Did you or a loved one sustain injuries in a trucking accident near Walnut Creek, CA? If someone else was responsible, you might be entitled to compensation. An experienced Walnut Creek truck accident lawyer at The Herman Firm can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and much more, call us at 925-532-1977.
Since we were founded back in 2014, we’ve helped countless clients recover the money they need to move forward. In fact, we’ve already recovered millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims across the Bay Area.
Trucking companies start investigating accidents immediately. If you were injured in a truck accident, contact our law offices in Walnut Creek, California, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How The Herman Firm Can Help After a Truck Accident in Walnut Creek
If you were seriously injured, you probably need money to cover your medical bills and make up for your lost wages. You shouldn’t expect the insurance company to make it easy. Trucking companies and commercial insurance carriers aren’t on your side.
You deserve an experienced Walnut Creek personal injury lawyer to stand up for you. At The Herman Firm, our lawyers have nearly ten years of experience. We’ve been rated as Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars” and earned a spot on the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
If you hire us, our Walnut Creek personal injury attorneys will fight for you by:
- Gathering evidence to prove what caused your accident
- Locating every responsible party
- Identifying all insurance coverage
- Defending you if you’re blamed for causing the accident
- Calculating all of the damages you’ve suffered
- Negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement
- Fighting for you in court if the insurance company won’t play fair
You don’t have to handle your case alone. With an experienced lawyer by your side, you can greatly increase your chances of recovering the maximum compensation possible. Call for a free consultation today to learn more about an attorney-client relationship.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Walnut Creek, CA?
Tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other large trucks account for only 4% of the vehicles on the roads. Despite that, they’re responsible for about 9% of all fatal accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes data on truck crashes in the United States. In 2019, 5,005 large commercial trucks were involved in fatal car accidents. Another 119,000 large trucks were involved in accidents that caused injuries.
While the FMCSA hasn’t released formal data for 2020, preliminary research shows California ranks second in the nation for fatal truck accidents. At least 398 people died in fatal trucking accidents statewide in 2020.
In Contra Costa County alone, nine fatal truck crashes were reported in 2020. A further 108 people were injured in non-fatal accidents.
What Is My Walnut Creek Truck Accident Case Worth?
All trucking accident cases are unique. While they may share some common elements, the value of your case is highly personal to your situation. Our lawyers will conduct a detailed investigation before we put a dollar value on your claim.
The following factors will influence your case value:
- The cost of your medical treatment and other expenses
- The value of your lost wages during recovery
- Whether you’ll be able to work after recovery
- Whether you’ll require ongoing rehabilitation or medical care
- The impact of the injury on your quality of life and emotional wellbeing
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- Whether you contributed to the accident
- Available insurance coverage
Insurance companies have teams of lawyers who are hired to downplay the extent of your injuries. You deserve someone to help you fight back. To get the legal advice you deserve today, call our lawyers in Walnut Creek for a free case evaluation.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims?
It can be expensive to treat a serious injury. You might also be watching the bills pile up while you’re unable to work and earn a living.
California personal injury laws give victims the right to seek compensation for all of their economic damages (which are financial losses), including:
- Medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Property damage
You also have the right to seek damages for your non-economic losses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
In extreme cases, the court may even award punitive damages to punish the defendant for intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in California?
Probably. Under California law, you won’t lose your right to compensation entirely unless you are 100% to blame. California follows pure comparative negligence laws. If you’re found partially responsible, your settlement can be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
So, if you’re found to be 30% liable, you can take home 70% of your settlement or verdict.
We Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks can produce some of the most severe injuries imaginable. After all, trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Most of the time, occupants in smaller vehicles sustain the most serious injuries.
At The Herman Firm, we often represent clients who have sustained:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Chest injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Regardless of your injuries, you deserve to be compensated if you were hurt because someone else was careless. Our experienced lawyers will do everything we can to help. Just give us a quick call to schedule your free initial consultation today.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Walnut Creek, California?
The U.S. trucking industry is a $730 billion dollar industry. Today, truck drivers are under extreme pressure to deliver goods to consumers as quickly as possible. Many drivers cut corners and violate FMCSA hours-of-service rules to meet tight deadlines. That can lead to driver fatigue, distraction, and even drug use.
Of course, all of those factors can also lead to trucking accidents. Some of the most common causes of accidents involving big rigs and semis in California include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Violation of state and federal trucking regulations
- Failure to maintain the truck
- Failure to account for longer stopping times
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating, speeding, and aggressive driving
- Passing too closely to other vehicles
- Dangerous lane changes
- Dangerous turns
- Failure to check blind spots
- Racing through intersections and red lights
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Mechanical failures
- Worn tires or faulty brakes
- Inexperienced or unqualified truck drivers
If you were involved in a truck accident, it’s important to start collecting evidence soon after the accident. Our experienced attorneys in Walnut Creek are ready to get started, so call our law firm to schedule a free case review today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in California?
Many different factors can cause a truck accident. In the end, most truck accidents occur because someone was negligent.
Negligence requires proof that:
- The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty
- The breach caused your accident
- You sustained damages
Our experienced Walnut Creek truck accident attorneys will collect as much evidence as possible to establish these elements.
Valuable evidence may include:
- The truck driver’s hours-of-service log
- Cell phone records
- Toxicology reports
- Police reports
- Results of an NTSB investigation
- Maintenance and inspection records
- The truck driver’s qualifications, including their commercial driver’s license (CDL)
- Evidence from the truck’s black box recording device
- Evidence from the accident scene, including skid marks, debris, and more
We often hire accident reconstruction specialists to provide testimony in complex truck accident claims. With their help, you can count on us to build the strongest case possible.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Damages After a Truck Accident?
Many different parties can share liability for a truck accident. That can complicate matters. Even if the truck driver was at-fault, someone else might ultimately be responsible for paying your damages.
Examples of responsible parties include:
- The truck company
- Maintenance companies
- Inspection companies
- Companies responsible for the truck cargo
- Third-party drivers
- Government agencies
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts
- Employers of negligent third parties
To make sure you’re getting every dollar you deserve, it’s important to identify every party who is legally responsible for your accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in California?
A two-year statute of limitations applies in the state of California. That means you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit or risk losing your right to sue for damages. That two-year clock starts to run on the date of your accident.
Contact a Walnut Creek Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a truck accident in the East Bay Area? Call an experienced Walnut Creek truck accident lawyer at The Herman Firm for a free consultation today.