Downey Truck Accident Lawyer

Our Downey Truck Accident Attorneys Are Here To Help

Truck accidents are devastating. While large commercial trucks perform crucial social services (such as transporting goods), their large size and weight can be the reason that someone loses a loved one or develops a disability that completely alters their quality of life. There are many federal and state regulations in place to keep people safe. However, the problem occurs when people and companies fail to follow those regulations.

No monetary value can compensate for the pain you’ve suffered in a truck accident. However, at Setareh Law, we fight to ensure our clients get the maximum value for their claims. Even though money won’t change the past, it can help victims move forward and eliminate financial stress. The experienced truck accident lawyers at Setareh Law won’t be intimidated by large truck companies. We are committed to helping our clients hold liable parties accountable, regardless of how untouchable an adversary believes they are.

5 Ways Truck Accident Claims Are Different from Standard Car Accident Claims

When pursuing compensation through a truck accident claim, it’s important to understand that it’s different from a standard car accident claim. Truck accident claims are often more complex, with higher values of compensation due to the severe damage that trucks can cause. Five major differences between truck and car accident claims are described below.

1. Higher Risk of Severe and Debilitating Injuries

Drivers and passengers inside a motor vehicle, motorcycle riders, pedestrians, and bicycle riders who collide with a truck have little to no protection from the massive force of a large commercial truck. Due to the sheer size and weight that they’re crashing with, they are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or death. These injuries may permanently debilitate a person who may not have previously had a disability.

2. Federal Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates truck drivers and trucking companies. These regulations include:

• House of service: Truck drivers are only permitted to drive a certain number of hours during the work week and must take rest breaks to prevent drowsy driving. Truck drivers’ drowsiness can have dire consequences.
• Qualifications: Truck companies must ensure that they’re hiring qualified drivers who are properly licensed, but this doesn’t always happen as it should.
• Certifications: Truck drivers must pass a medical exam and obtain a medical certification verifying that they’re medically fit to drive a truck. This certification must be renewed every two years.
• Inspections and maintenance: Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to inspect the trucks before, during, and after trips to maintain and repair them regularly. Sometimes to cut costs, truck companies fail to inspect and maintain their trucks properly.

Truck accidents are often the result of either the trucker or the company violating these regulations.

3. Multiple Liable Parties

In most standard car accidents, there are only two motorists, which means there’s only one at-fault party. Determining fault in a truck accident is more complicated. When a truck accident occurs, there’s the real possibility that more than one factor contributed to the collision and that multiple parties could be liable. Potentially liable parties include:

• Truck drivers: Speeding, drunk driving, driving while fatigued, distracted driving, and failing to obey traffic laws are just a few of the negligent actions of truck drivers that contribute to truck accidents.
• Trucking companies: Truck companies may be liable if they failed to maintain the truck, negligently hired the truck driver, violated the hours of services rule, or engaged in other negligent actions.
• Tractor or trailer owners: If a separate company owns the truck’s tractor or trailer, they can face liability if their lack of maintenance caused the accident.
• Truck maintenance facilities: Trucking companies can hire a truck maintenance facility to perform maintenance and repairs. If a repair and maintenance issue contributed to the accident, they can be held liable.
• The shipper or loader: Trucks may be loaded and unloaded by a shipper or other third-party loaders. If the accident is the result of failure due to loading or secure cargo issues, they may be liable for the accident.
• Truck and parts manufacturers: Truck and parts manufacturers may be liable if a defective part causes the trucker to lose control and cause a collision.

It’s important to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer to ensure that all liable parties face the consequences for their negligence.

4. More Extensive Investigation

As mentioned above, in a truck accident claim, multiple parties may be liable. A thorough investigation is needed to ensure that all liable parties are held accountable. However, uncovering their contributory negligence can be challenging without the proper resources and skills. While it’s always better to have a lawyer on your side in a standard car accident, it’s especially important when dealing with a truck accident claim.

5. The Potential for More Compensation

Truck accident victims often suffer more long-term injuries than in standard car accidents. Therefore, the amount of past and future compensation that they’re entitled to will be higher than in a standard car accident claim. Unfortunately, insurance companies will fight harder and longer to deny these claims or undervalue a claim. It’s necessary to have an attorney who can stand up for your right to maximum compensation.

Injured in a Downey Truck Accident? Contact Setareh Law Today

Truck accident claims are complicated, and insurance companies take advantage of the chaos to deny and undervalue claims. Protect your right to fair compensation by contacting Setareh Law’s English and Spanish-speaking lawyers today. We know how challenging these cases can be and are ready to go the extra mile to ensure our clients get the most out of their claims.

When you work with Setareh Law, you benefit from our expertise, resources, and our commitment to helping our clients. Schedule a consultation today through our online contact form or by calling (310) 659-1826.