Obtaining Fair Compensation After A Truck Accident
If you have been injured in a truck accident, it’s important to get immediate legal assistance. Evidence such as the driver’s truck, the trailer, the GPS and logbook need to be collected and preserved before they simply roll out of the area.
At the law firm of McKnight and McKnight Law, APC, in Bakersfield, we vigorously represent people who have suffered harm in truck accidents on Interstate 5, Highway 99, Highway 58 and other roads in the Central Valley.
Call us at 661-578-5669 or contact us online today for a free consultation about a truck accident injury or wrongful death case. If you are too injured to come to us, our lawyer will come to your home or hospital room.
Preserving Evidence Of Liability In Truck Accident Cases
Large, commercial trucks are subject to special Department of Transportation safety regulations. Those regulations cover everything from truck maintenance, to how loads are secured, to how many hours the operator is allowed to drive without taking a rest break. Every commercial trucker is required to keep a driver’s log to show that he or she took the required rest breaks.
Many trucks are equipped with GPS systems that can be used to verify if the information in the logbook was correct. If the truck was moving at 70 miles per hour at a time the driver claimed to be resting, your case just became a lot stronger. Our attorney can also request diesel fuel receipts to determine if fuel use is consistent with the number of hours the driver claimed to be on the road. Unless the trucking company is ordered to preserve evidence such as the driver logbook, those records can be lost or destroyed.
Identifying Liable Parties In Truck Accident Cases
Trucking companies are required to carry large insurance policies to pay significant damage claims from accidents. However, identifying the responsible parties can be complicated and difficult. The driver may be a contractor who doesn’t own the truck. The trucking company may be located outside of California or even out of the country. Our lawyer is experienced in tracking down all insurance coverage that may be available to pay your damages. He can also help you understand more steps to take following a truck accident.
Truck Accident Frequently Asked Questions
The severity of truck accidents makes them unique. If you have been injured or lost a family member in a commercial trucking accident in Kern County, including Bakersfield, Arvin, Delano, Wasco, Shafter and Ridgecrest, please see our FAQ below and then contact us for help holding the trucking company and other parties accountable for your losses.
What makes truck accidents different from standard car accidents?
There are many differences between truck accidents and car accidents, including:
The size and weight difference of the vehicles: Commercial trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles, which means that people in passenger vehicles are more likely to suffer serious injuries.
The complexity of the case: Accidents with commercial vehicles are more complicated because multiple liable parties may be involved. A lawyer can sort out liability and hold the negligent parties accountable for your economic and noneconomic losses.
The commercial insurance policies: Trucks are covered by commercial insurance policies. The trucking company’s insurance carrier will fight hard to keep from having to pay damages to you. We will fight back to secure the compensation you deserve.
Speak with us about how we can address these differences in your specific truck accident case.
How can you prepare the case to prove liability?
We will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine liability. This can be a complex process because there may be more than one liable party, such as the trucking company, the truck driver, the company that performs maintenance, the party that loaded the cargo and the manufacturer of the truck’s components.
We will hold every negligent party accountable for the damage and pain they have caused you and your family.
What common injuries occur from truck accidents?
Injuries from truck accidents tend to be catastrophic or fatal, changing many people’s lives at once. The most common injuries that people suffer in truck accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
Some of these injuries can lead to wrongful death. We represent injured people as well as people who have lost a family member in truck accident cases. We understand that you will need full and fair compensation to make up for your financial and personal losses from the accident, especially if someone was critically or fatally injured. Let’s speak today about how we can help you with your claim.
Don’t Try To Fight The Trucking Company On Your Own
After a truck accident, you deserve the help of a knowledgeable lawyer who can fight for the maximum compensation available to you. Schedule your free consultation today to get legal help. To discuss your case with our injury claim lawyer, call 661-578-5669 or fill out the contact form on this website.