Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyers

Were Your or a Loved One Injured in a California Truck Accident?

AWARD-WINNING SACRAMENTO, CA TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

Call The Heavy Hitters^TM!

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck, you need a formidable truck accident lawyer on your side. Curtis Legal Group knows how to manage the complexities of large truck accident cases and aggressively fight for your rights to receive the full compensation you are entitled to under the law.

Big rig accidents are different from any other type of motor vehicle accident. Not only do the injuries tend to be more severe, it is not unusual at all for a truck accident to result in a wrongful death.

Making things more complicated, the victims must often fight an uphill battle against well-funded trucking companies, their corporate lawyers, and insurance adjusters who are very experienced in denying and avoiding responsibility, even in cases of wrongful death. Given the dramatic consequences, we highly recommend working with an experienced and trusted local California truck accident lawyer at Curtis Legal Group.

Truck Accident Victims: What You Should Do Next

The first action you should take after the accident is seek medical attention. Most people who survive truck wrecks involving 18-wheelers are taken from the scene via ambulance. Even if you are one of the rare truck accident victims who does not have catastrophic injuries or obvious signs of physical or emotional trauma immediately following the accident, you should still get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as you can. Often, injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents do not manifest immediately. Whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bystander, if you were injured in a trucking accident you need a thorough head-to-toe checkup.

If you are able to, gather as much information at the accident scene as you can. In a truck wreck, it may be difficult to speak to the truck driver in order to get their insurance information and trucking company details as they will try to avoid taking blame for the accident. If you find the truck driver does not want to speak to you, ask the police to help. The police will secure the scene and document what happened in a police report that will include important company and insurance details.

Make sure to take pictures and videos to document the scene of the accident if you can, or ask a witness to take pictures and videos if you are too injured to do this yourself. This evidence will be critical for our legal team to use while helping you in your case against the trucking company and any other responsible parties.

Then, as soon as you can, contact our experienced truck accident attorneys to represent you. You might think that you have plenty of time to worry about a lawsuit, but truck accidents are different than other types of motor vehicle crashes. The trucking companies and other involved parties are used to handling the fallout from severe accidents. In fact, they often have damage control teams ready to jump into action as soon as a collision occurs.

To level the playing field, you need to have your legal team in place. At Curtis Legal Group, we know what to do in the immediate aftermath of a trucking accident.

We will take steps to make sure all evidence is preserved and will shield you from the aggressive trucking and insurance company representatives who will try to get you to settle your case for much less than you deserve. It is of paramount importance that you have legal representation and that you never directly speak with anyone from the trucking company or the insurance companies. Their only agenda is finding ways to reduce their liability at your expense. Trust your own personal injury lawyers to manage all communications and keep you and your family’s interests secure.

Why You Should Hire Our Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Case

Big rig accidents often result in serious injuries to the drivers and passengers in the smaller vehicles involved, along with any pedestrians. Injuries are often catastrophic. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and broken bones are extremely common following a collision with a big truck. Victims often suffer traumatic brain injuries and spine injuries, which can lead to paralysis, chronic pain, permanent impairment, and death.

These types of physical and emotional injuries can alter the accident victim’s life dramatically. The damages you and your family may face include:

• Lost wages, loss of future earning potential, and loss of the ability to support the family
• Medical bills that can keep piling up for years
• Bills to cover ongoing treatments and therapies and, in the most catastrophic cases, long-term in-patient rehabilitative care
• Pain, suffering, and unimaginable emotional distress that can manifest in all sorts of psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe anxiety

Your Curtis Legal Group California-based trucking accident attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you deserve so you and your family can live as normal and worry-free a life as possible following the tragic accident.

Determining Fault in a Big Rig Crash

Our truck accident lawyers are dedicated to making sure you receive the compensation you deserve after a trucking accident. We will investigate who is responsible and hold them accountable. Because truck wrecks are much more involved than car crashes, as your counsel we will explore several options when determining who was at fault. Typically, one or more of the following could be at fault in the crash:

• The truck driver. We will investigate whether the truck driver was at fault. Often, there will be evidence that the driver was speeding, engaging in distracted driving (texting while driving, for example), fell asleep at the wheel, or was driving while impaired (using alcohol or prescription medication, for instance). The driver may have driven too long without a break, contrary to law, or may have been engaging in other reckless and dangerous behaviors.
• The trucking company. We will look for evidence that the trucking company required its truckers to be on the road for longer hours than allowed by law or that it didn’t properly maintain the vehicle it provided to the driver. Other issues pointing to truck company liability include engaging in unlawful hiring practices — for instance hiring unqualified or unsafe drivers — or allowing trucks that are unsuitable for the cargo at issue to be used in the haul.
• Other parties. We will look for lapses by truck mechanics, vehicle inspectors, component part manufacturers, and anyone else who may have contributed to the accident.

