Irvine Truck Accident Attorney

Get Legal Insight From Our Truck Accident Attorneys on How to Determine Liability

Trucks carry a lot of power and weight, which may instill fear into drivers nearby. With the catastrophic damage that could come about from a truck accident, drivers are influenced to commit negligent actions to stay as far away from these large vehicles as they possibly can. However, speeding and cutting others off can only contribute to an unsafe environment for other drivers on the road.

Negligent car drivers are not the only common factor of a truck accident. Truck drivers have a duty of care to those on the road, just as car drivers do. However, truck drivers may breach their duty of care in order to keep up with their schedules. This includes speeding and exceeding normal work hours to avoid facing any consequences for falling behind on their schedules. Lack of sleep may also greatly affect the way a truck driver operates their large vehicle. These factors are dangerous and can increase the likelihood of a serious truck accident.

If you are a victim of a truck accident and would like to file a lawsuit against the driver at-fault, West Coast Trial Lawyers has Irvine truck accident attorneys with over 60 years of collective legal experience in handling personal injury cases. With our track record of recovering more than $1 billion in settlements for clients, we have been ranked as one of the top personal injury law firms in Irvine. 

If you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at our Irvine personal injury law firm, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (949) 207-9619 or emailing [email protected].

Determining Liability

Truck accidents can be caused by many circumstances, and others can even be no-fault truck accidents, too. California is a comparative negligence state, meaning that an at-fault driver may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages, even if they were partially at-fault for causing a truck accident.

While multiple parties can potentially be held liable for injuries and losses, proving liability will typically involve one or both of two legal theories: negligence and strict liability.

According to California negligence law, any truck driver found guilty of negligence can be held liable for causing injuries and damages to another motorist. However, the aggrieved party must prove that the truck driver was negligent in causing the accident.

California’s strict liability law states that designers, manufacturers, and even any companies involved in a product’s chain of distribution can all be held liable if one of their defective products contributes to a truck accident. In strict liability cases, negligence will not factor when determining liability, because any of these companies can be found liable whether or not they made any mistakes that contributed to the truck accident.

Potential guilty parties in truck accidents may include the following.

• The truck driver. All trucks are subject to state and federal laws and regulations to minimize accident risks, however, truck drivers are often under immense pressure to meet their deadlines. This will trigger them to perform reckless or negligent actions to keep up with their schedules.
• The trucking company. Trucking companies may intentionally or recklessly violate transportation regulations or safety requirements to increase their profit margins. These companies may be held liable for violating rules and regulations and will likely face legal repercussions for any injuries or damages that took place in the accident.
• Designers, manufacturers, or any companies involved in a product’s chain of distribution. They will be held accountable if a defective truck part causes, or contributes to causing, a truck accident.
• Other driver(s). If one or more drivers commit negligent actions, such as speeding or driving under the influence, near a truck, it can create an unsafe environment that will most likely result in an accident. Drivers who contributed any ounce of negligence to the accident will be held liable for damages.

Truck Accident Settlement

Truck accident victims who sustain serious injuries will typically need immediate medical attention. Costly, long-term medical treatment may be required for the truck driver to make a full recovery. Injuries may also prevent the truck driver from returning to work until they are healed and physically capable of performing tasks as they were prior to the accident. Unfortunately, this could cause financial hardships since the truck driver is not making any income to pay off their expenses.

However, a truck driver may be eligible to receive compensation for damages. It is encouraged for accident victims to reach out to a personal injury attorney. The attorney will guide you through the process of building a strong claim and will negotiate with insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve for your losses. Settlement offers may vary depending on the case, but among the considerations factored in include:

• Severity of injuries
• Lost wages
• Property damages
• Current and future medical expenses
• Wrongful death

Contact Us

If you were involved in a truck accident and would like to file a lawsuit against the party at-fault, West Coast Trial Lawyers has Irvine truck accident attorneys who are readily available to help you with your case.

To schedule a free consultation at our Irvine personal injury law firm, contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (949) 207-9619 or emailing [email protected].