Whether it happens on a highway or on city streets, a collision with a large truck can leave you with serious injuries that take a major toll on you and your family. You may be unable to work or care for the people who depend on you. Medical debts and other costs can add up quickly.
Truck drivers have a legal responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. If they fail in this duty and you suffer real damages because of it, you may have the right to seek financial compensation. Our San Francisco truck accident lawyers will fight for the justice you deserve.
Our legal team at Sweet James has experience with helping injured accident victims for more than 25 years. We are ready to fight for you. Call for your free consultation and learn how our California truck accident lawyers can help.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents are different from car accidents because, in many cases, there is more than one liable party. Our truck accident lawyers will investigate the crash to determine who is responsible. Examples include:
- The truck driver: The driver has a legal obligation to operate their truck safely at all times. If they failed to do so, they may be found negligent.
- The trucking company: The company could be liable due to a legal concept called vicarious liability, or if they were negligent in other areas, such as maintenance or hiring practices.
- Another motorist: A third driver could share liability if they contributed to the accident, even if they were not actually involved in the collision.
- Maintenance company: A third-party repair company may be partially or fully responsible for the accident if they allowed a dangerous vehicle on the road.
Our personal injury lawyers will review evidence such as the truck’s Event Data Recorder, police report, dash cam footage, and witnesses’ testimony to better understand what happened. Our truck wreck lawyers will seek maximum compensation from all available sources.
How Much Is a Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your claim usually depends on the extent of your injuries. Extremely serious and catastrophic injuries can mean settlements in the millions of dollars, but most truck accident cases settle for much less.
Our San Francisco personal Injury lawyers will review your hardships to get a full understanding of the impact the toll the accident has taken on you and your family. You may be able to recover costs associated with:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future medical care needs
- Out-of-pocket costs you incurred due to the accident, like housekeeping or rideshares.
- Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering
In rare cases where the trucking company operated with extreme negligence or illegally, a court may award you punitive damages. These are intended to punish the defendant and serve as a deterrent against similar behaviors in the future.
What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Our truck crash attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no fee or cost until we win. We take our fee as a percentage of your award or settlement, not upfront. We believe our services should be available to everyone, no matter their financial situation.
Can I Still Get Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault?
California’s pure comparative negligence system means you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for an accident. However, the amount you can receive will be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility.
While this can be helpful in some circumstances, it also presents a way for insurers to attempt to reduce the amount you are owed. Our San Francisco truck accident attorneys will fight to show your role in the accident and ensure that blame is placed on the right parties.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in California?
California law only gives you a certain amount of time to file your claim after an accident. For most personal injury cases, like truck accidents, your deadline to sue someone is two years from the date of the crash.
Various factors can lengthen or shorten this time period, so don’t put off contacting an attorney. Our truck accident lawyers in San Francisco can handle your claim, make sure you meet deadlines, and help you avoid common mistakes that could harm your legal standing.
Talk to Our San Francisco Truck Accident Attorneys
Most truck drivers who handle large semi-trucks and 18-wheelers take safety very seriously. They know how much damage their vehicles can inflict in accidents. But it only takes one negligent or inexperienced driver to leave you with serious and expensive injuries.
The trucking company and its insurer may do everything they can to stop you from getting the settlement you need to recover from the hardships they have inflicted. Our San Francisco truck accident attorneys can manage your case and work to get the compensation you are entitled to.
When you are hurt in an accident and need help, Sweet James delivers personalized service that’s focused on you. Call now to schedule your free consultation and tell us about your truck accident.
Sweet James Accident Attorneys
San Francisco Location
1 Sansome St. Suite 3500
San Francisco, CA 94104
(800) 900-0000
