Encino Truck Accident Attorneys

There are thousands of motor vehicle accidents throughout California every year. In most truck accident cases, these incidents are minor. However, the involvement of a big truck dramatically increases the risk of serious injuries. Large trucks are essential for our state and national economy.

However, their widespread use does not come without problems. If you or a loved one have been injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer, it’s important for you to understand your legal rights. An Encino truck accident lawyer can help in this endeavor.

At V&A Law Firm, our team of Encino truck accident attorneys is here to help. We understand the difficulties that often follow a big rig collision. From lost wages and medical costs to property damage and wrongful death, the severity of these consequences cannot be overstated. However, it is possible to recover damages.

An Encino truck accident attorney can review your case and help you better understand your options. And since V&A Law Firm offers free consultations, you have nothing to lose by reaching out today.

Are You Entitled To Financial Compensation in a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents involving commercial trucks can cause serious harm. Since the average pickup truck experienced a 24% increase in weight and an 11% increase in height between 2000 and 2018, this is now true even for large passenger trucks.

However, the potentially dangerous nature of large trucks does not mean someone is entitled to seek maximum compensation. Even when a semi truck accidents occurs, and injuries result, there’s no guarantee that financial recovery will take place. That’s because three elements are required to prove liability. These include:

Duty of care: All truck drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles in a non-dangerous manner and follow appropriate safety regulations.
Violation of duty: A trucker who fails to exercise a duty of care creates dangers on the road (e.g., running red lights, drinking and driving, etc.).
Resulting damages: If a duty of care violation occurs and directly leads to injuries or loss, liability likely exists.

Of course, it’s important to note that the truck drivers of commercial vehicles are not always at fault. Later on this page, we’ll discuss situations where injury victims contributed to their own truck accidents. However, there are others who could be at fault as well.

These include trucking companies, truck technicians, local agencies, other drivers, and even privately owned businesses that serve alcohol to truck drivers. Clearly, liability is complex. That’s why you should speak with an Encino, CA, truck accident lawyer today.

What Are Common Causes Of Commercial Truck Accidents?

At V&A Law Firm, we’ve seen an array of truck accidents in Encino claims over the years. The causes of these accidents often play a significant role in the final outcome of a truck accident case. That’s because the underlying cause typically gives us a clue regarding who is at fault.

This information will also significantly affect whether you can reach a settlement in your insurance truck accident claim or have to go to court. In either situation, our law firm can assist and work for the best outcome on your behalf.

During this process, we’ll need to identify all potential causes of truck accidents. These common causes of truck accidents include:

Truck driver error
Equipment failure
Truck driver fatigue
Distracted driving
Road rage
Failure to follow FMCSA regulations
Improper maintenance
Uneven cargo
Inclement weather
Driving under the influence
Defective equipment

Clearly, there is no shortage of issues that can lead to truck accident injuries. If you or a loved one have found yourself in such a situation, it’s important that you seek assistance with your personal injury case. Insurers will try their best to have you accept a low settlement offer.

When you have a legal professional on your side, though, they’re less likely to attempt such tactics. And if an adjuster is unwilling to treat you fairly, the legal team at V&A Law Firm has the trial experience to hold them accountable.

What If You’re Partially At Fault For Your Injury?

As any experienced Encino truck accident lawyer can tell you, a large truck accident case can be complicated. After all, it’s not always the case that the big rig driver is entirely at fault. There are often levels of liability, and in some cases, this means that accident victims contributed to their own injuries.

In fact, statistics show that 80% of these collisions are caused by passenger vehicles. This means that — if a commercial truck accident occurs on California streets — there’s a good chance that the passenger vehicle driver shares fault.

However, this does not mean that you’re not entitled to compensation. California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that accident victims can recover financial compensation even if they are partially at fault for their own injuries.

In fact, they can be up to 99% at fault for an incident — and the courts will still allow them to seek compensation for the 1% of fault shared by the truck driver. In accidents as severe as those involving big rigs, even 1% can be a significant amount of money.

This is why no one should make assumptions about whether they’re entitled to compensation. Instead, make sure you fully understand your rights under California law. Contact our Encino truck accident lawyer today.

What If The Insurance Company Offers A Settlement?

When someone is injured in an accident involving a large truck, there’s a good chance they’ll hear from an insurance company relatively quickly. That’s because these companies have a vested interest in getting these cases taken care of quickly.

After all, it often takes months or even years before the detrimental results of an accident become fully clear. Getting a case closed before this happens can prove invaluable. So yes, there’s a solid chance you’ll receive a settlement offer after sustaining an injury.

However, this doesn’t mean that the offer is made in good faith. Insurance providers are companies, and this means they need to profit. Paying out large settlements to injury victims is not conducive to this goal.

And suppose you accept an offer without speaking with an attorney. In that case, you can rest assured that the settlement won’t account for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, and other intangible losses.

Even worse, you could end up with financial losses that aren’t covered. A trucking company isn’t concerned about whether you’re able to get back to work or if unexpected related medical expenses arise. As such, their insurers aren’t very concerned either.

That’s why you need a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Encino, CA, to negotiate on your behalf. At V&A Law Firm, we’ll fight for a fair deal — and if the insurer won’t play ball, a truck accident lawsuit is always an option.

Contact Our Encino Truck Accident Lawyers Today

The trucking industry is a major force in California. However, those involved in the industry are not above the law. When trucks collide with smaller vehicles, it’s clear who will come out on top of these situations.

After all, big rigs can legally weigh up to 80,000 lbs, and bad things can happen when such a massive truck collides with a 3,000-lbs passenger vehicle. Fortunately, legal recourse is often available. If you or a loved one were involved in such a collision, substantial compensation may be available.

At V&A Law Firm, our team of legal professionals is here to assist. We know how disheartening it can be when a negligent behavior party upends your life. Whether this was an independent contractor, commercial companies, or even local authorities — it’s important to hold them accountable.

Not only will this potentially save others in the future, but it can ensure that you have the financial support to move forward after such traumatic events. Contact us today by calling 818-369-3270 to schedule your free consultation.

Our Encino truck accident attorneys are ready to help.