Legal Help for People Hurt in Los Angeles County Truck Accidents

Legal Help After a Los Angeles Truck Crash

Truck crashes are devastating events that can cause long-lasting or even fatal injuries. In the blink of an eye, an everyday car journey turns into weeks in the hospital, constant calls from insurance adjusters, and medical bills that pile up while you cannot go back to work.

Although they're called "accidents," the truth is that these incidents are usually caused by a truck driver, commercial carrier, or a third party's negligence. If you're struggling after a Los Angeles truck accident, a California personal injury lawyer can take over your compensation claim while you focus on healing.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Common in LA County?

Los Angeles County is full of congested multilane roadways where truck accidents are common due to high speeds and traffic jams. Year after year, the city of Los Angeles accounts for nearly half of LA County's crashes. 

One stretch of 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita saw three truck crashes just hours apart: the first on a Thursday night when a semi-truck jackknifed and sprawled its trailer across the road, then early Friday morning when a fuel tanker collided with an SUV and spilled approximately 40 gallons of fuel onto the interchange between the 14 and 5 Freeways. While the crash investigation and rescue were underway, a box truck burst through the guardrail onto the accident site, causing further injuries. 

In just one month in 2022, truck crashes on LA County roads included:

• An underride collision with a semi-truck in Vernon that killed a driver and severely injured three passengers
• A semi-truck crash on the Southbound 5 Freeway in Burbank that Orange County firefighters responded to
• A tractor-trailer overturned onto a sedan on 405 Freeway in Orange County, causing a driver to be transported to a hospital via helicopter

Semi-Truck Crash Injuries Can Be Deadly

Traffic accidents injure tens of thousands of Californians every year, and the speed and weight of semis make these crashes particularly lethal. Drowsy driving, punishing schedules, and failure to upgrade or maintain vehicles place drivers and passengers in smaller cars at risk.

Drivers of heavy goods trucks can cause severe injuries that cost victims thousands of dollars in medical care and intensive rehabilitation therapy, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis
• Severe compound fractures
• Crushed limbs or amputation

Compensation You May Be Owed After a Truck Accident

The law allows victims to collect monetary damages for injuries and losses caused by another person's negligence. Truck accident claims are notoriously complicated because they involve federal carrier laws and commercial insurance policies. Since commercial insurance policies have higher policy limits, victims can potentially recover more for their losses.

However, commercial carriers have insurance agents and lawyers who fight to pay crash victims as little as possible. Your experienced truck crash attorney will work to establish negligence and recover compensation for:

• Medical bills. If you've been injured in a truck accident, you may have incurred significant medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation. These expenses can add up quickly, and if you're unable to work due to your injuries, you may have difficulty paying them.
• Lost wages. If you're unable to work due to your injuries, you may recover the wages you would have earned had you been able to work. This can be a significant amount of money, especially if you're out of work for an extended period of time.
• Future losses. If you suffered a life-changing injury in a crash, you may have ongoing medical appointments, need assistive devices, suffer a loss of independence, or require long-term nursing care. You might also be unable to earn any income due to your injuries, making it impossible to support yourself or your family.
• Wrongful death. If a loved one dies as a result of the accident, their family may be able to recover damages for their loss. This can include funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship.
• Pain and suffering. These are non-economic damages, which means they do not compensate a victim for a specific monetary amount. Instead, the jury assigns a value based on the victim's suffering, such as lost enjoyment of life, physical pain, forced lifestyle changes, and emotional distress.
• Punitive damages. Punitive damages punish the at-fault party for negligence and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. In most states, punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the at-fault party acted with malice or gross negligence.

What an LA County Truck Accident Lawyer Can Do for You

Due to the complexities of truck crash cases, it's vital that you never attempt to handle these claims on your own. An attorney's experience and protection can give you the edge you need to maximize your truck accident settlement. Our law firm has advocated for clients throughout LA County, helping them recover after a truck crash by:

• Identifying all parties who could potentially share fault for the accident
• Dealing with insurance agents on your behalf to make sure you aren't manipulated into accepting less than your claim merits
• Gathering video footage, witness testimonies, driver logs, repair and maintenance records, medical documentation, and other necessary evidence
• Hiring medical and crash reconstruction experts to prove negligence and demonstrate the full extent of your losses
• Placing a hold on your medical bills and negotiating a lower amount to settle outstanding medical costs
• Negotiating with the trucking company's insurer or attorney to get you a fair settlement
• Taking your case to trial if it's the best way to get you the compensation you deserve

If your truck accident happened in LA County, call Case Barnett Law for your free, confidential consultation. We can help you take on the truck driver and carrier who caused your suffering, and you won't owe us anything until your case is won.