Truck Accident Lawyer

Car accidents frequently happen in California where the roadways stretch as far as the eye can see. Imagine a car accident blocking those intersecting roadways. Now imagine the damage caused to one of those vehicles by a fully loaded commercial truck that weighs up to 25 times more than the average car. The potential vehicle damages, medical expenses and psychological injuries from a commercial truck can be overwhelming. If you or someone you know has been in this type of crash, you need a commercial truck accident lawyer from Rizio Lipinsky Heiting to help you navigate the legal settlement process.

The Unique Dangers of Commercial Trucks

Unlike you, commercial truck drivers are held to higher legal standards because of the differences in their vehicles. Sometimes referred to as “big rigs“, the significant weight increase of these trucks makes the impact with them much more catastrophic. Because commercial trucks typically weigh 80,000 pounds or more, they have limitations in their acceleration, braking and visibility capabilities. More blind spots paired with the inability to stop quickly results in accidents.

Also, commercial trucks often carry flammable or otherwise hazardous materials that can explode or create even greater damage upon impact with your car. Some hazardous substances can cause illness and respiratory issues for those who come into contact with them. In the case of an accident, the contents can spill over the roadway and cause additional damage.

Commercial Truck Accident Causes

Because the car will rarely escape unharmed due to the sheer weight and momentum of the truck, most cases involving a big rig are more complex than traditional automobile accident cases. You will want to have a commercial truck accident lawyer on your side to help guide you through the legal process and to get the compensation that you deserve.

Launching any lawsuit following a truck crash involves determining the cause and fault of the accident. Commercial truck accidents are often caused by:

• Driver fatigue
• Overscheduled drivers
• Defective equipment
• Improperly loaded or overloaded trucks
• Broken or poorly maintained equipment, including the truck
• Inexperienced or undertrained driver
• Driver error due to drugs or alcohol
• Weather conditions
• Damaged or unmarked roadways
• Excessive speed or reckless driving

Overscheduled drivers who are suffering from fatigue contribute to approximately 40 percent of all truck accidents. Many of these drivers are expected to be on the road for an unreasonable number of hours and become unable to stay awake and alert. If there are other factors affecting the accident, such as adverse weather conditions or unmarked roadways, the results are often even more catastrophic.

Responsible Parties in Truck Accidents

These types of accidents can be even more complex because there are often multiple parties responsible for causing the accident. You may not be seeking compensation for your injuries from only one source; in fact, those you may be facing include:

• Truck driver
• Trucking company
• Equipment manufacturers
• Other drivers whose negligent actions affected the truck
• Government entities that did not maintain roadways

Covering all of your bases with the possible responsible parties can be very confusing. An experienced commercial truck accident lawyer from Rizio Lipinsky Heiting is here to help you manage the compensation process.

Navigating Commercial Trucking Laws

A commercial truck accident lawsuit involves more than simply the facts gathered at the scene of the accident. You need an attorney with an in-depth understanding of federal and state trucking regulations as well as personal injury and damage laws. Trucking companies are required to keep strict records involving their hiring practices, equipment maintenance and drivers’ time on the job. In order to wade through all of this information, you need an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer who can collect, interpret and present this data to best win your case and gain compensation for your losses.

Rizio Lipinsky Heiting Can Help

If you or someone you know has recently been in an accident with a commercial truck, Rizio Lipinsky Heiting can help. We are experienced in these laws, and we know how to fight for the compensation that you need and deserve.

Call us today at 888-292-8888 or fill out our online form to find out how a commercial truck accident lawyer from our firm can help you.