Truck accidents are all too common these days, happening nearly 11 times every single day in this country on average, and killing nearly 4,000 people each year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Due their massive size and weight, when commercial trucks collide with other vehicles, like passenger cars, the end result significant damage.
On top of that, more than 100,000 people are injured every year in truck crashes. And the numbers have been getting worse: truck crash fatalities have increased since 2009, as an improving economy leads to more goods being shipped on American highways and more pressure being placed on trucking companies, and drivers, to get the loads delivered on time.
Who is responsible when it comes to truck accidents?
When it comes to truck accidents, there are multiple different people who may be responsible for a victim’s injuries, including:
- the truck’s driver
- the owner of the truck or trailer
- the person or company that leased the truck or trailer from the owner
- the manufacturer of the vehicle, tires, or other parts that may have contributed to the cause or severity of the accident, and
- the shipper or loader of the truck’s cargo (in cases involving improper loading)
The major trucking companies will hire lawyers immediately after a truck accident and have them on the scene the same day, if possible. You should do the same. The experienced truck accident attorneys at the law offices of Howard A. Kitay know how to preserve all of the important pieces of evidence for you. They know how to secure the scene of an accident and take necessary photographs and statements. This is very critical because significant pieces of evidence helpful to you can be lost, misplaced or be purposely destroyed by the trucking companies.
Truck accidents include tractor-trailers, big rigs, semi-trailer trucks, and 18-wheelers. No matter what they are called, these trucks can the accidents that these large commercial vehicles can cause are truly catastrophic. Our truck accident lawyers represent clients throughout San Diego who have suffered serious personal injuries – like spinal cord injuries, property damage or the loss of a family member in a truck accident. Such accidents commonly involve:
- Distracted truck drivers
- Intoxicated truck drivers
- Sleep deprived truck drivers
- Overloaded or unsafe trucks
- Hit and run
- Rear end collisions
- Rollovers
- Truck driver error or negligence
- Truck defect or malfunction
- Trucking company negligence
- No-Zone truck accidents
When you or a loved one has been the victim of any of these types of truck accidents, it should be the responsible truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer that bears the majority of the burdens of the accident.
What to do after a truck accident?
- Call 911 to report the truck accident immediately. Notify your insurance company that you were involved in an accident.
- Seek qualified medical treatment for any injuries you suffered. If you do not have health insurance, contact a qualified personal injury lawyer who can help you find a doctor.
- Do not give a written or recorded statement to the trucking company, an investigator hired by the trucking company, or the trucking company’s insurance provider.
- Do not sign anything from your insurance company or that of the at-fault party before consulting with an attorney.
- In the case of serious injury or wrongful death, hire an experienced trucking accident attorney in San Diego at the law offices of Howard A. Kitay as soon as possible.
After you or a loved one experience a truck accident, you will want the best legal representation possible in order to be fully compensated for the damages that you and your family have incurred. Our experienced San Diego truck accident attorneys at the law offices of Howard A. Kitay are dedicated to helping injured truck accident victims pursue the compensation they deserve. Contact our office today at (619) 442-0542 for a free initial legal consultation.