Truck Accident Lawyers
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Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accident Lawyers You Can Trust
At Impact Attorneys, we understand how devastating a truck accident can be. With life-changing injuries, mounting medical bills, and the stress of lost income, you need attorneys who will fight relentlessly for your rights. Our team, led by Shawn Gleizer and Ellery Gordon, has a proven track record of securing maximum compensation for truck accident victims in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Truck accident claims are complex, but with our legal expertise and dedication to justice, we’ll guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you focus on healing while we handle your case.
Call us today at 818-659-0642 for a free consultation.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different from Other Accidents
Truck accidents are unlike typical car accidents due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, and the force of a collision often results in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. The legal complexities of these cases stem from the unique evidence, multiple parties potentially involved, and strict federal regulations governing the trucking industry.
Federal laws regulate everything from how many hours a truck driver can be on the road to the maintenance and weight limits of the vehicles themselves. Additionally, liability in these cases may extend beyond the driver to include the trucking company, maintenance crew, or even the manufacturer of defective parts. At Impact Attorneys, we specialize in navigating these challenges to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
Truck accidents in Los Angeles often occur due to negligence on the part of drivers, trucking companies, or other parties. Driver fatigue is a significant factor, as many drivers push themselves beyond federally mandated hours-of-service limits to meet deadlines. Distracted driving is another leading cause, with truck drivers engaging in activities like texting, eating, or using in-cab devices instead of focusing on the road.
Improper maintenance is also a frequent issue, as trucking companies sometimes cut corners by neglecting routine inspections or failing to replace worn parts like brakes or tires. Overloaded or improperly secured cargo poses additional risks, as it can cause trucks to lose control or overturn. Whatever the cause of the accident, our team at Impact Attorneys conducts thorough investigations to determine what happened and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Types of Injuries in Truck Accidents
The injuries sustained in truck accidents are often life-altering, leaving victims with long-term or permanent physical and emotional damage. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe outcomes, affecting memory, motor skills, and overall cognitive function. Spinal cord injuries are another devastating consequence, often resulting in partial or complete paralysis.
Burn injuries, frequently caused by fires or explosions during high-impact collisions, require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding, are also common due to the sheer force of these crashes. At Impact Attorneys, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these injuries take on victims and their families, and we fight to ensure our clients receive compensation that reflects the full scope of their suffering.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
The actions you take after a truck accident can significantly affect your ability to pursue compensation. Your first priority should always be to seek medical attention, even if you believe you are uninjured, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Documenting the scene of the accident is also crucial, and if it is safe to do so, taking photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries can help support your claim.
Collecting information from the truck driver and any witnesses is another important step, but you should avoid speaking to insurance companies before consulting an attorney. Insurance adjusters often attempt to use your statements against you to minimize payouts. Contacting Impact Attorneys as soon as possible ensures that your case is handled with the urgency and expertise it requires, protecting your rights from the very beginning.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Victims of truck accidents in Los Angeles may be eligible to recover compensation for a wide range of damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, both current and future, as well as lost wages due to time missed at work. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are also recoverable.
In cases of egregious negligence or misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible parties and prevent similar behavior in the future. At Impact Attorneys, we meticulously evaluate your case to ensure that all your damages are accounted for, leaving no dollar on the table.
How Trucking Companies Avoid Responsibility
Trucking companies and their insurers are often quick to take action after an accident, but their efforts are usually aimed at minimizing their financial liability rather than assisting the injured party. They may dispatch investigators to the scene, attempt to discredit the victim’s account of events, or obscure critical evidence, such as driver logs or black box data.
Common tactics used include denying the truck driver’s responsibility for the collision, shifting blame onto external factors like poor weather conditions, or even offering a settlement that is far below the true value of the claim. These companies often rely on delaying the claims process to frustrate victims into accepting less compensation than they deserve. At Impact Attorneys, we anticipate these tactics and proactively protect your rights by preserving evidence, building a strong case, and countering these strategies at every turn.
