Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries to the occupants of smaller vehicles. When the trucker or their employer contributes to the crash, accident victims could pursue the company for compensation. In many cases, others could also be liable for the wreck.

Truck accident claims are more complex than standard car accident claims. Working with a skilled legal professional helps ensure your rights are protected throughout every step of the process.

Contact a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer immediately after the collision whenever possible. Our team could investigate the accident and hold everyone whose carelessness or recklessness contributed to the incident accountable.

The Role of Negligence in Truck Accidents

Filing a personal injury case requires you to prove the other party was negligent, meaning they failed to use reasonable care, thereby causing you harm. When a truck is involved, the attorney for the injured person must still prove negligence, however the standard is different.

Truck drivers and transportation companies are held to a higher standard of care—not just reasonable care—to protect others using the roads.

Almost any deviation from best practices could be evidence that a trucking company or a truck driver was negligent. For example, truck drivers must adhere to the federal government’s strict working and rest hour requirements. If the driver did not take breaks as required or drove too many hours in a week, the violation is evidence of negligence.

Truck accidents often occur because a driver was distracted or going too fast for conditions. Sometimes, overloading or an unbalanced load causes the weight in the trailer to shift and leads to an accident.

Additionally, driver inexperience and unreasonable delivery schedules are often contributing factors in truck accidents. All of these are examples of negligence.

Identifying Responsible Parties in a Semi-Truck Crash Is Challenging

At times, truck accident claims can be more complex when multiple parties are involved. Bringing claims against multiple people requires the careful attention to communicate with multiple parties to ensure plaintiff’s interests are protected.

Besides the truck driver and trucking company, other third parties might be liable for the accident, depending on the circumstances.

To illustrate, when load shift or overloading was a factor, an injured person could bring a claim against the company that loaded the trailer. If a mechanical problem with the truck caused the accident, the manufacturer of the component could be held liable.

Suing a Government Entity

Road conditions also often contribute to truck accidents. If poor road design or maintenance contributed to the crash, an injured person could claim compensation from the local government responsible for the road.

However, they must act quickly because California Government Code §911.2 requires an injured person to file a notice of claim with the local government within six months of the accident.

An experienced truck accident lawyer in Bakersfield could review the evidence to determine who should be held liable and take action to ensure all legal deadlines are met.

Obtaining Appropriate Compensation After a Truck Wreck

Injuries from truck accidents are often severe, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, burns, multiple broken bones, amputations, and even paralysis.

Future Medical Expenses

A motorist might require extensive medical intervention and could be permanently disabled. Obtaining reasonable compensation is essential to ensure they receive the treatment and ongoing support they need to have the best quality of life possible after the crash.

Sending a Demand Letter For Compensation

Once a Bakersfield attorney has completed their investigation of the commercial truck wreck and identified potentially responsible parties, they send a letter to insurers demanding compensation for the injured person’s losses.

The insurer typically responds with a counteroffer, and negotiations proceed. When there are multiple potentially responsible parties, they will also negotiate to apportion responsibility between themselves.

Reaching a Settlement Agreement

Usually, the parties eventually reach an acceptable settlement agreement that compensates the victim’s out-of-pocket costs, including injury-related medical care they will require in the future.

The settlement should also cover the victim’s lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, and compensate them for their pain and suffering. When a party does not make a reasonable offer or does not negotiate in good faith, the injured person can pursue them in court.

Pursue Compensation After a Truck Accident With a Bakersfield Attorney

Truck accidents often result in painful, debilitating injuries. A Bakersfield truck accident lawyer could give you the help you need to pursue compensation for the harm you have experienced. Get started today.

Call CD Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our team is available at all times and is ready to assist you.