CALIFORNIA TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES & DEATHS

When we write about wrongful death as it relates to California truck accidents we are actually referring to a variety of scenarios, including: drivers or pedestrians killed by a truck driver and truck drivers killed by some type of roadway accident. Whatever the specifics when it comes to filing a lawsuit related to a truck accident death, the tragic reality of the events is not only emotionally devastating but it can also place a family in a stressful (if not dire) financial situation. The good news is that you have a legal option available to you that can help provide the financial support you are now missing in your life. While no amount of money will make the situation right, it can help. At Walch Law, we are dedicated to helping victims of serious personal injury accidents and wrongful death. One thing we strongly encourage anyone reading this to do is to consult with a truck accident attorney before accepting any type of settlement offer or letting too much time pass— both those all too common mistakes can leave a family taking far less money than they deserve or missing out on the opportunity to collect at all.

When it comes to truck accidents, it is simply not a fair fight. The average truck when loaded is between 80,000- 100,000 pounds. The average passenger car weighs around 4% of that. The sheer size of a truck creates a lot of limitations in their ability to drive safely and quickly respond to situations and avoid an accident the way a passenger vehicle can. Some examples of this include:

• Stopping distance: A truck needs almost three times more room to stop than a passenger vehicle does meaning that even the most observant truck driver may simply not have enough stopping distance to avoid a deadly accident.
• Blind Spots: Every car on the road has at least a small blind spot but trucks don’t just have one blind spot but multiple and they are all around the truck. That’s right, trucks have blind spots on the sides, in the front and in the rear of the vehicle.
• Rollover: Rollovers of any type are deadly and unpredictable and unfortunately the height and weight distribution of a truck make them much more likely to rollover.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CALIFORNIA TRUCK ACCIDENTS?

Of course the answer to that depends on the specifics of the accident but in many truck accident cases it is not just the driver of the truck but also his or her employer that can be held financially responsible for the injuries or death. The bad news is that this often dual responsibility makes truck accident cases complicated but the very good news in most cases means that your financial recovery as a victim is much higher because you are not limited by the policy limits of the driver that can so often severely limit other types of accident cases. The reasons an actual truck accident occur are pretty much identical to the reasons that any type of accident happens on the road—driver error, drunk driving, speeding, tailgating, ignoring the rules of the road, etc. And in many cases, the victim may also do something that contributes to the accident by driving too close to a truck or not recognizing the special needs of a truck (for instance, the need to make very wide turns)

So when and why would the truck company be responsible or partially responsible in a wrongful death or serious personal injury case? Here’s a look at some of the most common reasons:

• Hiring & Retention: Whether the company hired a driver that should not be on the road with such a large vehicle or they kept one that should have been fired or disciplined for an offense, the hiring ad retention practices of a trucking company are thoroughly examined in these cases to see if there was negligence and wrongdoing involved.
• Route Requirements: Truck drivers are often incentivized by their employers to complete routes at a pace that results in accident-producing actions like speeding and sleep deprivation. There are important state and federal rules around sleep and off the road time for drivers in an attempt to cut down on issues related to sleeping and distractions behind the wheel.
• Truck Maintenance: What was the condition of the equipment at the time of the accident? While the driver may have been the one behind the wheel when the accident happened, he or she may have been operating a vehicle that needed new tires, brakes or had some other type of maintenance issue that the trucking company should have attended to before letting the vehicle on the road.

Filing a California wrongful death or personal injury claim following a truck accident will always be worth your time and effort. Why? Because when you hire Walch Law Firm to handle your case, you will invest very little time or effort in the process and feel confident that we are working hard to get you the recovery you deserve. So what is your truck accident case worth? Of course that depends on many factors specific to your case and a lawyer should never guarantee you any specific number. What you can financially recover in a successful truck accident wrongful death lawsuit includes everything from the cost of all medical care and funeral expenses to pain and loss of companionship, among other things.

Are you dealing with a truck accident wrongful death and not sure where to begin? Start by giving us a call to set up your free consultation with us. This obligation-free consultation is all about you—answering your questions about how a wrongful death case works, providing you with resources and much more. At Walch Law, we are a family firm that has the experience you want handling your case. We know this is a stressful time and are here to make sure that your legal and financial rights to recover are asserted. Do not miss this important opportunity, give us a call today.