How much is my truck accident case worth?

In order to give you an idea of how much your case could be worth, we would need you to contact our office and speak directly with one of our California truck accident attorneys. After listening to the facts of your case, and based on our experience, we will be able to give you a general estimate of your case value range. Once we conduct an investigation and compile research, we will be able to give you a more accurate estimate of how much your case could be worth.

Should I hire a lawyer after a truck accident?

It is never advisable to represent yourself against trucking companies, drivers, insurance companies, and others if you want to get the compensation you deserve.  Insurance companies are in the business of making money and that means they will do all they can to pay out as little as possible. When you hire a lawyer, you have a much better chance of getting the compensation you deserve for your truck accident injuries.

How much will it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?

It costs you absolutely nothing to hire Curtis Legal Group to represent you. Our personal injury attorneys will not charge you at all unless and until you are compensated for your injuries. Not only will Curtis Legal Group work diligently on your behalf without charging any upfront fees, but we will pay all of the necessary out-of-pocket costs of moving your case forward, which could include investigating the accident, bringing in forensic experts, and finding and questioning witnesses. If necessary, we will incur all of the costs of preparing for and taking your case to trial. We are paid a percentage of your recovery only after your case is concluded and you are awarded financial compensation for your losses.

How common are truck accidents?

A trucking accident occurs when large tractor-trailers — 10,000 or more lbs. — collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. Nearly 3,000 of these large truck accidents result in injuries on California roads each year, with approximately 150 of those resulting in deaths. The majority of serious truck accidents occur on freeways, so the more time you spend driving on the interstate, the greater your risk of being injured or killed in a tractor-trailer accident or a delivery truck accident.

What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

Most truck accidents are the result of truck driver negligence or recklessness. The following are the most common actions that result in trucker and/or trucking company accident liability:

• Reckless and distracted driving
• Speeding
• Improperly switching lanes
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal substances
• Not allowing enough space for stopping or turning
• Sleep deprivation
• Violation of commercial motor vehicle laws

Can a law firm hold the trucking company liable for my injuries?

Yes, in many cases the trucking company is an at-fault party in a lawsuit for trucking crash damages. A trucking company has certain legal responsibilities and when it fails to meet those responsibilities, it can be held accountable. For instance, if the carrier that employs the driver fails to provide proper training, employs unqualified or previously disciplined drivers, or allows or encourages drivers to drive beyond the maximum number of legal hours, the trucking company can be deemed liable for any resulting injuries.

What are the main types of truck accident injuries?

Injuries from truck accidents are often quite severe. Small vehicles and pedestrians are just no match for an 18-wheeler. Back and spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, head and brain injuries, internal injuries, rib and torso injuries, lacerations, and broken bones are all common.

What should I do after a truck accident?

First, if you have not been transported to the hospital by the EMTs, you should immediately seek medical attention following your accident. Second, as soon as you or a loved one are able, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to make sure that all relevant evidence is preserved and your interests are protected. Even if the accident was partially your fault, you likely still have the right under California law to seek compensation for your injuries. Let your attorney sort out the issues of negligence and fault while you focus on recovering from your trauma.

Contact the Heavy Hitters Today to be Your California Truck Accident Lawyers

Curtis Legal Group is dedicated to helping you and your family recover physically, emotionally, and financially from the trauma you’ve experienced. Our goal is to secure the largest amount of financial compensation possible so you can rebuild your life. We understand the toll a trucking accident can take and we share your desire to reach a fair resolution as quickly as possible so you can move forward.

We also understand that we are up against adversaries whose only desire is to get away with paying as little as possible. We will aggressively negotiate on your behalf but we will never settle for less than you need or deserve. Our personal injury attorneys have earned a reputation for being fierce litigators, and we will not shy away from battling the at-fault parties in court when necessary.  Our team is experienced in presenting clients’ cases to juries and judges alike, and we know how to defeat defense arguments. No matter how your case proceeds, we will fight for you every step of the way.

At Curtis Legal Group, we focus on the legal process so you can focus on building back your life. If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident, contact our legal team today.