If you are in a trucking accident, you could be facing serious injuries, medical bills, and significant life changes. At a time like this, you need an experienced San Mateo truck accident attorney. Fortunately, the truck accident attorneys at D’Amore Law Group can help you understand your legal rights and find the best strategy to obtain the necessary compensation to help you recover and move on with your life. Contact us today.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Trucks are necessary to facilitate interstate, intrastate, and international commerce. More trucks on the roads lead to more accidents. Accidents involving large commercial vehicles like trucks can cause serious and even fatal injuries. In 2021, there were 5,601 fatalities on U.S. roadways involving at least one large truck.
Injuries can vary, but here are a few of the most common non-fatal injuries from trucking accidents:
- Back and neck injuries;
- Bone fractures;
- Bruises and lacerations;
- Head injuries, including concussions;
- Severe traumatic brain injuries;
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis;
- Torso and rib injuries; and
- Internal organ injuries.
This is not an all-inclusive list, and your injuries may be different. Anytime you are in a vehicle accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. Keep records of your treatment and all the expenses associated with your injury. This will help your San Mateo truck accident lawyer analyze and prove the value of your claim.
How to Receive Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries
Most claims for vehicle accident compensation start with an insurance claim. California is an at-fault state, which means the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying damages. In most cases, the negligent party’s insurance will be responsible for at least some of the payout.
There are several things to keep in mind when contemplating the compensation you are seeking for your truck accident case:
- You do not have to accept an unfair settlement. It is important to understand your claim’s actual current and future value. Speak with an attorney for help valuing your case.
- You can negotiate with insurance companies. Many of them have their in-house legal counsel. A truck accident attorney in San Mateo can negotiate on your behalf.
- Settlements are final. Once you accept an insurance settlement, you cannot request additional funds, even if your condition worsens.
- There may be one or more liable parties. This is especially true when dealing with any sort of commercial vehicle. The amount you can recover may be partially dependent on who is liable.
- A lawsuit may be your best option. Depending on the extent of your injuries and the compensation available through the negligent party’s insurance policy, you may be best served by filing a lawsuit.
- You must file a lawsuit by the two-year deadline. In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, or you will likely be barred from legal recovery.
Your San Mateo truck accident lawyer can help you decide on the best legal strategy to help you receive the compensation you deserve, given the unique facts of your case.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Every situation is different, but truck accidents are often more complicated than regular passenger vehicle accidents because other parties are often involved. Trucks are usually not owned by the driver but belong to a trucking company. If this is the case, the company and those responsible for the safety and upkeep of the vehicle could be responsible.
Here are a few examples of parties that could be liable in a truck accident claim:
- The truck driver,
- The trucking company,
- The cargo loader,
- The mechanic maintaining the vehicle,
- The truck parts manufacturer, or
- The municipality responsible for maintaining the roadways.
It is important to understand who should be held accountable for your injuries. A truck accident lawyer in San Mateo can conduct an independent investigation into your accident’s cause to ensure you have all the facts and evidence needed to make your case.
Hire a San Mateo Truck Accident Attorney
D’Amore Law Group has earned multiple recent multi-million dollar case results for truck accident victims. Before you consider agreeing to a settlement, be sure that you fully understand the value of your case and your options for recovery by speaking with an experienced truck accident attorney from our office. Insurance companies and the trucking companies they represent are banking on the fact that you will not question their offer. Our firm has gone toe-to-toe with insurance and trucking companies and won compensation for injured victims.
The team at D’Amore Law Group has received multiple accolades for quality representation and service, specifically in truck accident cases. Attorney Tom D’Amore is board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Contact us to schedule your free case evaluation.