Every driver knows that feeling. You are passing a large truck, and it starts slowly drifting toward your lane.
There is nowhere for you to go if the truck continues on its course.
We all get this feeling because we know how catastrophic a collision with a truck might be.
Fortunately, most truck drivers are experienced professionals and operate their vehicles safely. However, catastrophic truck accidents do happen and often result in severe injury.
These injuries can lead to crippling pain, lost income, and high medical bills.
According to the National Safety Council, thousands of people are killed in large truck accidents every year.
To make matters worse, determining fault after a semi-truck accident is often much more complicated than finding fault after other types of accidents.
More potentially liable parties are involved in truck accidents, and each has a strong incentive to shift blame.
At Peerali Law, we understand the complex dynamics of determining fault after a semi-truck accident. We have recovered millions of dollars for victims throughout Los Angeles.
Contact us today, so a catastrophic truck accident injury attorney from our team can begin helping you recover the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
What to do after a truck accident? Protecting everyone’s health and well-being is the first priority after any truck accident.
Protecting any legal claims you might have is also essential, given the high potential for debilitating and costly injuries.
Call 911
Ensuring that everyone injured in the accident receives immediate medical care is the most important step after an accident.
Truck collisions tend to cause severe, often life-threatening injuries. The quicker EMS arrives, the better the outcomes for everyone injured.
Calling 911 will also summon the police. They will block traffic and begin putting together an official accident report.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
If you suspect you were injured in the crash, see a doctor as soon as possible. Medical professionals should assess even minor injuries.
Head injuries, in particular, have the potential to be more severe than you might initially think.
Seeking medical attention is also one of the first steps in proving your injuries. Showing that you were treated immediately after the accident will help you in settlement negotiations and court.
Collect Evidence on the Scene
If you can, take pictures of everything on the accident scene. Even small details might go a long way toward proving your case.
If you are unable to collect evidence, ask someone else to do so for you. Get the contact and insurance information of the truck driver.
Also, try to obtain the contact information of every witness that you can.
Contact a Lawyer
The sooner you get a lawyer on your side, the better the outcome of your case will likely be. An attorney will help you file your claims with insurance companies and prove them.
They will negotiate with the relevant insurance companies and litigate the issue if necessary.
Do Not Make Statements Without a Lawyer
Only make statements to insurance companies or any other interested parties with the representation of an experienced lawyer.
Do not sign any documentation from potential counterparties without representation either.
Further, posting about the accident on social media will not help your case. Everything you post online can be used as evidence against you.
Settle or Litigate Your Case
An attorney will help you determine the best course of action. Litigation is often the avenue of last resort, but it is sometimes unavoidable.
An experienced catastrophic truck accident injury attorney at Peerali Law can handle your case from intake to the very end.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Semi-truck accidents cause severe injuries with life-long repercussions. Common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury or other severe head trauma,
- Broken bones,
- Severe lacerations,
- Internal bleeding,
- Organ damage,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Whiplash, and
- Wrongful death.
Seek immediate medical attention if you are involved in a truck accident and suspect you have suffered an injury.
What Is the Average Semi-Truck Accident Settlement?
What is the average semi-truck accident settlement? Not all settlement amounts are publicly available.
This factor makes it extremely difficult to estimate the average truck accident settlement. But we can look at some factors that affect how much your claim might be worth.
These factors include the following:
- The severity of your injuries,
- Medical bills,
- Lost income,
- The insurance the driver carries,
- Who is at fault,
- The negligent party’s level of culpability, and
- The amount of property damage.
An attorney at Peerali Law can look at your case and help you understand how much your case might be worth.
See what our clients have to say abour our services:
How Much Will a Truck Accident Lawsuit Cost Me?
How much will a truck accident lawsuit cost me? At Peerali Law, we offer free consultations.
During your consultation, we will discuss our contingency fee arrangement. But essentially, our services won’t cost you a cent unless and until we secure compensation on your behalf.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Determining fault after a truck accident is highly complex.
There are multiple potentially liable parties involved in truck accidents, and there are specific laws that everyone in the trucking industry must follow.
These complexities require an in-depth understanding of the industry and the laws surrounding it.
For example, a truck accident could be caused by the truck’s brakes failing at a pivotal moment. Who would be to blame?
First, the truck driver may own the truck and be responsible for proper and adequate maintenance.
However, in many cases, someone other than the driver owns the truck and is responsible for its maintenance.
Further, the owner may have had the maintenance performed at a shop that did not do a good job. And even the maintenance shop might be able to shift the blame onto the manufacturer of the replacement parts.
This typical example illustrates how complex a truck accident case can be. The high stakes make the many opportunities to shift blame an even more significant problem.
How can a truck accident lawyer help? A truck accident lawyer will have experience navigating these complexities.
They can provide relevant advice during every step of the process and help identify who you should hold liable for the accident.
California Truck Accident Attorney
At Peerali Law, we understand the complexities of semi-truck accident liability. We specialize in crafting creative and innovative solutions to complex catastrophic injury matters.
Our California truck accident attorney firmly believes that bringing passion and persistence to every case drives the success we achieve for our clients.
Contact Peerali Law today and schedule a free consultation.
Where to find our Los Angeles office (Studio City):