Accidents involving large commercial semi-trucks are a lot more common than many people realize. Sadly, due to the immense size and weight of these vehicles, semi-truck accidents are often fatal. According to various sources, there were 806 truck accident deaths in California between 2019 and 2020. And in 2021 just in Los Angeles County, there 1,861 truck accidents, causing 47 fatalities.
When they are not fatal, semi-truck accidents often result in catastrophic injury. At Edzant Price LLP we have seen firsthand the devastation a serious trucking collision can have—both on the victim and his or her family. Our experienced Santa Clarita-based truck accident attorneys are prepared to offer you the aggressive representation you deserve.
Trucking accident claims tend to be much more complex than other types of vehicle accidents, largely due to the number of potentially liable parties involved. While truck drivers have a duty to drive in a reasonably safe manner, they are also operating these vehicles for larger trucking companies. Therefore, a truck driver can be held partially or fully responsible for an accident, but his or her employer is often at fault as well.
Depending on the cause of the accident, as well as other relevant factors, any of the following parties may be liable for a truck accident:
For example, if a truck driver has prior convictions for driving under the influence but the trucking company that hired him failed to conduct a background check or random drug/alcohol testing, the trucking company may be liable in the event that the truck driver causes an accident while intoxicated.
Trucking accident claims are highly complex and there are often multiple liable parties involved. Additionally, trucking companies typically work quickly after an accident to minimize their costs and reduce bad publicity. In most cases, they will send an accident investigator to the scene of the collision immediately after the crash occurs. And any persons injured in the crash are typically contacted by an insurance adjuster soon after. It is critical that the victims refrain from speaking to adjusters, accepting a settlement, or signing any forms until they have first spoken to an attorney. The trucking company’s insurer will often push victims towards a settlement that is much too low to meet their present and future needs.
The attorneys at Edzant Price LLP have spent decades assisting severely injured victims and the surviving family members of those wrongfully killed throughout Los Angeles County. Our Santa Clarita truck accident attorneys are well-versed in these types of complicated claims, and we work tirelessly to help our clients secure the maximum compensation they are owed. While financial compensation can never undo the suffering a victim’s family will go through, it can assist by handling medical bills, making up for lost wages, and allowing victims and their families to focus on healing from the physical and emotional costs of the accident.