Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer

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Bakersfield Trucking Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks are vital components of the state’s economy, transporting millions of tons of cargo throughout the state every day. The average driver in the Bakersfield area is likely accustomed to sharing the road with these large vehicles, and most are able to navigate around large commercial trucks without issue. Unfortunately, some drivers experience accidents involving these large and heavy vehicles, and the damage these accidents can cause can be devastating to everyone involved.

Legal Help for Victims of Truck Accidents in Bakersfield, CA

If you or a loved one is struggling with painful injuries and substantial economic losses after a car accident in the Bakersfield area, you need trustworthy legal counsel to help you navigate the complex recovery efforts you are likely to face in pursuit of compensation for your losses. It’s possible to attempt this alone, but it’s crucial to understand the value of trustworthy legal counsel in this challenging situation. The right Bakersfield truck accident attorney is an invaluable asset if you want to recover as much compensation as state law allows.

The team at the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, has a great deal of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases in the Bakersfield area, including many pertaining to truck accidents. We can provide the responsive legal counsel you need, whether you must seek compensation for your own damages or pursue legal action on behalf of an injured loved one.

Special Dangers of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents tend to generate more significant losses than most other vehicle accidents due to the large size of most commercial vehicles. The average tractor-trailer with a full cargo load can stand more than 13 feet tall and weigh up to 80,000 pounds, easily dwarfing most other vehicles on the road. When a large vehicle like this crashes, it is very easy for multiple other drivers to be affected. Severe truck accidents can easily cause catastrophic or fatal injuries and result in tremendous economic damage for all affected parties.

Another challenging aspect of truck accident cases is the complexity of proving liability for these incidents. It is possible for multiple parties to share fault for a truck accident, and the concept of “vicarious liability” comes into play whenever a trucking company or other employer bears fault for the actions of an employee. The average person with minimal legal experience would be unlikely to reach a favorable outcome in this type of case, and even if they managed to succeed, they would have a very small chance of securing suitable compensation.

Common Causes for Truck Accidents in Bakersfield, CA

Truck accidents occur for many reasons. Distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations are all commonly cited causes of truck crashes throughout the Bakersfield area. It is also possible for a truck accident to result from intoxicated driving, in which case the at-fault driver faces criminal prosecution for driving under the influence (DUI) along with civil liabilities for all damages they caused to others. Accident scene evidence, testimony from witnesses, and many other forms of evidence may be used to establish fault for most standard truck accidents.

Beyond the most common causes for vehicle accidents in Bakersfield, there are several risk factors unique to commercial trucks that all drivers must acknowledge:

  • Large commercial vehicles must be loaded correctly to ensure they are balanced on the road. Since a large truck has a higher center of gravity, improperly loaded cargo can cause a dangerous weight shift around a curve, causing a tip-over or rollover accident.
  • Truck drivers have demanding jobs and sometimes use substances to cope with stress or stay awake far too long. When a truck driver violates hours of service rules or engages in any egregious negligence behind the wheel, they can face sole liability for any damage they cause to others.
  • Large trucks spend more time on the road than most other vehicles. This, in turn, means more wear and tear on the vehicle’s mechanical components and a much greater maintenance requirement compared to a standard passenger car. If a mechanic or any other party responsible for maintaining a commercial truck fails to perform appropriate maintenance, they could cause an accident and face liability for the resulting damage.

These are only a few examples of the unique risk factors pertaining to truck accidents in the Bakersfield area. The inherently complex nature of these cases demands the attention of trustworthy legal counsel.

Proving Liability for a Truck Accident in Bakersfield, CA

California uses a fault-based system to resolve vehicle accidents. This means that before an injured driver can secure any type of compensation after an accident, they must firmly prove fault for the accident. Most truck accident claims result from negligence, but it’s also possible for intentional misconduct or even criminal behavior to result in a devastating truck accident.

The first step in your recovery will be identifying the party or parties responsible for causing the accident. Your Bakersfield truck accident lawyer will be invaluable for this, helping you gather evidence and testimony from various sources to bolster your claim. If you are accused of being partially responsible for causing your accident, you will need an experienced attorney’s assistance to help you counter such claims and preserve your recovery.

The state enforces a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning a plaintiff could face partial liability for their damages but still can claim compensation from the defendant. When a plaintiff is partially liable, their percentage of fault for causing the accident in question is how much they will lose from their final case award. For example, a plaintiff who bears 25% fault in a $1 million claim could lose as much as $250,000 to reflect their comparative negligence. Depending on the scope of damages you are seeking from the defendant, even a slight partial fault can make a significant dent in your total recovery.

Claiming Compensation from the Defendant

You can seek recovery from all the economic losses you suffered in your recent truck accident. For most plaintiffs, these economic damages are likely to include:

  • Medical expenses for all the treatment you require to fully heal from your injuries. This includes both immediate and long-term medical expenses resulting from your truck accident. Many victims of these damaging incidents suffer traumatic injuries like broken bones, brain damage, spinal cord injury, and more. The defendant is liable for both immediate treatment costs after the accident and those the plaintiff incurs in the future for managing symptoms and rehabilitation.
  • Lost income and lost earning potential. Most truck accident victims won’t be able to work until they recover. If this applies to your situation, the defendant who caused your truck accident is liable for the wages you would have earned if they hadn’t caused the crash. Additionally, any plaintiff who is completely unable to return to work after their accident can hold the defendant accountable for the income they are no longer able to earn.
  • Property damage, such as vehicle repair costs, could be covered by the defendant’s auto insurance, but in the event that the plaintiff’s property losses exceed the defendant’s insurance coverage, any outstanding losses can be included in your personal injury action.

Once you have reliable legal counsel working on your case, you will be far more likely to maximize the compensation you obtain from your personal injury action. Remember that your recovery does not extend solely to immediate and future medical expenses and other economic damages. State law also permits you to claim pain and suffering compensation.

The average person may find it difficult to think of an appropriate financial figure to reflect an abstract loss like physical pain or emotional distress. Your Bakersfield truck accident attorney can assist you in determining a suitable figure based on the severity of your experience, the likelihood that you will experience long-term or permanent harm from the accident, and the total amount of economic losses the defendant caused. There is no limit to how much pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff can claim from a defendant. Your Bakersfield truck accident attorney can help you determine a fair amount to seek based on the scope and severity of the accident’s impact on your life.

Contact Our Bakersfield Truck Accident Attorneys Today

The attorneys at the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, have years of professional experience guiding clients through a wide range of personal injury cases, including those generated by damaging truck accidents in the Bakersfield area. When you choose our firm to represent your truck accident claim, we will take time to carefully evaluate the full scope of the economic damages you suffered, the long-term medical complications you are likely to face, and the nature of the defendant’s behavior that led to the crash.

We know how difficult a truck accident claim can be to win compared to a standard car accident, and our goal is to help every client we represent have some peace of mind in recovery while we manage their legal affairs. If another party is responsible for the truck accident you experienced, there is no reason you should be left to bear the cost of their negligence or misconduct. Contact the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, today and schedule a consultation with a Bakersfield truck accident attorney and find out how we can assist with your recovery.

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