Orange County Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer

The substantial risks posed by a commercial- fully loaded 18-wheeler weighing almost 80,000 pounds are deadlier than any other vehicle. And, when accidents take place at high speed on a busy road, the situation can become perilous.

At this time of distress, a dedicated accident lawyer based in the place can be an essential ally to seek compensation for your losses.

But why consult an attorney? Truck accident claims are complicated as they involve multiple parties, including the driver, employer, company that owns the vehicle, the manufacturer, mechanics, service center, and the vehicle handler. And only an accident lawyer experienced with multiple such cases can provide justice to you.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Orange County

It may come as a surprise that most truck accidents occur during the daylight. According to Forbes, 79.6 percent of truck crashes occur in the daytime compared to 20.4 percent at night. This is because the drivers prefer to operate their vehicles during daylight hours. And more truckers on the road means more chances of collision.

We have listed out a few causes of large truck crashes to make the road safe for everyone:

• Speeding
  According to Forbes, speeding is a major contributing cause of 7.3 percent of deadly accidents. Though many roads impose lower speed limits for truck drivers due to their massive size, speeding remains a leading cause of fatal truck collisions.
  
  
• Drunk Driving or Intoxication
  Truck drivers spend much of their time alone, so they are entirely responsible for their behavior on the road. Ergo, many drivers engage in alcohol consumption without worrying about repercussions.
  
  
• Drowsy Driving
  According to data from the National Sleep Foundation, drowsy driving causes 6,400 deaths in the US every year.
  When the drivers are tired, they react slowly, have reduced attention, awareness, and their ability to control their vehicles reduces drastically. Though the law mandates proper sleep to the truckers, some drivers ignore this and work long hours under pressure. This escalates the chances of accidents.
• Distracted Driving
  According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving took the lives of 3,522 people in the country in 2021.
  
  Any activity that diverts the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and minds off from driving are the distracting activities while driving.
  
  
• Bad Weather Conditions
  Irrespective of your level of preparedness, adverse weather conditions are unavoidable. Bad weather like fog can affect visibility, and storms and snow impact vehicle control.
  Likewise, sudden lightning can distract drivers, leading them to abrupt braking and consequently losing control over the vehicle.
• Faulty Parts
  The commercial truck owner and truck company are responsible for regular monitoring, repair, and maintenance of their vehicle. But there are situations where the parties forget to do the necessary or keep postponing the repair.
  
  Unfortunately, in such cases, the driver can become a victim of defective parts while driving, posing a significant risk of severe injury to others and themselves.
  
  
• Improperly Loaded Cargo
  An unevenly and unsystematically distributed cargo imbalances the truck. This disproportion can result in catastrophic incidents like cargo spilling out on the road or toward other vehicles, jackknife accidents, or truck overturn.

Potential Parties Responsible for the Accident

Determining the at-fault party is challenging when dealing with truck accident claims. If it is a case of a criminal offense, such as drunk driving, then proving fault is straightforward; otherwise, an independent investigation is necessary.

Below mentioned are a few potential stakeholders revolving around the case:

• The Truck Driver
  If a trucker exceeds the speed limit, disregards road signs, or drives negligently, they could be held responsible for any accident they trigger.
  
  Similarly, if they were driving while distracted, tired, or impaired due to drug or alcohol use, they could be liable for the collision. Any of these could cause the driver to exercise poor judgment, affecting the driver’s ability to control a truck and causing delayed reactions.
  
  
• The Trucking Company
  Truck companies have to share liability for an accident if they are found guilty of poor hiring practices and inadequate driving training. Besides, if the company practices putting unrealistic schedule expectations and encourages drivers to meet deadlines by any means, they can be held accountable for the accident.
  
  
• The Truck Manufacturer
  Flaws in crucial truck parts, including hydraulics, steering wheel, safety light, windshield wiper, and fuel tanksThe truck manufacturer has to be strictly accountable if the accident happens due to defective truck parts.
  
  
• The Maintenance Company
  Sometimes, truck accidents happen due to mechanical issues. When the company responsible for maintenance does not repair the truck timely, the vehicle has a high chance of collision due to system breakdown. Also, a bad repair can cause imbalance, leading to accidents. In such cases, the maintenance company has to be responsible for the mishap.
  
  
• The Cargo Company
  Among multiple causes behind truck accidents, the most overlooked one is overloaded cargo.
  
  Uneven weight distribution, cargo loaded with a high center of gravity, and cargo without proper securement measures may cause goods to fall. And this can increase the chances of unfortunate events on the roadways.
  
  And when such accidents occur, the cargo company has to be liable for the incident.

