Santa Rosa Truck Accident Attorney

As a typical driver, someone who drives for personal reasons like work, school, errands, and visiting friends, you share the road with millions of commercial trucks every year. You may not see semi-trucks in town often. However, getting on the highway is another story. It is hard to pass a mile of interstate without seeing at least one semi carrying a load to a customer or returning to the warehouse for more cargo. Large trucks on the road are a common sight, and you may not think too much about them until the day you are involved in an accident with one. On that day, you learn that truck accidents are often far more serious than car crashes, and afterward, you need the help of a Santa Rosa truck accident lawyer. To discuss how an attorney can help you seek compensation after a collision, call the Brod Law Firm today.

Following a collision involving a commercial truck, you will need to know what or who caused the accident. Some common reasons for truck accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Failing to maintain a proper lookout
• Speeding or other moving violations
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Alcohol (the legal limit for commercial drivers is .04%)
• Drug use, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs
• Negligent hiring by the trucking company
• Inadequate driver training or experience
• Negligent truck maintenance
• Truck or part defects
• Too heavy or improperly loaded cargo
• Poor weather and environmental conditions

Truck driver error is one of the top causes of trucking accidents. A trucker could be impaired by drugs or alcohol. They could be driving too long, violating hours of service regulations, and then driving while drowsy. A driver who is in a hurry could speed and drive recklessly, attempting to meet a deadline. Many truckers cause a serious error simply based on lack of training, inexperience, and lack of familiarity with the route. After being in an accident, it is essential that you work with a truck accident lawyer in Santa Rosa who can investigate the collision, determine what happened, and then determine liability.

Liability for a trucking accident often depends on the underlying cause of the accident. If the reason for the accident was a design or manufacturing defect on a vehicle part, then the manufacturer may be responsible. However, many truck accidents are the truck driver’s fault. If that driver is an employee of a trucking company, your claim is going to be against that business. However, if the driver was independent and carries his or her own auto insurance, your claim may be against the driver.

Determining fault and legal liability after a truck accident is complicated. It often takes a vigorous discovery process, during which your lawyer will gather as much evidence as possible from the other parties involved, including the trucker, trucking company, and manufacturer. Your attorney will also seek a copy of the data electronically stored by the truck in its “black box.” All of this enables your lawyer to piece together the facts and build your case.

Another issue that impacts truck accident liability are federal and state regulations. Motor companies and truck drivers must adhere to a number of regulations regarding their vehicles, cargo, and working hours. If the truck involved in your accident was violating one or more regulation, this may support the trucking company being liable for your injuries. A Santa Rosa truck accident attorney at the Brod Law Firm can further explain potential issues with liability after a truck accident.

In a personal injury claim, you can pursue:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Mental distress
• Permanent disfigurement or disability

After losing a loved one in a truck accident, your family may seek:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of your relative’s financial contributions
• Loss of your relative’s employment benefits
• Loss of your relative’s companionship, care, and society
• For spouses, loss of an intimate relationship
• Mental anguish

If you were injured in a truck accident or lost a loved one, you may not be up for a tough legal battle. However, pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death claim may be the only way to hold the at-fault party responsible. The compensation, while it cannot instantly fix the situation, enables you to take care of the financial ramifications of the accident and move forward in life.

To discuss your options contact a truck accident attorney for Santa Rosa at the Brod Law Firm at (800) 427-7020 to schedule a free case evaluation.