Truck Accident Lawyer West Hollywood, CA
As a truck accident lawyer West Hollywood, CA community members rely on from Seber Bulger Law knows, there are many things to consider when assessing who is at fault for a truck accident. Such factors can include things like a driver operating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving behavior, weather conditions, texting and driving, defective parts, and more. When a multi-vehicle accident happens with a commercial truck, there may be one or more drivers who share liability. The difficulty with truck accidents that involve multiple vehicles is that everyone is pointing the finger at someone else. By consulting with a member of our legal team, we can investigate and decide who is at fault for you.
Truck accidents happen more frequently than people think. If you are injured in an accident like this and it was due to someone else’s negligence, then you may have the right to file a personal injury claim. For accidents that involve many vehicles, there are so many potential contributing factors that making a conclusion for fault is challenging. In fact, insurance companies may deny a claim with multiple vehicles because it can be that complicated to determine who caused the incident in the first place. If you have been injured in a truck accident and there are several other drivers involved, then you have to obtain as much evidence as you can and gather information from each driver. Before leaving the scene, as a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer would advise, you will need to have:
- Called 911 so an ambulance and officer can help
- Taken pictures of damage to all vehicles
- Taken pictures of your visible injuries
- Captured video of the entire scene
- Gathered name, contact, and insurance details from each driver
- The name and badge ID number of the officer who wrote the police report
- Asked witnesses for their name and contact for a later statement
Because of how complex multiple truck accidents can be, it will be important to have as much evidence as possible. Photographs of the scene of a crash and its surroundings can help establish where the vehicles collided, the road and weather conditions, debris in the road, and other factors. Your verbal statement about what happened is going to be helpful, but it is harder to dispute visual evidence. Unless you were rushed to the hospital for critical injuries, be sure to stay at the scene and fully capture the area before it gets cleaned up.
Common Misconceptions About Truck Accidents
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, it is important to speak with a truck accident lawyer West Hollywood, CA residents trust. You may be entitled to compensation. However, you might have heard various untruths about truck accidents. It is essential to have accurate information.
Here are some common misconceptions about truck accidents that you should not believe.
- Truck drivers sustain as serious injuries as other victims. While truck drivers can get injured in a truck accident, their injuries typically are not as severe as passenger vehicle occupants. Truck drivers are better protected by their large and sturdy vehicles, so they are less likely to suffer catastrophic injuries.
- Truck drivers are always responsible for accidents. It’s frequently assumed that truck drivers are always at-fault for accidents. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes drivers of passenger vehicles can cause accidents with commercial trucks due to speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving.
- Truck drivers have to follow the same traffic laws as other motorists. Truck drivers are held to a higher standard than other drivers. They have to follow stricter traffic laws than other motorists. For instance, truck drivers may have to drive slower than drivers of passenger vehicles in certain areas.
- Truck drivers are the only liable party in an accident. In some situations, the truck drivers may be the only responsible party in an accident. Other times, however, other parties may be to blame too. As a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer can attest, other liable parties may include the trucking company, truck manufacturer and the owner of the cargo. For example, if the accident occurred because the trucker driver was drowsy from driving too many hours, the trucking company can be held responsible.
- Breaks are strictly enforced for truck drivers. Federal regulations prohibit truck drivers from driving too many hours without a break. Unfortunately, however, not all truck drivers follow this rule and trucking companies do not strictly enforce it either. In fact, many trucking companies pressure their drivers to deliver goods on strict deadlines, which may force some truckers to work overtime.
- The insurance company will fairly compensate you. While it would be nice if this were true, it is usually not the case. Insurance companies care about the bottom line first and may try to offer you less money than you deserve. That’s why you should never provide a statement to the insurance company if they try to contact you. Politely tell them to direct their questions to your lawyer instead.
- Hiring a truck accident lawyer is too expensive. Unfortunately, some accident victims shy away from hiring a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer because they assume they can’t afford one. However, the majority of these lawyers work on a contingency basis, so they only get paid if they win their client’s cases. Therefore, you will not have to worry about owing your lawyer any money upfront.
We understand the stress that a truck accident can cause, especially when there are several vehicles involved. Let us come to your aid and protect you from insurance companies who may try to deny your claim altogether. Reach out to a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer at Seber Bulger Law today for the help you need.