Truck Accident Lawyer in Pomona

How Common Are Truck Accidents in California?

Whether you call them big rigs, eighteen-wheelers, semis, or something else, large trucks play a vital role in the American economy. This is especially true in California. California is one of the country’s trucking hubs, with nearly two million registered trucks on the state’s roadways. Many more pass over California highways daily as vehicles from other states make pickups from ports and harbors or deliver goods from elsewhere in the country. While these trucks and their cargo are necessary for the American economy, they pose a serious risk to average Californians.

As of 2023, California was the second-deadliest state in the Union for truck accidents, only ranking behind Texas. Because of their size and the speed at which they travel, accidents involving large trucks can be particularly severe, accounting for almost 10% of all fatal accidents. Those who survive large truck wrecks are often left with long-term and sometimes permanent medical conditions that require months and, frequently, years to heal.

Many people struggle to get compensation following a large truck wreck. This is because multiple parties may be liable, including large corporations. Some people are intimidated by filing a lawsuit against a company because they fear they don’t have the money or resources to win. This can be a mistake.

The costs for injuries and lost wages due to a truck accident can quickly accumulate. Responsible parties deserve to be held accountable. That’s why if you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident in Pomona or the surrounding area, you must contact our firm’s experienced Pomona truck accident attorney.

What are Common Injuries in Truck Accidents?

The average car weighs between 2500-4500 lbs. The average large truck weighs about 30,000 pounds. That means a large truck traveling even 60mph can cause far more catastrophic damage than a pedestrian vehicle. Once you factor in increased speed, potentially hazardous weather conditions, and other factors contributing to a wreck, crashes involving large trucks are catastrophic.

Truck accident victims will experience severe injuries or death about 70% of the time. These injuries are potentially catastrophic and include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Large trucks striking smaller vehicles often result in passenger cars flipping/rolling, or getting crushed either beneath the wheels of the truck or against the median or another car. This enhances the potential for serious injuries and increases the chance of death among truck accident victims. The more serious your injuries in a truck wreck, the more you should be able to seek compensation. In the event a loved one dies as a result of a truck wreck, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit. Our team’s experienced personal injury attorney can review your case and help determine an appropriate amount to seek in compensation.

Who Can I Sue After a Truck Accident?

Many people are familiar with the standard “routine” of what to do following a car accident. Most of us are taught from the time we begin driving that, in the event of a wreck, we should call the police, exchange insurance information, and seek medical attention.

Many people then go on to deal with the other driver’s insurance company and accept a settlement from them. This is often a mistake, even when dealing with simple wrecks. Insurance companies do not exist to compensate people after wrecks. They exist to protect their clients. That means paying as little as possible if their clients are responsible for a wreck. This is especially true in truck accident claims.

When a truck is involved in an accident, exploring options beyond accepting an insurance company’s offer becomes even more important. Often, there are multiple responsible parties involved in a truck accident. Some of these parties may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

To pursue injury claims for a truck accident, you will need to establish negligence. Truckers operate with what is called a duty of care. This means that when a truck driver gets behind the wheel of a large vehicle, they accept responsibility for ensuring they drive responsibly and do not cause any accidents. Trucking companies, meanwhile, are responsible for providing safe working conditions for their truck drivers, and truck companies are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are safe to operate on the roads. A failure to uphold a duty of care resulting in an accident makes the responsible party liable.

For example, if a truck driver were texting while operating their vehicle and caused an accident, they are responsible for distracted driving, and you could probably sue to collect damages. However, if a truck driver were speeding due to pressure from their company to meet unrealistic deadlines, and this resulted in a truck accident, the company may be held responsible. The same is true if the company were negligent in their hiring, provided poor or inadequate training, or engaged in other behavior that can be demonstrated to have played a role in your accident.

Truck manufacturers may also be held responsible in a lawsuit if it can be demonstrated that a faulty component in the truck resulted in an accident. The same is true if it can be shown that the truck recently underwent faulty maintenance or repairs at a truck stop or mechanic. If the truck were operating on U.S. government business, you may even be able to seek compensation from a government agency. These circumstances are rare, and lawsuits against the U.S. are challenging under any circumstances.

