Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys

What Common Injuries Are Caused by Truck Accidents?

Due to the sheer size of tractor trailers and large trucks, commercial truck accidents typically cause catastrophic injuries to occupants of smaller vehicles. Catastrophic injuries affect the most vital parts of the body – often the brain or spine – and cause permanent impairment of bodily functioning, as well as disfigurement and significant pain.

Injuries that truck accidents victims often incur:

• Paralysis (quadriplegia and paraplegia)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Coma and vegetative states
• “Locked-in” syndrome after TBI
• Third and fourth-degree burns
• Amputation

Sadly, many truck accident victims do not survive these collisions. The large majority of people killed in truck accidents are motorists in smaller passenger vehicles. What makes this particularly tragic is that those killed in truck accidents often have no role in causing them.

Investigating the Cause of Your Truck Accident

Determining the cause of your truck accident is an essential part of your claim.

When appropriate, our Los Angeles firm employs our significant resources to investigate truck accidents and uncover any negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer.

We strive to hold the trucking industry completely accountable for negligent acts and regulatory violations – not only to obtain full compensation for our clients, but also to improve safety and prevent future harm to other motorists.

While each crash is unique, common causes of truck accidents include:

• Violating traffic laws (speeding, failing to yield, running red lights, etc.)
• Truck driver fatigue
• Aggressive driving
• Violating regulations for inspections and maintenance
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Violating “hours of service” regulations
• Improper loading of cargo
• Negligent hiring and supervision
• Defective truck parts

How Do You Gather Evidence to Support Your Truck Accident Case?

Investigating a truck accident is no simple task.

As soon as our truck accident lawyers learn of an injured client, we begin conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether a driver or company violated any safety regulations.

These investigations may include sending investigators and expert consultants to the scene of the accident and obtaining any possible evidence of negligence and fault.

In a truck accident case, evidence often includes:

• Witness statements – Witness accounts of the accident can prove critical in corroborating negligence claims. Witnesses can testify as to whether a truck driver was driving erratically or aggressively, whether part of the truck failed, or whether anything else unusual occurred.
• Electronic control modules (ECMs) – Also known as event data recorders or “black boxes,” these devices record information about the speed of the truck, whether the driver applied brakes, and additional information from just before an accident. Crash experts can retrieve and analyze a truck’s ECM data to assist with accident reconstruction.
• Truck cameras – Many trucking companies have started installing cameras inside their trucks, either facing the road, the driver, or both. If a truck had a camera, footage can help us determine whether the truck driver engaged in negligence or misconduct.
• Electronic logging devices – The FMCSA requires truck drivers to keep track of their hours using electronic logging devices (ELDs). Examining these ELDs can help determine whether a driver exceeded hours of service limits, risking fatigue.
• Trucking company records – Trucking companies should keep accurate records regarding the hiring and supervision of truck drivers. For example, records that indicate a company failed to perform the necessary drug and alcohol tests before an impaired truck driver crashed can constitute evidence of negligent supervision.

Whether we handle an insurance claim or lawsuit in civil court, our lawyers have the resources and strategies to find the information needed to pursue liability for our clients’ truck accident injuries.

Call Us 24/7 to Discuss a Possible Case

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys know that dealing with a catastrophic injury or an unexpected death can prove all-consuming. However, putting off calling the right law firm for too long can potentially damage your case.

The trucking company has its own investigators and legal team who will begin building a defense almost immediately after a crash. They will conduct their own evaluation of the crash and take any possible preemptive actions to minimize or avoid liability – long before a claim is ever filed.

These companies have their own aggressive legal teams, and so should you. If you wait too long to protect yourself by hiring an attorney, evidence can be lost, making it more challenging to identify and prove fault in an accident.

We do not waste any time working to build a strong case for our clients. The sooner someone calls, the sooner we can begin protecting their rights.

Contact our office online or call (866) 634-4525 today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with a Los Angeles truck accident attorney.