If you sustained injuries in a serious truck collision on a local highway, you may be facing significant physical, emotional, and financial stress. A Modesto truck accident lawyer at our firm could guide you through the complex process of seeking compensation for your injuries, lost income, and other damages.
Pursuing a truck injury claim can involve intricate rules and powerful insurance companies. An experienced truck wreck attorney at Curtis Legal Group could help you identify liable parties, including truck drivers, employers, maintenance providers, cargo owners, or public entities. We could work hard on your behalf and make sure to build your case on solid legal grounds.
Liability in Truck Accidents
Under California Vehicle Code § 17150, trucking companies and other vehicle owners may be held responsible when someone operating their truck causes injury or death. In addition, the doctrine of respondeat superior allows employers to be vicariously liable for truck drivers’ negligence. Consequently, if a driver behaves carelessly by speeding or violating safety regulations, the accident victim could pursue a truck collision claim against the driver and their employer.
Liability may also extend beyond employer‑driver relationships. For example, cargo owners could be responsible if improper loading or securing of freight contributes to a crash. If faulty repairs lead to brake or equipment failure, then maintenance providers could also be held responsible for the crash.
Additionally, California follows a pure comparative negligence system. That means, if you brake late or otherwise share fault for the accident, you may still be able to recover partial compensation. Your percentage of fault could reduce your compensation by that amount. An experienced attorney from our Modesto office could help you protect your rights during your truck collision case.
Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Cases
In most truck accident cases, you have two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. However, there are important exceptions:
- If the injured party is a minor, the clock generally does not start until they reach age 18
- If injuries did not immediately become apparent, they may benefit from the discovery rule, which can extend the filing time
- If the crash resulted in wrongful death, surviving family members could face different deadlines, depending on when the death occurred
- If your claim is against a government agency, you must first meet a six-month deadline for submitting a notice of claim, followed by an additional period to file suit
Missing these deadlines (even by a single day) could prevent you from pursuing compensation. Hiring a Modesto attorney who understands the deadlines for filing truck wreck claims is important.
Why Should You Hire a Truck Wreck Lawyer?
Preserving your truck accident injury claim goes beyond following deadlines. It is also about preserving evidence and maximizing your ability to recover what you deserve. You need to obtain truck maintenance logs, black-box data, driver logs, and witness statements while they remain fresh. A skilled truck crash attorney from our Modesto office could act quickly to secure this evidence and manage complexities such as multiple defendants or insurance company defenses.
Our experienced lawyers at Curtis Legal Group could communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf. We could also explore all your possible compensation avenues. These can include medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and permanent impairment.
Call Our Modesto Attorneys After a Tractor-Trailer Collision
If you suffered injuries in a tractor-trailer crash, a Modesto truck accident lawyer at our firm could help you assert your rights and pursue compensation. We recognize how stressful and disorienting post-accident life can be. Call our team at Curtis Legal Group today to schedule a free consultation.