Understanding Liability in Truck Accidents
Determining liability in truck accident cases is a complex process, as responsibility often extends beyond the truck driver. Multiple parties can be held accountable, including the trucking company, the maintenance crew, the cargo loaders, or even the manufacturers of the vehicle or its parts.
Truck drivers themselves are frequently found liable, particularly when the accident is caused by actions such as distracted driving, speeding, or violating federal safety regulations. Employers or trucking companies may also share responsibility if they failed to provide adequate training, properly supervise their drivers, or pressured employees to meet unsafe delivery deadlines. Maintenance crews may bear liability for failing to ensure the vehicle was in proper working condition, while cargo loaders can be implicated when improperly loaded or unbalanced freight leads to an accident. In cases where a defective vehicle part is the cause, manufacturers may also be held responsible.
At Impact Attorneys, we understand the intricate nature of these claims and conduct thorough investigations to identify every liable party, ensuring no avenue for justice is overlooked.
Truck Accident Investigations: How We Build a Strong Case
Investigating truck accidents requires a specialized approach to uncover key evidence and establish fault. At Impact Attorneys, we secure vital data such as the truck’s electronic logging device, often referred to as the black box, which records information about speed, braking, and hours of service. This data can reveal violations of federal regulations or negligent behavior leading up to the crash.
Our team also carefully examines driver logs to identify whether hours-of-service rules were violated, which can often point to fatigue as a contributing factor. Maintenance records are another critical area of focus, as incomplete or missing records can indicate negligence by the trucking company. Eyewitness accounts are gathered to provide additional context about the events leading up to the accident, while accident reconstruction experts are consulted to analyze the scene and vehicle damage, giving a clear picture of how the crash occurred. This comprehensive approach allows us to build the strongest possible case for our clients.
How Trucking Regulations Impact Your Case
Federal and state regulations play a critical role in truck accident cases, as commercial trucking companies and their drivers must adhere to strict safety standards. Violations of these rules often point to negligence and strengthen a victim’s case. For example, hours-of-service regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate without resting, but drivers frequently exceed these limits, leading to fatigue-related accidents. Weight limits are also strictly enforced, as overloaded trucks are harder to control and increase the risk of accidents. Additionally, routine maintenance and inspections are required by law to ensure vehicles remain safe for operation.
When these regulations are ignored or violated, they create clear grounds for liability. At Impact Attorneys, we use our deep knowledge of these rules to uncover violations and demonstrate negligence, bolstering your claim and holding the responsible parties accountable.
How Long Does a Truck Accident Case Take?
The timeline for resolving a truck accident case varies based on several factors, including the severity of the injuries involved, the complexity of the evidence, and the level of cooperation from the opposing parties. Cases involving severe injuries often take longer because it is important to fully understand the long-term impact on the victim’s health and livelihood before calculating damages.
Gathering and analyzing evidence, such as black box data and accident reconstruction reports, can also be time-intensive. Additionally, trucking companies and their insurers may use delay tactics to frustrate victims into settling for less than they deserve. While many cases are resolved through settlements, some require litigation to secure full and fair compensation. At Impact Attorneys, we remain committed to fighting for our clients, no matter how long the process takes.
The Emotional Toll of a Truck Accident
The aftermath of a truck accident isn’t just physical — it’s emotional too. Many victims experience anxiety, depression, or even PTSD following such traumatic events. Losing a loved one in a truck crash compounds this pain, leaving families with an overwhelming sense of grief and uncertainty about the future.
At Impact Attorneys, we understand the emotional toll these accidents take on our clients. That’s why we go beyond just legal representation — we provide compassion, support, and resources to help you heal while we fight for justice on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Los Angeles?
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is typically two years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions may apply, so it’s crucial to consult an attorney as soon as possible.
What if the trucking company denies responsibility?
Our attorneys are skilled in investigating claims and proving liability, even in complex cases where fault is disputed.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault?
Yes. California follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault, though your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Contact Impact Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Los Angeles, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. With Impact Attorneys, you’ll have experienced advocates by your side, fighting for justice and the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 818-659-0642 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Let us help you turn your setback into a comeback.
