Truck Accident

Truck accidents in Orange County often leave victims with serious if not fatal injuries. Survivors may face heavy financial burdens to cover the costs of medical care and rehabilitative therapy. Additionally, many accident victims lose income because they physically can’t work like they used to – if they can even work at all. Sadly, many people’s lives are forever changed by a single moment of negligence.

At Silverthorne Attorneys, our law firm is exclusively focused on complex personal injury cases. We have helped many California truck accident victims claim compensation for the mental and physical anguish they have been through. Our Orange County truck accident lawyers are committed to maximizing the value of our clients’ cases because we understand the great extent of losses they face.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it’s important to hire a lawyer who knows the law and can help you get the compensation you deserve. At Silverthorne Attorneys, we have a team of experienced truck accident attorneys who know how to fight for the maximum compensation available under the law. We won’t stop fighting until we get you the justice you deserve.

To learn how we can help you after a serious truck accident, contact us now. Our trusted legal team will review your case for free, and there is no charge for our services unless we win compensation for you.

What Makes Commercial Truck Accident Claims So Complex?

Accidents involving large commercial trucks are much different from those involving only passenger cars. The personal injury claims process in these cases is complicated by several factors, including:

Multiple potentially liable parties. There are many different players involved in a truck’s operation, including the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance company, the cargo loaders, the manufacturer of the truck and truck parts, etc. Determining who contributed to your truck crash requires an extensive investigation and knowledge of the trucking industry.

Complex rules and regulations. There are a multitude of federal and state laws governing the trucking industry. After a crash, you need an attorney who understands these regulations and can prove when a truck driver or trucking company violated them.

More catastrophic injuries. Because commercial motor vehicles are exponentially larger than regular passenger cars, the impact of a crash typically leaves victims with life-altering injuries. These types of catastrophic injuries are more difficult to treat and require more time to heal. In many cases, victims never fully recover to the life they once had. This makes obtaining full compensation crucial to ensure you have the best possible treatment and resources to move forward.

More money on the line. Higher insurance policy limits and more costly injuries mean there is more money on the line in truck accident claims. Trucking companies and insurers will do everything in their power to minimize the value of claims. They may try to pin blame on you or underestimate the impact of your injuries. Our seasoned Orange County truck accident attorneys know all their tactics and will aggressively pursue the maximum amount of financial compensation you deserve.

Determining Who Is Responsible After a Semi Truck Accident

Very often, truck drivers endanger the lives of other motorists and pedestrians through negligence. However, there are a number of other parties that may be responsible for a crash. For example, a truck accident may be a result of:

Irresponsible recruitment on the part of the trucking company – Trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure that their drivers are qualified and safe to operate a truck. This includes conducting a thorough background check and ensuring that the driver has the proper training. If a trucking company fails to do this, they may be liable for any damages caused by an accident.
Lack of training for drivers by the trucking company – If a trucking company does not provide their drivers with proper training, they may be liable for any damages caused by an accident. This is because the drivers may not be fully aware of how to operate the truck safely, which could lead to an accident. In order to avoid this, it is important for trucking companies to provide their drivers with adequate training. This will help to ensure that everyone is safe on the road.
Pressure from the trucking company to drive beyond hours of service limitations, and the fear of losing one’s job, are two factors that may lead truckers to violate safety regulations. Truck drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving time per day and 60 hours of work per week. However, many truckers exceed these limits in order to meet deadlines and deliver their loads on time. This can lead to fatigue, impaired judgment, and dangerous accidents.
Improper loading or securing of cargo can result in serious accidents. Cargo that is not properly secured can shift in transit, leading to a number of problems. In order to avoid such accidents, it is important to properly secure your cargo. This can be done by using proper straps and ties, and by making sure that the cargo is packed tightly.
Negligent and careless driving – Negligent truck drivers are a menace on the road. They often drive too fast for the conditions, or they take risks that endanger other drivers. This can result in collisions and serious injuries.
Faulty repair work and maintenance – When it comes to truck accidents, faulty road repair work and maintenance is often a major contributing factor. Poorly maintained roads can create hazardous driving conditions, and when trucks are forced to drive over these areas, it can lead to serious accidents. Drivers need to be aware of these dangers and take care when driving on poorly maintained roads.
Faulty manufacturing – Truck manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their trucks are safe to operate on the road. When trucks are manufactured with defects, this can lead to truck accidents. Truck defects can include problems with the brakes, the steering, the engine, and more. If a truck is not operating properly, it can be a danger to other drivers on the road.
Poor road design and maintenance – Poor road design and maintenance can lead to truck accidents. For example, a truck might lose control on a curve because the road is too narrow. Potholes can also cause trucks to lose control or flip over.

