San Diego Truck Accident Attorney

Trucking Industry Regulated by State and Federal Laws

Both state and federal laws regulate all aspects of the trucking industry. 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.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) provide oversight for truckers on the federal level. These two agencies also ensure truckers abide by all of the risks and driving regulations.

Truck Companies Must Follow Certain Insurance Requirements 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that all trucks traveling intrastate must have public liability insurance that includes coverage for both bodily injury and property damage. Additionally, California state law requires 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.  

It is important for interstate truck drivers to have Public Liability Insurance because it adds an additional layer of protection for themselves and other drivers when involved in an accident. The Bodily Injury portion of the liability insurance pays for all costs associated with bodily injuries suffered by the victims in the truck accident. The Property Damage portion, on the other hand, pays for repairs to other party’s property damage.

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 Truck Accidents

Any type of accident can result in injuries and damages. However, collisions involving a truck can be even more serious and more often involve a fatality. Although as a motorist you cannot control the actions of a trucker in the hopes of avoiding an accident, you can reduce the likelihood of an accident if you are aware of the common causes of a truck accident.

Car accidents involving a semi- or tractor-trailer truck commonly occur as a result of the following reasons: 

• 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, you should immediately consult with an experienced San Diego 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 Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

When a large commercial truck or semi-truck crashes into a smaller passenger vehicle, it will no doubt injure the occupants in the smaller vehicle. Trucks can weigh more than 20 to 30 times as much as motor vehicles and are taller with greater ground clearance. The massive size difference of trucks can cause smaller passenger motor vehicles to easily get stuck under the truck or get crushed in even the slightest impact, resulting in serious or fatal injuries.  

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. 

Holding All Parties Liable in a Truck Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving any type of truck, more than one party may be legally responsible for your injuries and damages. Our San Diego 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 

Types of Truck Accident Compensation  

There are basically two types of damages available to truck accident victims: economic and non-economic. In order to get the maximum compensation you deserve for both types of damages, your San Diego truck accident attorney must prove the damages. 

Below are some common types of compensation available to truck accident victims:

• 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

You Need to Hire an Experienced San Diego Truck Accident Attorney

Hiring an experienced San Diego truck accident lawyer is one of the most important steps to take after an accident, especially when it involves a commercial truck. Insurance carriers train their adjusters to take every step possible to minimize the value of your truck accident claim and pay out as little 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 San Diego 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 San Diego truck accident attorney or you can fill out our free consultation form.