of the crash so that victims can file a claim for compensation. It is also important that victims speak to a Temecula truck accident lawyer for help filing their claims.

Common Types of Trucks That Get into Accidents

When many people hear of truck accidents, they often only think of transport trucks. However, there are many different types of trucks involved in crashes including:

  • Garbage trucks
  • Dump trucks
  • Tractor-trailers
  • Tanker trucks
  • Flatbed trucks
  • Tow trucks

All of these trucks are much larger and much heavier than the average passenger vehicles that share the road with them. For this reason, it is always the people in the smaller vehicles who sustain the worst injuries in a crash.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are always the result of negligence. Many people think that only truck drivers are negligent when they are involved in a crash, but that is not true. Other parties can also cause accidents when they are negligent. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Poor weather conditions: Although California does not usually see ice and snow, hail storms and high winds are quite common in Temecula. All drivers are expected to know how to drive safely in poor weather conditions and if they cannot, to pull over to a safe place.
  • Poor road conditions: All levels of government are expected to keep the roads in a safe condition. When they fail to and poor road conditions cause a crash, individuals can hold the appropriate entity liable for the crash.
  • Inexperienced drivers: Truckers are expected to have the skills and experience to safely operate a truck. When trucking companies take shortcuts and do not ensure they are hiring experienced drivers, accident victims can hold them liable for the crash.
  • Fatigued drivers: Truck drivers do not always abide by the federal hours of service law. Even when they do, they can become very tired from long hours on the road.
  • Unfamiliarity with roads: Truckers often have to drive in communities that are unfamiliar to them. This can cause them to become distracted by GPS, and they also may not see one-way signs.
  • Improperly loaded cargo: Cargo companies are responsible for ensuring that the cargo on a truck is loaded properly. When it is not, the cargo can shift during transport and throw the entire truck off balance, causing it to roll over.
  • Defective equipment: Defective brakes, tires, and other parts of the truck can easily cause a crash, for which manufacturers can be held liable.
  • Driver negligence: Of course, sometimes truck drivers are negligent and cause a crash. Aggressive driving, speeding, and impaired driving are just a few types of driver negligence that can cause a crash.

A truck accident lawyer can determine the cause of a crash so accident victims know whom to hold liable for it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents

These are some questions for which people injured in truck accidents often need answers. The Temecula truck accident lawyers at Gibbs & Fuerst LLP can answer all your questions about your legal rights after a truck accident.

What are the Top Three Reasons to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?

Trucks are so big that even a small mistake by a truck driver can result in an accident where multiple people are injured and their vehicles are totaled. You can contact a truck accident lawyer any time you have questions about what to do after a truck accident, but these are the three most common situations that lead people to contact truck accident lawyers:

  • The damages resulting from the accident are more than an individual’s liability insurance or personal injury protection insurance would pay.
  • The injuries are so severe that the injured victim is no longer able to work and is wondering how to survive financially.
  • The amount of compensation that the insurance company has offered is not enough to cover all your accident-related medical expenses.

Should I Accept the First Offer From the Insurance Company?

No, you should not. One of the biggest mistakes you can make after getting injured in a traffic accident is to sign and return the settlement offer letter you receive from the insurance company if it is not enough to cover all the financial losses you suffered as a result of the accident. If you do this, you will lose the right to get any more money from the insurance company or to file a lawsuit in connection to the accident. Recovering damages in a lawsuit is not quick or stress-free, but your Temecula truck accident lawyer may be able to help you get the money you need without going to court. For example, your lawyer might be able to negotiate with the insurance company for a better settlement.

What are Some Common Injuries From Truck Accidents?

The chances of getting seriously injured if a truck crashes into your car are much higher than the chances of suffering serious injuries in a collision where both of the vehicles involved are cars of similar size. These are some common injuries that can result from truck accidents:

  • Bone fractures
  • Whiplash injury
  • Back injuries that can result in painful complications like herniated discs
  • Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries that can result in debilitating complications such as paralysis and loss of bladder and bowel control

The physical pain of injuries that result from truck accidents is bad enough, but these severe injuries can disrupt your finances, your personal relationships, and your everyday life, too. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be able to request noneconomic damages, also known as pain and suffering, if you file a truck accident lawsuit. These compensate you for all the things, besides money, that you lost as a result of the accident, such as your ability to play sports or to drive a car. Contact Gibbs & Fuerst LLP in Temecula, California to find out more about how to rebuild your life after a truck accident.

Our California Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

If you have been the victim of a crash, call our Temecula truck accident lawyers at Gibbs & Fuerst, LLP. We will conduct a full investigation to determine who was at fault for your crash and hold them liable for paying the compensation you deserve. After a crash, call us at (951) 816-3435 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.