San Rafael Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucking is essential to California’s distribution network and economy, transporting essential goods to communities all over the country. Many communities in the San Rafael, CA, area depend on trucking for the goods they use every day, and large trucks are familiar sights on California’s roads. Unfortunately, while these large vehicles are essential, they are also inherently dangerous. Any motor vehicle accident is capable of causing devastating injuries, but truck accidents have a much higher risk of resulting in catastrophic or even fatal injuries to those involved.

Representing Truck Accident Victims in San Rafael, CA

Experiencing a truck accident can be terrifying, and victims of these incidents are often left with severe injuries and other damages they may not know how to address on their own. Finding the right attorney to assist you with your truck accident claim can make a tremendous difference in your overall recovery. Rush Injury Law has years of experience representing San Rafael clients in a wide range of personal injury claims, including truck accident lawsuits. We are ready to apply this experience to your case.

Why Should I Work With a San Rafael Truck Accident Lawyer?

It’s understandable to wonder if you need to hire an attorney after a truck accident in California. If the fault for the accident seems perfectly clear, you might assume that you would have no trouble holding the at-fault driver accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, the reality is that even apparently open-and-shut cases can pose significant legal challenges for a personal injury plaintiff. Pursuing a civil claim for damages after a truck accident requires meeting rigorous procedural requirements with the local court, many of which the average person will not know how to handle on their own.

Even if you were to technically succeed with a truck accident claim without an attorney, you would be likely to overlook key details of your case. These oversights could potentially result in far less compensation than you legally deserve. In addition, once you agree to a settlement with a defendant, you cannot reopen the case to seek further compensation in the future. Therefore, it is vital to get it right the first time, and working with an experienced San Rafael truck accident lawyer is the best way to accomplish this.

Your legal team will help you gather the evidence you need to establish liability for your damages. In addition, it’s common for truck accident claim plaintiffs to discover they are entitled to much more compensation than initially expected once they secure legal representation. Therefore, hiring an attorney increases your chance of succeeding with your claim and is likely to increase the total amount of your recovery.

How Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Suppose you are unsure whether your recent truck accident qualifies for legal action. In that case, the first step is to determine how it happened and whether another party is responsible for causing it. Some of the most commonly cited causes of truck accident claims in California include:

• Truck driver error. Trucking companies must ensure their employees are fully trained and capable of handling their routes. When a truck driver is negligent in handling a large commercial vehicle, they can easily cause severe damage to other motorists.
• Driving under the influence (DUI). It is hazardous for any driver to operate a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The danger is exceptionally greater for truck drivers. When a driver causes a truck accident because of DUI, they can expect to face criminal penalties and civil liability for victims’ damages.
• Improperly loaded cargo. Parties responsible for loading commercial trucks must ensure all cargo is loaded appropriately in a balanced arrangement. Imbalanced or improperly secured cargo can offset the truck’s weight distribution and lead to a severe accident.
• Distracted driving. The leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents is distracted driving. When drivers aren’t fully paying attention to the road, they can easily cause devastating accidents, including truck accidents.
• Speeding and moving violations, such as running red lights and making illegal turns. All drivers must adhere to posted traffic signals at all times.
• Mechanical failures. Commercial trucks spend more time driving than most other vehicles and have more demanding maintenance requirements. Improper or incomplete truck maintenance can lead to a devastating accident.

These are only a few potential causes of truck accidents in California. Suppose you have experienced a truck accident recently and believe another party is responsible. In that case, it’s essential to speak with a San Rafael truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for legal recourse.

Common Issues With Proving Liability in Truck Accident Claims

If you intend to take legal action following a truck accident in the San Rafael area, you must establish liability for the incident. This means proving that another party directly caused the accident and your claimed damages. However, proving liability in a truck accident case is typically more complex than proving liability in a standard car accident claim. Therefore, it’s possible for the legal concept of “vicarious liability” to come into play in some truck accident claims.

Vicarious liability is a legal term that describes any situation in which one party bears fault for the actions of another party. In the case of truck accidents, vicarious liability would apply if a trucking company bears fault for the actions of one of its drivers. For example, a truck driver drinks and drives and causes an accident. Their employer never conducted a background check that would have shown the driver to be a DUI risk. The trucking company bears vicarious liability for the driver’s actions in this situation.

A San Rafael truck accident lawyer is the ideal resource when you are unsure how to prove fault for a truck accident. Your legal team will carefully review the evidence from the accident scene and potentially consult with expert witnesses to help you establish liability for your damages. You can also trust an experienced San Rafael truck accident attorney to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your losses to the fullest extent possible under California law.

Recovering Compensation for Truck Accident Damages

To succeed with any personal injury claim, the plaintiff must provide a complete and accurate list of all the damages they seek from the defendant. Additionally, the plaintiff must prove the claimed damages resulted from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause. California’s personal injury statutes allow a plaintiff to seek compensation for all damages a defendant caused. While the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage may provide some relief to a truck accident victim, their policy may not fully cover the plaintiff’s losses. Your San Rafael truck accident lawyer can potentially help you recover compensation beyond what insurance covers, including:

• Medical expenses. California law allows a personal injury plaintiff to seek compensation for all their medical costs resulting from a defendant’s actions. You can claim compensation for immediate medical costs like your hospital bills as well as the medical expenses you’re likely to incur in the future. For example, many truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries that require ongoing medical care.
• Lost income. If you cannot work due to your injuries from a truck accident, your San Rafael truck accident lawyer can help you hold the defendant accountable for the income you lose during your recovery. Some plaintiffs can also secure compensation for lost future income if their injuries cause permanent disabilities that prevent them from working.
• Property damage. The defendant’s insurance may cover vehicle repair costs, but the plaintiff can seek additional compensation for lost personal property in their personal injury claim.
• Pain and suffering. Your San Rafael truck accident attorney can help you recover compensation for the physical pain and psychological suffering you experienced because of the defendant’s actions. The amount you receive corresponds to the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you will face long-term complications from them.

Many personal injury plaintiffs discover their claims are worth much more than initially expected once they retain legal counsel. An experienced San Rafael truck accident lawyer is the best resource to consult if you want to know exactly what your claim could be worth if you win.

Find Legal Counsel Today

California provides a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. This may seem like more than enough time to build and file your case, but it can go very quickly. The sooner you secure legal counsel, the easier it will be to build a successful personal injury claim against the party or parties responsible for your truck accident.

Rush Injury Law maintains a client-focused legal philosophy. We take time to get to know every client’s situation to provide carefully tailored legal counsel. No two cases are exactly alike, so we adapt our approach to each client’s unique needs. You probably have many questions after you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident. If you are ready to take legal action and secure the compensation you deserve, contact Rush Injury Law today. Schedule your consultation with an experienced San Rafael truck accident lawyer to get the answers to your most pressing legal questions.