Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys
Aggressive representation for clients injured in California commercial trucking accidents
Large commercial trucks – whether an 18-wheeler, an oil tanker, or a dump truck – dominate the highways. Maneuvering these massive vehicles is challenging, and even more so on busy California roads and freeways. It’s no surprise then at trucks contribute to a significant amount of accidents in Los Angeles and throughout the state.
Commercial truck drivers are professionals who are trained to handle these machines, but sometimes make mistakes like any other driver might. When a truck accident occurs because of the driver's negligence, there can be serious injuries and fatalities. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, our experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyers are here to represent our client’s interests and fight for compensation for their injuries. We have obtained millions of dollars on behalf of truck accident victims, including:
Request a Free Consultation Today
Quick Questions
- What are the different types of truck accidents in Los Angeles?
- What causes commercial truck accidents?
- What types of truck accident injuries are common in Los Angeles?
- What types of trucks are involved in Los Angeles truck accidents?
- Who can be held liable for truck accident injuries and property damage?
- What damages are available for truck accident injuries?
- How much time do I have to file my Los Angeles truck accident claim?
- How can your Los Angeles truck accident lawyers help with my claim?
- Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
What are the different types of truck accidents in Los Angeles?
Truck accidents happen in many different ways. Some of these ways are similar to car accidents. Other ways are unique to trucks. Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers represent victims and families involved in all types of truck accidents in Southern California, including:
- Head-on crashes
- Broadsides
- Rear-end collisions
- Intersection accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Rollovers
- Jackknives
- Wide Turn accidents
- Underride accidents
- Spilled or unsecured cargo
- Back-up accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Overpass accidents
We work with you, investigators, the police, and other people to determine how your truck accident happened and who is responsible.
What causes commercial truck accidents?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants because of their vulnerability while riding in a smaller vehicle. Trucks can weigh 20-30 times more than the average passenger vehicle and they have greater ground clearance. This can cause an underride collision, where the smaller vehicle goes underneath the much larger truck in a crash. Trucks also have a longer braking distance, even on dry pavement, which is greater when the road is icy or wet.
The US Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported the following truck accident data for 2020:
- 4,014 traffic fatalities in truck crashes
- 15% of those fatalities were truck occupants
- 68% were occupants of passenger vehicles and other vehicles
- 16% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists
Some of the factors that cause truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driver fatigue
- Inadequate training/experience
- Reckless/aggressive driving
- Defective trucking equipment
What types of truck accident injuries are common in Los Angeles?
Because of the massive size differential between a large commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, most of the injuries and fatalities in 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer accidents occur to occupants of passenger vehicles. While every truck accident injury is different, the following are some examples of more common injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury can range in severity from a mild concussion to a catastrophic injury. These cases can cause permanent disability and require ongoing medical care.
- Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis. A person who is totally paralyzed may not be able to return to his or her job and will require assistance with activities of daily living.
- Back and neck injuries such as slipped or ruptured discs, whiplash, and other painful conditions can cause temporary or permanent disability.
- Limb loss can occur if a vehicle occupant is not wearing a seatbelt and is ejected from the vehicle, if a passenger was hanging an arm out of the window, or riding with his or her feet resting on the dashboard.
- Burn injuries can occur if a fuel tank ruptures in the crash and ignites sparking a fire. Burn injuries can cause serious injuries, infections, disabilities, and may require ongoing medical care.
- Broken bones are a common injury after a truck accident. Skull fractures or broken collarbones, ribs, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, foot, or wrist can also occur.
- Internal organ damage such as a ruptured liver or spleen, damaged kidney, a punctured lung, and other injuries can cause internal bleeding, infection, and other complications.
Your Los Angeles truck accident lawyer’s job is to make sure that you receive compensation to cover your past, current and future medical expenses related to the accident, and all the other damages you deserve.
If you have lost a loved one due to truck driver negligence, our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers will make sure that you recover fair compensation for your loss.
What types of trucks are involved in Los Angeles truck accidents?
There are many types of large commercial trucks that can become involved in traffic accidents with passenger vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians causing serious injuries and death, including:
- Tractor-trailers
- Semi-trucks
- Big rigs
- Cargo trucks
- Construction vehicles
- Delivery trucks
- Fuel trucks
- Logging trucks
- Moving vans
- Dump trucks
- Tow trucks
Who can be held liable for truck accident injuries and property damage?
Large trucks such as semi-trucks, delivery trucks or construction vehicles are commercial vehicles. The company that owns them, and other related parties, all have insurance policies to protect their business interests. After a truck accident, there is an investigation to determine fault, and then some or all of these parties may be defendants in the truck accident claim:
- The truck driver
- The owner of the truck
- The owner of the cargo
- The truck's maintenance vendor
- The truck's manufacturer
- A broker that arranged to connect the shipper, the drivers, and the company receiving the shipment
With all these possible defendants, pursuing a truck accident claim can be complicated. Be sure to work with an experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyer who will fight for justice when your injury results from someone else's negligence.
What damages are available for truck accident injuries?
Before you can recover compensation in a truck accident claim, you must first prove the defendant's liability. Once you have proven which party is responsible for causing your injuries and property damage, you may be able to recover the following types of damages depending on the facts of your case:
- Medical expenses for past, current, and future medical care related to the injury
- Lost income from the time you missed at work while recuperating from your injury
- Disability for any permanent injuries from the accident
- Emotional distress
- Other losses related to the truck accident
- Wrongful death to compensate the heirs of the decedent for their losses
How much time do I have to file my Los Angeles truck accident claim?
Generally, you must file a truck accident claim within two years from the date of the accident. Some shorter time limits may apply. The best course of action is to contact our experienced Los Angles truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after the accident so we can explain your rights and aggressively pursue your claim.
How can your Los Angeles truck accident lawyers help with my claim?
After suffering a serious injury in a truck accident, consider making the smart decision to work with an experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyer to represent your injury claim. Before you can recover compensation, you will be required to prove that the accident was a result of negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the defective part, or whoever is found to be at fault.
To prove liability, we will investigate the scene of the truck crash, request a copy of the police report, interview the witnesses to the accident, and gather all of the required evidence. Our firm will use this information, along with your medical records, to develop a strong case. We will then work with the insurance companies involved and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. If we are unable to reach a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your case to trial.
Sustaining a serious truck accident injury can disrupt your life in many ways. If you are interested in pursuing compensation from the negligent party who caused the accident, the knowledgeable Los Angeles truck accident lawyers at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP are available to meet with you to discuss your case.
Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
We meet truck accident injury clients and families at our Los Angeles office located at 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400.
We also meet clients at their homes or healthcare facilities when necessary. Online video conversations are also possible.
We have a strong record of very successful settlements and verdicts.
Schedule a free consultation with our experienced LA truck accident attorneys today
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP offers aggressive representation to clients who have been injured in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence. If you were injured in a truck accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, our personal injury lawyers are ready to help. Call our Westwood office today or complete our contact form to learn more about how we may serve you.