How Do I Determine Who I Can Sue Following a Truck Wreck?

Determining who is responsible in the event of a truck wreck can be challenging. On the surface, it often appears that only the driver is at fault. However, it may turn out that the driver was being pressured to make unrealistic deadlines, or that the vehicle’s brakes did not receive sufficient maintenance the last time it was serviced. Determining liability in truck accidents is a complex task and requires a thorough investigation of the circumstances. There is often no readily apparent answer, and multiple parties often share fault.

You may only be able to sue one party, or, depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be liable. An experienced personal injury attorney can review your case, including police reports and physical evidence, to determine who is responsible.

How Much Can I Sue for After a Truck Wreck?

How much you sue for can depend on multiple factors, such as the circumstances of the wreck, the extent of your injuries, the amount of your hospital bills, lost work, and more. The amount will also depend on what parties are responsible. On average, lawsuits involving large trucks in California generally result in a settlement amount of between $75,000-$100,000. However, this number can go up. If the trucking company, a truck manufacturer, or a government agency is liable for your wreck, you will probably be able to seek more damages.

Damages are determined according to multiple factors. You can usually seek two major types of damages following a truck wreck: economic and non-economic. Monetary damages are to recover compensation for money you have spent or lost. This can include hospital and doctor’s bills, costs for ongoing medical care (including physical therapy), lost income, the cost of repairing or replacing your car, and more.

Non-economic damages are compensation for losses you experienced that do not have a set dollar amount. Non-economic damages include compensation for post-traumatic stress, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more.

Can I Still File a Personal Injury Suit if Someone Died?

If a member of your family died as a result of a truck accident, you can pursue a wrongful death suit. Wrongful death suits are similar to personal injury lawsuits. In a personal injury suit, someone who was hurt files a lawsuit against the responsible party to collect compensation for their injuries. In a wrongful death suit, the family of someone who died as a result of a wreck files a lawsuit against the responsible parties to collect compensation for their loved one’s death.

The amount of compensation you can ask for in a wrongful death suit is generally larger than in a personal injury suit. This is because, in a wrongful death suit, you can seek compensation for a person’s lost wages over what would have been the course of their lifetime. For instance, suppose you lost a family member who was in their thirties and earned $40,000 a year. A skilled attorney can determine how much money they would have made over an average career leading up to retirement and then include this amount in a lawsuit.

You may also file to collect compensation for burial and funeral expenses, any other expenses related to the person’s death, and more. As with personal injury cases, the amount of money you seek may increase depending on how many parties are responsible and who they are. Our experienced truck accident attorney can review your case, help determine who is liable, and hold them accountable.

What Should I Do if I Was Involved in a Truck Wreck?

A truck wreck is one of the most devastating accidents a person can experience. In the blink of an eye, lives are changed, sometimes forever. In many instances, truck accidents are even fatal. Don’t let a single accident end your life as you know it. You can seek justice and receive compensation. If you or a loved one were hurt or killed in a large truck wreck in Pomona, San Bernardino, or Riverside Counties, call Wolf Law Firm today at (833) 388-8888.

Our ace attorney, T.J. Juneja, has witnessed firsthand how devastating a truck wreck can be to people, families, and even communities. He knows that truckers and trucking companies hold a special responsibility for keeping the roads safe. At Wolf Law Firm, we believe in holding people and corporations accountable when their negligence hurts people and damages lives. T.J. Juneja gives every truck accident case he works his utmost dedication, and he doesn’t stop until you and your loved ones have received satisfaction.

Truck accidents are frightening and often leave people without a clear view of their future. T.J. Juneja and his team at Wolf Law can help guide you into a happier, healthier future and financial recovery. If you or a loved one were hurt or killed in a truck wreck, don’t hesitate to contact Wolf Law Firm today at (833) 388-8888 for your free, no-obligation consultation.