Stockton Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck Accident Attorney in Stockton, CA

Semi truck on the freeway with box trailer.Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial trucks serve a valuable purpose in society, but they can also be extremely dangerous.  Unfortunately, passenger vehicles and other smaller motor vehicles have to share the roads and highways with these trucks. While most truck drivers are careful and experienced, occasionally, truck drivers, trucking companies, and other parties can fail to exercise the necessary care to prevent accidents. In these accidents, while it’s the fault of someone in the truck’s history, it’s the passengers in smaller vehicles that suffer the most, often requiring extensive medical care. 

Pursuing a claim after a truck accident can mean going up against large trucking companies with extensive resources and strong legal representation. At Setareh Law, we have the resources and experience to stand up against these companies and help our clients recover the compensation they are owed. We are ready to go to trial if necessary to ensure our clients obtain maximum compensation. 

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Stockton

Truck accidents are generally preventable and avoidable because they happen as a result of someone’s negligence. Some of the most common cause of truck accident consists of:

Truck Driver Negligence 

Many truck accidents are the result of truck driver negligence, meaning they failed to operate their vehicle with a reasonable degree of care to prevent causing harm. Truck driver negligence can look like:

  • Fatigued driving
  • Distracted driving 
  • Driving while intoxicated 
  • Impaired driving 
  • Performing illegal or unsafe maneuvers 

Truck drivers are responsible for operating their vehicles according to the legal standard of care. Truck drivers who fail to follow trucking and traffic violations have breached their legal duty of care and can be held liable for damages caused by the accident. 

Third-Party Driver Negligence 

Truck drivers are not the only ones on the road capable of performing dangerous maneuvers or choosing to violate traffic laws. Sometimes, truck accidents are the fault of another driver on the road. The third-parties actions cause another car or truck to swerve or perform a maneuver that leads to an accident. 

Vehicle Defects

People assume that their vehicles are safe, and that’s usually the case. However, negligence within the vehicle manufacturing process can lead to parts that don’t work the way they should, leading to accidents. Common types of defects that cause accidents include:

  • Tire tread separation issues
  • Blowouts
  • Brake issues

A defective part can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle and cause a serious collision. 

Cargo Shifts

Trucks carry cargo that’s essential to a business’s operations. It’s critical that cargo is properly loaded and secured so that it doesn’t shift around during transit. When cargo isn’t secured properly and shifts in transit, the truck’s entire trailer can sway, resulting in the truck tipping over, swerving, or otherwise maneuvering into a catastrophic accident.

Road Conditions

Poor road conditions are a significant risk to truckers. Poorly maintained road surfaces and other inadequate road conditions cause a truck driver to lose control, miss traffic signals, and other behaviors that can cause an accident. In these cases, local or even federal municipalities may be liable.

Common Injuries From Trucking Accidents

Commercial trucks weigh up to 20 times more than standard passenger cars, which means that smaller vehicles are colliding with an object that can be more than 20 times their weight. The sheer size and weight of the truck mean that the damage these collisions cause is substantial and often fatal. Common injuries suffered during truck accidents include:

Many of these injuries can result in life-long disabilities that permanently alter someone’s quality of life. These injuries can cross the threshold into catastrophic injuries, meaning that the injuries are so severe that they have a catastrophic effect on the person, their life, and their families. 

Why Truck Accident Claims in Stockton Can Be Complicated 

While victims of all serious motor vehicle accidents benefit greatly from working with an experienced attorney, truck accident claims can be especially difficult, requiring the skills and resources of a personal injury attorney. The complications arise not just because it means going up against large companies but also because of the number of damage victims can suffer. 

Liability in a truck accident claim is often difficult to determine because there are many layers of responsibility. Understanding liability in a truck accident means shuffling through all those layers, from the truck driver’s history to the trucking company, manufacturers, cargo loaders, and any other party that may have contributed to or caused the accident. 

Damages are greater in a truck accident because the injuries and losses individuals suffer are catastrophic. When dealing with catastrophic injuries, an attorney must be able to prove their catastrophic effects. Attorneys must be able to establish that these injuries have completely altered a person’s quality of life, often needing to bring in expert witnesses to help support your claim.

There Are Unaffiliated Parties Who Can Be Liable for Your Losses

There are parties unaffiliated with an independent contractor or even a truck driving agency who also may bear the fault for your roadside accident. Manufacturers who release a truck with inappropriate parts may be liable when that truck goes off the road. Mechanics who fail to repair visible damage can also take the blame for a truck’s mechanical failure.

Even truck packers can bear some responsibility for the safety of motorists on the road. Loaders who inefficiently pack a truck can force that truck to unbalance on the road. 

If you suspect any of these parties of causing your accident, you need to bring forward evidence. Our team can work with you to gather the essential information needed to establish your complaint within a civil court.

You Can Use a Civil Claim to Hold Liable Parties Accountable for Your Losses

If you want to hold any of the name liable parties responsible for your truck accident losses, you must identify that party in a civil complaint. Specifically, you need to bring forward evidence indicating that:

  • The named party was involved in the specific accident
  • The named party had a responsibility to keep you reasonably safe
  • The named party directly or indirectly violated that aforementioned responsibility
  • You suffered losses as a result of that oversight

You must also bring your claim forward within the timeline established by California’s civil court. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 limits your actionable time to two years from the day your accident occurs.

How a Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

A truck accident lawyer can help:

  • Investigate the accident
  • Speaking with insurance companies on your behalf
  • Dive into the truck driver’s history
  • Obtain the trucking company’s records
  • Consult expert witnesses regarding your injuries
  • Calculating your damages
  • Negotiating settlements

Working alongside an experienced and determined truck accident attorney is vital to building a strong claim that can help secure your right to compensation.

Speak With an Experienced Stockton Truck Accident Attorney Today

At Setareh Law, we have handled numerous truck accident claims and have a deep understanding of their devastating effects. Our legal team is equipped with the resources, skills, and desire to fight for your right to compensation, even if it means going to trial. We know that the consequences of these accidents are devastating, which is why we are proud to be able to provide exceptional legal representation to our clients, giving them the space to focus on their recovery and other personal matters. 

Contact our office today at (310) 659-1826 or complete our contact form. We also speak Spanish.

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