Torrance California Trucking Accident Lawyer

Big Rig/18-Wheeler Accidents in Torrance, CA

Within the past 2 decades, the number of commercial truck accidents has risen as more big rigs take to the streets. Though large trucks are responsible for a mere 3 percent of traffic accidents that cause injuries, they are naturally more severe when they do happen due to their massive weight and size.

Have You Been Involved In an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident in Torrance?

Commercial trucking accidents can be quite a bit more complex than a regular car accident. Both the driver and owner of the truck will generally be involved, and you will need to have some knowledge of the industry to fully understand the potential case. The knowledge of the common reasons for trucking accidents, relationships between those who have to do with the truck, load, and the trailer, will all be helpful in determining the validity of your claim and presentation of your case.

Laws Pertaining to Truck Accidents in Torrance, CA

The commercial trucking industry is mandated by federal regulations that establish a set of standards and can determine the liable party in a given trucking accident. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains most applicable regulations. Fortunately, by working with a firm like the Duque Law Group you can put years of expertise in your corner to understand your rights under the law.

Who Is Responsible?

There are a number of potential responsible parties in any truck accident. These include: the driver, the owner, whoever leased the truck from the owner, the manufacturer of the vehicle or any parts, shippers and loaders, etc.

Avoidance of Liability by Trucking Companies

In an attempt to distance themselves from the drivers, equipment, and vehicles in an attempt to avoid responsibility for these accidents, trucking companies have employed several measures to protect themselves. While they are the ones with the necessary permits to operate the vehicles, they often do not own the equipment that is used to haul the load. They also hire drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. These practices enable them to shift the blame over to the people who owned the truck and who were driving them.

Fortunately for the rest of us, federal regulations have made it so that any company who owns a trucking permit is liable for any accident that involves a truck with its name or placard on the vehicle.

Accident victims historically had to rely on witness statements and police reports to understand the specifics of an accident. Now, data from high tech devices and information from government agencies are also available for greater understanding.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Torrance

The most common causes of truck accidents are driver error, mechanical failures, road design, weather conditions, and traffic signal failures.

• Driver Error

According to FMCSA, approximately 88% of trucking accidents are caused by driver error. These accidents are caused by a driver’s action or failure to take action. The most frequent way that this happens is through driver fatigue and sleep deprivation.

• Mechanical Problems

The second most common cause of commercial truck-related accidents is mechanical and equipment issues. These can be design errors in the vehicles, manufacturing mistakes, or some other issue that interferes with the truck running smoothly. The majority of mechanical causes of these accidents are a result of a failure to maintain the equipment properly. These can include the following: jackknifing of a truck which is caused by the depowering or removing of the front brakes, failure of the brakes as a result of inadequate adjustments, blowouts of the tires because of wear and tear, truck rollover because of improper securing of the load distribution, defective steering, transmission failure, incorrect trailer attachment, defective lighting on the rears or sides of vehicles, and many more.

Getting Legal Help in Torrance, California

If you have had the misfortune of being in a truck accident, you will find it can be quite daunting to tackle alone since there are so many individuals involved. It can be quite difficult to navigate through the events and responsible parties without the help of someone who is knowledgeable and skilled with trucking law. If you have been injured in a truck accident in the state of California, the Duque Law Group has the expertise and experience to be able to help you figure out who exactly is responsible so that you can proceed with a strong case and get the reparations that you deserve for your suffering. You will want a personal injury attorney to help you in your case after a truck accident, and the Duque Law Group is here to help you.

Contact our Torrance Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.

FAQs About Your Truck Accident Claim

After getting into a truck accident, you should check yourself for injuries and ask for medical care. Call the police, and either wait for them to tell you to move the vehicle or do it yourself if you safely can.

When law enforcement gets to the scene, they’ll generate a police report and help you both exchange information.

It’s wise to take pictures of the accident scene, including road signs, conditions, truck safety violations, and more. This can be crucial for the truck accident attorney. Torrance residents want to do everything they can to ensure that they get compensation for the truck accident claim.

It’s difficult to provide settlement amounts for your average Torrance truck accidents. Cases vary significantly, and the compensation you deserve will depend on whether you have lasting injuries, medical bills, and many other factors.

Generally, settlements can be a few thousand dollars to millions. It’s best to work with a Torrance truck accident attorney from The Law Offices of Brent A. Duque. We value your case and work hard for truck accident victims to get them the maximum compensation they deserve.

Only you can choose whether it’s wise to hire a Torrance truck accident lawyer. It’s not mandatory, but a skilled and experienced attorney could maximize the settlement you get and help you through recovery.

Torrance truck accident attorneys from The Law Offices of Brent A. Duque have years of experience identifying safety violations and negotiating with third parties. Therefore, we are the top choice when evaluating appropriate settlement amounts.

Overall, someone has to go to bat for you and hold the truck driver responsible. Your Torrance truck accident attorney is there to help and offers legal assistance to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. Therefore, you pay only if you win your case against the insurance company, truck drivers, and trucking company. That’s exactly what you get when you choose us to handle your truck accident lawsuit.

We ask that you fill out our online form to request a free case evaluation from a truck accident lawyer in our network. Then, we’ll reach out to you and listen to your story. If we feel that you have a case, our Torrance truck accident lawyers will work together to collect information about your medical bills and the accident.

When the medical bills are in, and we have photographs of the accident scene, your truck accident lawyer will assemble the case and file the claim with the other party’s insurance company. Typically, we handle settlements, but we can go to court if necessary!

Usually, a personal injury case will get settled in 1.5 years, though each truck crash is different. Therefore, truck accident claims could be more complicated because we must communicate with the trucking company and the insurance company. Regardless, we will be with you each step of the way and will help you fight the commercial truck driver and other parties involved.

Once the case is closed, we will deduct our payment and any other outstanding payments and provide you with your settlement. It’s our job to fight for you against truck drivers and anyone else who could be held responsible, and we make sure to do it correctly!

Victims can sustain various physical injuries after being in a truck accident. This depends on the severity of the crash and the type of truck and could include:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Amputation
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back or neck injuries
• Head injuries
• Brain injuries

It’s crucial to seek medical attention regardless of the expenses you might acquire. The goal is to heal sufficiently to be prepared mentally and physically for the case ahead. We will help you fight for your rights to compensation from the negligent parties involved!

Though the truck driver is often responsible for the accident, there could be other parties involved, as well. It’s crucial to work with an attorney to investigate and ensure that you get full compensation for your injuries. California law states that you can hold these parties liable:

• Truck Drivers – If the truck driver was careless and caused the crash, you can seek legal action against them. Common causes of irresponsibility include fatigue, speeding, and driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
• Truck Manufacturer – The truck manufacturer could be held liable for the crash if there were malfunctions, including faulty steering systems, brake failures, and defective hitches.
• Truck Company – The trucking company might be liable if we can prove that they hired negligent drivers or allowed trucks on the road that weren’t fully maintained correctly.
• Truck Operators/Owners – Sometimes, the truck driver is the owner/operator and leases it to the company. If that’s the case, we can go after them in many crashes.
• Cargo Loaders – Too much cargo or items that are improperly loaded could impair the driver; they might be unable to retain control and suffer a rollover or jackknife. The cargo company could be to blame.

Torrance truck accident attorneys can help victims get compensation for these things:

• Punitive damages
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earning capacity
• Lost wages
• Current, past, and future medical expenses
• Additional expenses caused solely by the accident

Truck accidents happen for many reasons, including driver fatigue, speeding, driving recklessly, and driving under the influence.