Truck Accident Lawyer

Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers and Attorneys Who Will Advocate for You

Although any vehicle collision can have devastating consequences, accidents involving large trucks can be particularly deadly. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,005 fatalities in 2019 from accidents involving large trucks, which the agency defines as any medium or heavy truck weighing over 10,000 pounds. Considering that 71% of those fatalities were occupants of other vehicles, combined with the fact that 81% of fatal truck crashes involve multiple vehicles, it is easy to see why trucking accident cases are often very complex.

Given the complicated nature of truck accident cases, it is vital that you contact a skilled attorney as soon as possible after your accident. At Carpenter & Zuckerman, our experienced truck accident lawyers have been advocating on behalf of truck crash victims for over 25 years. We have the legal knowledge and resources to advocate on your behalf, and we will fight tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today for a FREE consultation!

 Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?

Determining liability in a trucking accident is often much more complicated and challenging than it is in a car accident. Due to the nature of the commercial trucking industry, there are frequently multiple parties that can be held liable for a crash, including the following:

Truck Driver

A truck driver may be held liable if they caused the accident due to driver error, intoxicated driving, or distracted driving.

Trucking Company

As a general rule of law, if the truck driver’s negligence caused the accident, then the truck driver’s employer can be held liable. A trucking company can also be saddled with liability in the event they failed to regularly inspect and maintain the truck, if they overscheduled the driver, or if they failed to provide the necessary driver training.

Truck Manufacturer

Based on the stream-of-commerce approach to product liability, the manufacturer of a defective truck or truck part can be held liable for your injuries if that truck or truck part was unsafe and caused the accident. 

Government Entity

A city, county, or state may be held liable for your injuries if they failed to properly maintain or repair the road where your accident took place, and their negligence contributed to your accident.

As with any accident, it is common for insurance companies to try to shift the blame onto the victim, in an attempt to protect their financial assets. In the case of a truck accident, this stressful dynamic can be compounded by the trucking company also trying to place the blame on you. For this reason, it is vital that you retain a lawyer who is well-versed in handling truck accident cases. Your attorney can investigate the cause of the accident while shielding you from the often manipulative tactics insurance and trucking companies use to evade liability. 

Common Truck Crash Injuries

Accidents involving large trucks often result in more serious injuries than accidents involving passenger vehicles only.  With a standard four-door passenger vehicle weighing between 2,500 and 4,000 pounds, a large truck weighing a minimum of 10,000 pounds, and an 18-wheeler weighing nearly 80,000 pounds, it is easy to see why truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Common truck accident injuries include the following:

Broken Bones

Due to the sheer force of impact in a truck accident, fractured or broken bones (especially in the legs, arms, or chest) are an extremely common injury in these cases.

Spine Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be life-altering and are often devastating to accident victims. They typically result in prolonged hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and severe limitations on a victim’s ability to work.  

Spine injuries can be complete, in which case the spinal cord is compressed or severed, resulting in a loss of sensation or movement below the point of the injury; or incomplete, in which case the spinal cord is partially compressed or severed, with the victim retaining some level of sensation or movement. Traffic accidents are responsible for approximately 35% of all new spinal cord injuries in the United States annually.   

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when a person’s head is subjected to sudden trauma or force, such as when a truck accident victim strikes their head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. The resulting TBI can range in severity from mild to moderate or severe. TBI can cause short-term and long-term symptoms such as headaches, nausea or vomiting, problems with speech, memory issues, mood changes, depression, difficulty sleeping, comas, and more.

Abdominal Injuries

During a truck crash, victims can sustain two types of abdominal injuries: blunt force or penetrating. Blunt force abdominal injury results from an object impacting the abdomen, such as a seatbelt, steering wheel, or airbag. Blunt force trauma to the abdomen can damage internal organs. Penetrating abdominal injuries break the skin and can result in significant blood loss and organ damage.

Did You Sustain Injuries in a Trucking Accident? Contact Our Lawyers Today!

Given the complex  nature  of most truck accident cases, which often involve multiple vehicles and insurance companies, retaining a highly experienced truck accident lawyer is essential. A skilled attorney at the law firm of Carpenter & Zuckerman can guide you through the legal process to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible, given the details of your particular case. If you sustained injuries in a trucking accident, contact CZ Law today. 

Our experienced truck accident lawyers have offices in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Orange County (Garden Grove), Irvine, San Diego, Bakersfield, and Las Vegas. We proudly represent clients throughout California, as well as other states.

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The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Carpenter & Zuckerman harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information. For more information, view our full disclaimer.