Riverside Truck Accident Attorney
As you travel the roads of Riverside, it is impossible not to encounter at least one type of large commercial truck sharing the road with you. Although these types of trucks are essential parts of our economy and many of the truckers prioritize safety, there are some who focus more on profit and deadlines than they do be careful of other drivers and vehicles on the road. When negligence becomes a factor with truckers, it will often involve a serious accident and devastating injuries. The massive size of trucks and the speeds at which they travel can be a recipe for disaster, especially when involved in a crash with a passenger vehicle.
When you are involved in any type of truck accident that was not your fault, it is important that you have an experienced Riverside truck accident attorney review your case and determine how the trucking company and truck driver’s negligence led to your accident. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas are dedicated to protecting your legal rights and working hard to get you the maximum compensation that you are entitled to.
Regulation of the Trucking Industry
The trucking industry is valued at $726 billion as of February 2019. It moves more than 71 percent of the goods in the country. Not surprisingly, such a large industry is regulated by both state and federal laws to ensure all parties work by the rules. Trucks operating within the state of California are regulated by state laws. However, if a truck is traveling interstate delivering goods or services, they are governed by the federal government’s regulations.
At the federal level, the trucking industry is regulated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA). Both agencies work together to ensure truckers abide by the risks and driving regulations.
Truck Companies Must Follow Certain Insurance Requirements
The FMCSA requires all trucks traveling intrastate to carry public liability insurance that includes coverage for both bodily injury and property damage. In addition, at the state level, California state law also mandates local truck drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. The specific amount of this additional insurance coverage depends on the type of truck driven and the load it carries.
Most truck insurance coverage policies generally have a higher limit for both the bodily injury portion and the property damage. The reason is that accidents involving trucks, especially larger commercial vehicles and big rigs, can cause serious property damage and result in tragic bodily injuries.
The legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas will investigate the facts of your case and make sure you get the full compensation that you deserve from the trucking company and their insurance carrier for the injuries you have suffered.
Common Causes of Riverside Truck Accidents
Crashes involving any type of truck, especially large commercial trucks and big rigs, can cause extensive property damage and serious or even fatal injuries. Although motorists can take every precaution to avoid a collision with a truck, some accidents are unavoidable.
Below are some common causes on Riverside truck accidents:
- Rollovers
- Blind spot accidents
- Swinging turns
- Tire blowout/bald tires
- Overloaded cargo
- Falling debris
- Inadequate training
- Unrealistic schedules and expectations of trucking companies
Regardless of what caused your truck accident, it is important to immediately call an experienced Riverside truck accident attorney to protect your legal rights. The legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas will fight for you and ensure that all parties responsible for the collision pay for your damages and resulting injuries.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
When a large truck crashes into a smaller passenger vehicle, it will no doubt cause significant injuries to the occupants in the smaller vehicle. The massive size and weight and higher clearance of a truck can wreak havoc on the smaller vehicle in collides into, causing the car to easily get stuck under the truck or get crushed in even the slightest impact. The resulting force of impact can seriously injure the passengers of the smaller car.
Below are some common types of truck accident injuries:
- Open and closed head injuries, such as traumatic brain injury and concussion
- Broken bones
- Lacerations, cuts, and bruises
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- whiplash
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
It can take days or even weeks for certain symptoms of truck accident injuries to appear. To mitigate the severity of your injuries, it is important to seek medical care after your truck accident. The legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas can help set you up with a medical provider in your immediate area, even if you do not have health insurance.
Who May Be Liable in a Truck Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a truck, more than one party may be legally responsible for your injuries and damages. Our Riverside truck accident attorneys will investigate the facts surrounding your accident to make sure all liable parties are held accountable. Liable parties can include:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Owner of the truck
- Company leasing the truck
- Company leasing the trailer
- The shipper that requested for the load to be transported
- The manufacturer or the truck, trailer, or parts
- The government entity maintaining the road where the accident occurred
Receiving Maximum Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injuries
You may be entitled to two different types of damages after a truck accident: economic and non-economic. In order to get the maximum compensation you deserve for both types of damages, your Riverside truck accident attorney has to first prove the full extent of your damages.
Some common types of money damages available to truck accident victims include:
- Medical expenses – including past and future medical costs
- Loss of wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages – such as emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
- Wrongful death damages – including both economic damages (funeral and burial expenses) and non-economic damages (loss of companionship and loss of consortium) may be a part of a wrongful death claim
Hire an Experienced Riverside Truck Accident Attorney
Hiring an experienced Riverside truck accident attorney is one of the most important steps to you should take after an accident, especially when it involves a commercial truck. Insurance adjusters are trained to take every step possible to pay out as little as possible on accident claims and to process and close them as quickly as possible. They especially target truck accident victims who are not represented by an attorney and are trying to settle their claim on their own.
At the Law Offices of Samer Habbas, our legal team will work hard to help our injured truck accident victims receive the maximum compensation they deserve. We have the experience, knowledge, and dedication to hold all parties responsible for your truck crash and seek the full compensation that you deserve.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas. Our Riverside truck accident attorneys specialize in handling truck accident cases and have the experience to help you recover your lost wages, medical expenses, and any other costs associated with your accident. We will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure that you are rightfully compensated for your injuries.
Please call us at 1-949-873-0755 to discuss your case with an expert Riverside truck accident attorney or you can fill out our free consultation form.