Immediate Steps to Take After Accident

When you are injured, you might feel temporary numbness, or have a whirlwind of emotion.

We know you are overwhelmed, but there are specific immediate steps you or your eye witness must take after the accident to easily facilitate the claim process.

Below are the steps:

• Move to a safer place
• Get the necessary medical attention
• Collect whatever evidence is available, mandatorily take pictures or videos of the accident site and the vehicle, if possible
• Call the Police
• Communicate with eyewitnesses. Gather information about the accident from their perspective. Don’t forget to obtain their names and contact details C
• Keep track of your expenses and take a bill (or any evidence) so you can claim for settlement smoothly

Contact an Orange County Truck accident Lawyer: After all these immediate steps, filing your claim with insurance companies is another critical part of securing compensation. Don't worry, this is not a tedious process of enduring difficult phone calls with an uncooperative insurance adjuster. A commercial Truck Accident Attorney will handle this and negotiate with the adjuster.

Compensation for the Damage: What Can You Expect?

Psychological consequences, physical pain, and the intangible loss caused by the unfortunate event cannot be fully restored at any cost. Nevertheless, we are committed to securing the rightful financial compensation for all the losses you experienced in the accident, standing by your side as your advocate.

Here are some financial compensation you are entitled to for all the losses sustained in the crash.

• The medical bills for the treatment you have received.
• The cost to repair your vehicle.
• Compensation for your reduced earning capacity due to physical and psychological injury
• Compensation for non-economic damages encompassing loss of life’s enjoyment, pain, and suffering.

Timeline to Claim Truck Accident Compensation

After the unpleasant experience, you deserve a stress-free healing time, where timelines should not bother you. Unfortunately, Orange County Commercial truck accident victims have limited time to claim compensation for the losses.

The California personal injury law provides a two-year window to file a lawsuit against the alleged driver or company. However, if the victim does not discover the injury immediately, they get one year from the date the injury was discovered.

There are also other cases where the statute of limitations can be delayed. For example, if the plaintiff is minor at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations will only start once the plaintiff reaches 18 years.

On the other hand, if you are filing a lawsuit against a government defendant, the timeline is only six months from the date of the accident to file the claim.

As the timeline for a truck accident case will vary significantly depending on various factors, you can delegate the details of your case to a lawyer and give yourself much-needed time to recover. You can begin looking for a personal injury lawyer while undergoing treatment.

Why Hire a Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer?

Large commercial truck companies have an upper hand with experienced defense lawyers to fight on their side. So, make sure you choose trial law attorneys who are proficient, aggressive and understand the tips and tricks of the market.

The attorneys prepare paperwork for the claim, analyze the evidence to establish liability, negotiate fair compensation with the insurance company, and file a lawsuit when you don’t get a rightful settlement.

Call Nordean Law for a Free Case Evaluation

Our truck accident lawyers have more than 12 years of personal injury trial experience and are compassionate for our clients. And over the years, we have worked considerately to protect the rights of our clients who have been truck accident victims in Orange County.

Contact our law office immediately to schedule a free consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyer. We would be pleased to help you understand your legal rights and the compensation you are entitled to receive after the commercial truck accident.

How Does Nordean Law Work to Resolve Your Case?

Sam Nordean has made a commitment to helping victims get back what was taken away from them. He fights for people that are injured and can’t fight for themselves.

“Going to court or negotiating a settlement is not akin to my client winning a lottery ticket. It’s about balancing the scales; it’s what they’re owed.”

Sam Nordean

Are you all set to talk to a lawyer but unsure how to get started? The information below will help you move forward.

Here’s how Nordean Law works to resolve your case:

Step 1: Investigate Claim
In this initial phase, our lawyers will discuss the case with the victim and gather as much first-hand information as possible. Our industry-savvy lawyers will evaluate the issue in detail before proceeding. And here, the victim has a vital role. The injured party has to be brutally honest and must not hide anything, even minute details.

The reason is your lawyer will not be able to effectively represent or protect you if you hide crucial information they need to know.

Step 2: Gather Evidence
This can involve acquiring a police report, tracking witnesses, and getting a witness report. It also includes instructing photographers to take pictures of the accident site and getting camera footage.

Step 3: Fight for the Victim
At this step, our personal injury lawyers negotiate with insurance companies to help our clients receive fair compensation for the truck accident. Our lawyers will file a complaint against the defendant if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement and demands a compromise.

If the case goes to trial, we will also represent the victim in court. All in all, we will ensure that the law provides you justice at any cost.

What matters to us the most is to help you get your life back on track as soon as possible. So, don’t hesitate to dial us for a free case evaluation.