While many of us have experienced a car accident, most of us are lucky enough to walk away with minor injuries and property damage.
But everything changes when you have California 18-wheeler truck accidents.
Due to their sheer size and weight, truck accidents are more likely to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries in a collision.
Victims of California 18-wheeler truck accidents often experience a substantial financial burden as they are stuck with mounting medical expenses and an inability to work.
When you hire an experienced truck accident lawyer, they immediately begin working on your claim to help you obtain the financial relief you need and deserve.
Truck Accident Statistics
More than 16.2 million commercial and private trucks are registered in the state.
With these numbers, it’s not surprising that accidents with commercial tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles happen every year.
In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 4,965 people killed in crashes involving large trucks nationwide.
While there are no specific truck driver injury statistics, 71% of those people who died in truck crashes were occupants of other vehicles.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than 54% of all fatal crashes involving trucks occurred on rural roadways, and 27% occurred on interstate highways.
It’s also noteworthy that, according to the National Safety Council, California had the second highest number of fatalities related to truck crashes in 2020, second only to Texas and followed closely by Florida.
While these statistics are sobering, it’s important to remember that you have options if the unthinkable happens.
California law permits victims injured in a truck accident to recover compensation from the liable party.
We understand this may be a scary time, but the legal team at Peerali Law is here to help.
Former client Roxana Padilla stated that our firm provided her with “. . . great communication and excellent service.”
She further stated, “I had never been in a situation where I needed representation, and they made the process very easy.”
Common Causes of California Truck Accidents
Despite our efforts to drive safely, some accidents are unavoidable if a commercial truck driver behaves negligently.
While truck accidents happen in many ways, the most common causes of truck accidents in California occur in the following situations.
Rollover Truck Accidents
Due to their higher center of gravity, commercial trucks must take extra care when going around turns or making sudden changes in speed.
When drivers take a turn too quickly or must suddenly stop, they create a dangerous risk of rolling over due to their heavier weight.
Rear-End Collision
When a large commercial truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. Truck drivers must take extra time and distance to slow down to a complete stop.
When drivers are distracted, speeding, negligent, or reckless, their actions often lead to rear-end collisions.
Head-On Collisions
When a truck collides head-first with another vehicle, the results are often fatal. Head-on collisions can happen at red lights, stop signs, on windy roads, or when drivers fail to observe the proper right of way.
Tire blowouts can also cause a truck to lose control and veer into the path of oncoming traffic.
Jackknife Accidents
When the joints between a truck and its attached trailer make sharp turns or brake improperly, the resulting force causes the trailer to swing.
This collision is devastating as no cars caught in the crossfire can avoid the large-scale trailer moving perpendicular to the roadway.
Unsecured Load Accidents
Commercial truck drivers must abide by strict federal regulations for loading and transporting cargo. Accidents may occur when a truck driver fails to adhere to these regulations.
An unsecured or improperly secured load can cause a truck driver to lose control and roll over.
In some instances, the heavy load prevents a truck driver from braking in time, causing the back of the truck to jackknife.
How Can Peerali Law Help Me?
When you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you after California 18-wheeler truck accidents, they make holding the liable party responsible and getting you compensation their top priority.
Your attorney assists in numerous ways after an accident, including:
- Investigating the cause of the accident,
- Retaining and analyzing all critical documentation,
- Getting you the medical attention you need,
- Investigating the trucking company,
- Negotiating with insurance companies, and
- File a lawsuit if needed.
Here is a testimonial from Sherv, another satisfied client of Peerali Law.
“Got in a collision and needed reliable lawyers to help me out with [it]. I looked around Los Angeles and found some, but nothing felt right. After meeting with Peerali Law, I knew I was in good hands. Thank you, Kris and Serena!”
Our Attorneys
At Peerali Law, our truck accident attorneys craft innovative and creative legal solutions in personal injury matters.
The core of our practice is founded on the belief that persistence, passion, and creativity bring forth outstanding results for our clients.
Kristopher Peerali
Kristopher Peerali is a co-founding partner at Peerali Law. He has extensive experience in litigating catastrophic personal injury matters.
Kristopher earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
He was a member of the Review of Law and Social Justice honors law journal and was awarded several academic honors.
Kristopher started his career as an attorney at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, representing plaintiffs and defendants in various complex civil matters in state and federal court.
Kristopher came to realize during this period that his true calling was advocacy for those injured in personal injury cases. After that, he joined one of California’s largest personal injury law firms.
In his career, Kristopher has recovered millions of dollars for his clients from large corporations, insurance companies, and governmental entities.
Serena Peerali
Serena Peerali is a co-founding partner at Peerali Law, focusing on catastrophic personal injury and trial work.
Serena has extensive experience in civil litigation, including preparing pleadings, motions, written discovery, settlement negotiations, mediation, and pre and post-trial motions at a nationally renowned plaintiff’s firm in downtown Los Angeles.
Serena has had first and second-chair experience in several jury trials.
Contact Us
At Peerali Law, we craft innovative and creative legal solutions in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Our attorneys believe that persistence, passion, and creativity bring outstanding results to our clients. We understand that you may face a challenging road ahead after already enduring such a traumatic event.
We keep you informed at every phase of your case and are available for any questions. Contact Peerali Law today for a free case consultation!
Kristopher earned his J.D. at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law where he was a member of the Review of Law and Social Justice honors law journal and was awarded several scholastic honors.
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