2024 What to Do After a Truck Accident in California?

Commercial trucking is an essential part of the supply chain of the United States. Every day, millions of trucks deliver goods and materials across the country, and many communities rely on commercial truck drivers for the goods they use all the time. However, large trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road, and accidents involving these vehicles happen for a variety of reasons.

If you recently suffered injuries in a truck accident, you need legal counsel you can trust to help you recover as fully as possible. The right attorney is an invaluable asset in this situation who can make your recovery process easier to manage and more likely to yield the compensation you expect. In fact, your attorney could uncover avenues of recovery that you did not know were available to you, revealing that your case is worth much more than you initially expected.

First Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

Your recovery from a commercial truck accident is likely to begin with an auto insurance claim followed by a personal injury claim, much like you could expect after most other vehicle accidents. However, truck accidents tend to raise difficult issues regarding liability, and victims often suffer severe damages that are much greater than what one might expect following a standard motor vehicle accident.

Medical attention should be your primary concern after any vehicle accident. Even if you believe you only sustained minor injuries, you should still see a doctor immediately so they can check for injuries that haven’t yet caused noticeable symptoms. Once you receive medical attention, it’s ideal to consult with an attorney before discussing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or pursuing any other recovery efforts.

An experienced attorney can help you navigate the various stages of your recovery efforts that you will face in the aftermath of your accident. First, you will need to firmly prove liability for the accident and determine the full extent of the damages you are entitled to claim from the defendant. Once you have proven fault, you can file your claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, and your attorney can deal with insurance company representatives for you. After recovering as much as you can through auto insurance, the next step of your case will be filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, seeking compensation for any damages their insurance cannot repay.

The Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, can provide compassionate and detail-oriented legal counsel for each step of this recovery process. Time is a crucial factor in your case because you have a limited window in which to file an auto insurance claim and another time limit in the form of the statute of limitations that applies to your personal injury case. The sooner you connect with a reliable attorney, the more likely you are to maximize your recovery.

FAQs

What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Truck Accident Claim?

If you plan to file a personal injury suit in response to the truck accident you recently experienced, California imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims. This time limit begins on the date a personal injury occurs, and the victim must file their claim within the statute, or they lose their chance to recover their damages. It will take time to compile what you will need for your case, so it is crucial to start working on it as soon as possible after your accident.

Should I Hire an Attorney After a Truck Accident?

A seasoned truck accident attorney is an invaluable asset if you intend to pursue compensation from the driver who injured you. The average person is likely to encounter legal challenges they will not be able to overcome on their own in this type of accident case. Truck accident cases tend to be more complex than typical vehicle accident claims, and the victim will need help to not only succeed with the case but also to maximize their total compensation.

What Compensation Can I Claim After a Truck Accident?

If you can prove another party is directly responsible for causing your recent truck accident, you have the right to hold them accountable for all financial losses they inflicted. These may include vehicle repair costs, medical bills, and lost income if you are unable to work due to your injuries. You may also claim pain and suffering compensation to reflect the severity of your experience, and punitive damages could come into play if the at-fault driver broke the law in causing the accident.

What Happens if I Was Partially Responsible for the Truck Accident?

California upholds a pure comparative fault rule that applies to any personal injury case in which the plaintiff shares fault with the defendant. If you are found partially liable, you will lose a percentage of the total compensation won from the defendant equal to your percentage of fault in causing the accident. For example, 20% fault means losing 20% of the total compensation won from the defendant.

How Much Does a Truck Accident Attorney Charge?

It’s natural to worry about legal fees when you need to hire an attorney to help you recover from a damaging accident, but this is no cause for concern if you choose the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC. Our contingency fee policy means that we only take a fee if we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the total compensation we recover for you. There is no fee at all if we are unsuccessful with your case.

The team at the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, has years of experience helping clients with all types of complex vehicle accident cases, including commercial truck accident claims. If you are unsure how to proceed with claiming compensation for your losses after this type of accident, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney and learn how our firm can assist you with your recovery efforts.