Truck Accident
TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN California
In the aftermath of a truck accident, don’t trust just any lawyer to handle your case. Turn to The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC for experienced and effective representation.Travis Black currently serving of counsel is a former police officer and insurance adjuster who has the skills and the resources to take on big trucking companies. Kelsey DePaoli is a seasoned trial attorney who has a track record of winning in court. Our team has secured millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims in Folsom and throughout California.
Our firm believes that when you have been hurt because of someone else’s recklessness, you deserve to “Be Heard.” That’s why our attorneys and staff provide you with the caring, personal attention you need when going through the difficult process of recovering from a truck accident.
Contact The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC today for a free case evaluation with a knowledgeable Folsom truck accident lawyer. We can answer all your questions and begin work on your claim immediately.
BENEFITS OF HIRING A LOCAL TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER FOR YOUR CASE
Truck accident cases often involve a significant amount of complex evidence. Trucking companies and insurers also frequently delay or deny claims for injury compensation. A Local truck accident lawyer from The Law Office of Black & DePaoli, APC can:
- Quickly begin an investigation of the accident and recover evidence that may prove critical to your case
- Bring in top-tier experts in accident reconstruction and trucking industry practices to help us build an effective case on your behalf
- Identify all potentially liable parties and available sources of compensation, such as insurance policies
- Work with medical specialists to get a clear picture of how your injuries will affect you in the future
- Check in regularly to see how your recovery is progressing and answer any questions you may have regarding the issues you are facing
- Negotiate aggressively for the maximum truck accident settlement you deserve, and file a lawsuit in court if it becomes necessary to fight for your rights
TOPICS ON THIS PAGE
- Understanding Why Motorcycle Accident Cases Are More Complicated
- How Much Is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?
- How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident Investigation?
- Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident?
- How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?
- Common Types of Truck Accidents
- Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Folsom
- Talk to a Folsom Truck Accident Attorney Now
WHY TRUCK ACCIDENTS ARE MORE COMPLICATED
Truck accident claims have a few unique complexities relative to other motor vehicle accidents, in that:
Truck accidents cause more serious injuries. Trucks are large, heavy, and have significant blind spots, all of which can lead to more devastating injuries. Furthermore, the claims process may become more complicated if an accident victim is still undergoing treatment when they bring their claim. In that case, a claim will need to include an estimation of anticipated future expenses and losses.
Truck accident cases involve more evidence. State and federal regulation of the trucking industry means that companies produce a lot of documentation. After a truck accident, our lawyers must review these documents and other related data to thoroughly investigate the crash and determine its cause. Only then can the responsible party or parties be held liable for the injuries and losses they caused.
Trucking companies may have complex corporate and insurance structures. Some trucking companies use complex, layered corporate structures and insurance policies to hide the full extent of the financial resources that may be used to compensate accident victims. Our Folsom truck accident attorneys have the resources to review the businesses and insurance policies in question to determine all possible sources of compensation.
Truck accident cases may involve more at-fault parties. In most non-commercial motor vehicle accidents, one or more of the involved drivers is ultimately responsible for the collision. But truck accidents may involve multiple responsible parties. This could include trucking companies, freight companies, mechanics, loading crews, truck manufacturers, and the drivers themselves, depending on the specifics of the collision.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
- Costs of treatment and rehabilitation of injuries
- Long-term care costs
- Lost wages or income from missed time from work
- Loss of earning capacity from disabilities that interfere with the ability to return to work
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Lost quality of life from disabilities or scarring/disfigurement
- Property damage, such as costs to repair or replace your vehicle
HOW IS FAULT DETERMINED IN A TRUCK ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION?
Our law firm as extensive experience investigating tough truck accident cases. We knows how to interpret police accident reports and identify clues that could be overlooked.
- The truck driver’s logs, which show how long the driver had been on duty and behind the wheel
- The truck driver’s drug/alcohol screen, if they were given one after the accident
- The truck driver’s employment and driving records
- The truck’s electronic data recorder logs, which provide information about the truck’s performance, including speed, engine operation, acceleration, braking, or steering
- In-cab camera footage
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Trucking company dispatch records
- The load manifest, which shows what cargo was loaded into the truck and how it was loaded
- Truck inspection and maintenance records
WHO CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A TRUCK ACCIDENT?
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck’s owner (if different from the truck driver or trucking company)
- The freight company that loads the truck or trailer with cargo
- The truck’s mechanic
- The truck’s manufacturer
- The manufacturer of parts used in the truck (such as tires or brakes)
HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO FILE A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA?
The statute of limitations on truck accident claims in California typically gives you two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, you should begin working on your claim as soon as possible. Evidence can quickly be lost or destroyed, so the sooner you get an attorney, the better.
COMMON TYPES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Jackknife accidents
in which the articulation joint between a truck and its trailer folds in like the blade of a folding pocketknife
Truck rollover accidents,
in which a truck overturns, tumbles over, or flips end-over-end
Wide-turn truck accidents,
which involve a truck sideswiping a vehicle in an adjacent left lane or having a head-on impact with an oncoming vehicle while attempting to negotiate right turns on narrow streets
Head-on collisions,
which typically occur when a vehicle drifts across the center line into the path of oncoming traffic
Rear-end truck accidents
which involve either the truck colliding with the back of a vehicle in front of it, or a vehicle running into the back of the truck or trailer’s undercarriage
Squeeze play accidents,
in which a vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle is caught on the inside right of a truck making a right turn
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY

KELSEY DEPAOLI
Kelsey DePaoli brings experience to a wide variety of personal injury cases, including vehicle collisions, wrongful death, dog bites, premise liability, public entity liability, and general negligence.
RELATED INFORMATION
- Intersection Truck Accident Lawyer
- Folsom Logging Truck Accident Attorneys
- Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
- Federal Trucking Regulations
- Jackknife Accident
- Blind Spot Accident
- Dump Truck Accident
- Falling Debris Truck Accident
- Overweight or Overloaded Trucks Accident
- Squeeze Play Accident
- Tire Blowout Accident
- Tanker Truck Accident
- Truck Accidents Caused by Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drug Use
- Truck Driver Fatigue Accident
- Truck Rollover Accident
- Wide Turns Truck Accident
- Delivery Vehicle Accident
- Stopping Distance Accident
- Faulty Brakes Accident
COMMON INJURIES IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Given the size of a commercial motor vehicle and the speeds that may be involved, semi-truck accidents can result in serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries that result from truck crashes include:
- Severe lacerations and bruising
- Broken bones
- Spinal disc injuries such as bulging or herniation
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal organ damage and bleeding
- Facial injuries
- Burns or smoke-inhalation injuries resulting from a fire
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and tears
- Neck and back injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Traumatic amputation
- Traumatic amputation
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
TYPES OF TRUCKS
- Dump trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Delivery vehicles
- Garbage trucks
- 18-wheeler or tractor trailers
- Refrigerated trucks
- Trucks carrying hazardous materials
- Logger trucks
COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS IN California
- Violations of federal trucking regulations, especially violations of hours-of-service limitations
- Tire blowouts
- Drinking and driving
- Failing to check blind spots
- Inadequate stopping distance
- Falling debris
- Bad weather
- Poor road conditions
- Overweight or overloaded trucks
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Truck driver fatigue
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Faulty brakes or defective equipment
- Unfamiliarity with roads