An experienced Orange County truck accident attorney from our firm can help you explore every possible avenue for compensation after your crash. We have many years of experience handling these types of cases, and we have the resources to go up against powerful trucking companies and insurers.

To learn more about how we can help with your case, contact us now for a free consultation.

Demanding Maximum Compensation for You

Victims and their families face a long and arduous battle in healing from a truck accident, both mentally and physically. Most individuals do not know the extent of compensation that they are entitled to for their injuries or losses. A fair truck accident settlement should cover much more than your initial medical expenses. You deserve compensation for the full range of losses you endure as a result of your wreck.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, that may include payment for:

Medical expenses such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, X-rays and other imaging tests, medications, etc.
Future treatment needs such as rehabilitative therapy, ongoing medications, and future anticipated surgeries
Assistive mobility devices such as wheelchairs, as well as accommodations to your home
Long-term care needs
Lost income for time you missed from work
Lost earning capacity for the future
Physical and emotional pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Losses related to a wrongful death

You cannot trust an insurance adjuster to fairly assess your case and offer you a full settlement. After all, the insurance adjuster’s job is to pay out as little as possible on trucking accident claims. That’s why you need an experienced Orange County truck accident lawyer on your side to advocate aggressively for the fair compensation you deserve.

To get started on your trucking accident case, contact Silverthorne Attorneys now. The consultation is free, and there is no charge unless we win money for you.

Major Causes of Big Rig Truck Accidents

Big rigs are one of the largest vehicles you will probably ever encounter on the road. They can span up to 75 feet in length and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. As you can imagine, these vehicles can cause some of the most devastating injuries in collisions. Each year, there are around half a million big rig accidents across the United States. Every year, around 5,000 people die from those accidents.

The rate of death in a truck accident is much higher than in an auto accident. In fact, although truck accidents make up only about 7% of all motor vehicle crashes, they account for 12% of all traffic fatalities.

The most common causes of truck collisions are:

Lack of sleep for the driver (fatigued driving)
Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
Failure to yield
Driving under the influence
Aggressive driving
Dangerous turns
Unfamiliarity with routes
Tire blowout
Overloaded trucks
Poor weather conditions
Hazards in the roadway or poorly maintained roads

After a truck accident, you need an experienced attorney who can quickly preserve the evidence before it is lost or destroyed. Driver logs, the truck’s black box, trucking company records, surveillance videos, and other evidence can all help piece together what happened. Our Orange County truck accident lawyers also work with experts who can reconstruct the crash to show what caused it.

Truck Accident Statistics

Thousands of people throughout California and across the United States are seriously injured or killed in truck accidents each year. Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation show:

More than 100,000 large trucks and buses are involved in crashes resulting in injury each year.
About 5,000 large trucks and buses are involved in fatal crashes each year.
67% of the deaths in truck accidents are occupants of cars or other passenger vehicles; 16% are truck occupants; 15% are pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.
11% of all motor vehicle crash deaths involve large trucks.
33% of fatal truck crashes occur on interstates and freeways; 52% occur on major roads (other than interstates and freeways); 14% occur on minor roads.
Half of fatal truck accidents occur from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
83% of fatal large truck crashes occurs on weekdays.

How Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Orange County Can Help You

If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a truck accident, call Silverthorne Attorneys immediately for assistance. A qualified Orange County accident lawyer from our firm will review your case for free and answer all of your questions. You can trust our skilled legal team to:

Launch an immediate investigation into your crash to collect and preserve all the evidence.
Identify every party that may share responsibility for your crash
Manage all communication with trucking companies and insurers
Ensure you are able to find the medical treatment you need
Help with your property damage claim to get your car repaired or replaced
Negotiate aggressively for a full settlement and be ready to take your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Throughout the duration of your case, we are here to guide you through the process. We manage all the details and keep you updated on what is happening. We are always available to talk when you need us.

To get started, contact our truck accident law firm today for a free case review. There is no fee or obligation for your consultation. And we charge absolutely no legal fee until we have won your case for you.

Orange County Truck Accident Lawyer