Have you been injured in a truck accident in Van Nuys, California? JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you call (833) 852-3600. We offer a free consultation with a Van Nuys truck accident lawyer so you can understand your options and get guidance during a difficult time.
You may be able to pursue compensation from the trucking company or other responsible parties. An experienced attorney can explain your rights, review the details of your crash, and help you take the next steps. Contact our office to learn more and schedule your complimentary case review.
Why Hire JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers After a Commercial Truck Accident in Van Nuys, CA
You have to do more than level the playing field when you’re taking on a powerful trucking company and its insurance carrier. That’s why truck accident victims and families in the San Fernando Valley turn to JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers.
Clients in Van Nuys, CA, trust us because:
- Our team of award-winning attorneys has over 105 years of collective experience and a reputation as fierce and unwavering advocates for justice.
- We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients – and now we’re prepared to fight for your best interests after a life-changing truck accident, too.
- Because of our outstanding client service and record-setting case results, we’ve been recognized by Best Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Avvo Top Personal Injury Attorneys, and more.
- Our Van Nuys personal injury lawyers are trial-tested litigators with the knowledge, insight, resources, and strategies needed to win high-stakes legal disputes.
- When you choose to hire our California truck accident attorneys, you’ll send a clear message to the defense that you won’t be pushed around or bullied into taking a lowball settlement offer.
We provide a free consultation with a Van Nuys personal injury attorney, so don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance today.
What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents rarely happen by chance. In most cases, they trace back to preventable mistakes—whether made by the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party involved in the journey.
Understanding the most common causes can help clarify what went wrong and who may be responsible for the resulting harm.
Human Error
Most truck accidents happen because someone is negligent. In fact, a high percentage of truck accidents can be attributed to some kind of human error.
Some of these include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Prescription drug use
- Driver fatigue
- Unsafe lane changes
- Blind spot errors
- Backing errors
- Braking errors
- Illegal turns
- Wide turns
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Improperly loaded and/or secured cargo
- Illegal maneuvers
- Following too closely
- Aggressive driving
Many of these things can happen when trucking companies hire unqualified drivers, force them to operate even when they’re fatigued, or fail to provide adequate training and/or supervision.
These errors can also occur when drivers and/or trucking services violate critical safety regulations established by the FMCSA and California state law.
Additional Causes
Other factors that can contribute to Van Nuys truck accidents include:
- Auto defects and malfunctions
- Road defects
- Bad weather conditions
- Road construction
Knowing precisely why your big rig accident happened will be critical if you want to recover compensation for your resulting injuries. Our California truck accident attorneys in Van Nuys will conduct a thorough independent investigation and evaluate important evidence we obtain during the discovery process.
Working with expert witnesses, we’ll determine the underlying cause of the semi-truck accident and, in turn, identify who’s at fault.
Understanding Liability for an 18-Wheeler Accident
In California, anyone who contributes to a truck accident can be financially responsible for any resulting property damage, personal injuries, or deaths. Typically, a party is liable for a truck accident because they’re negligent in some way.
That’s why it’s common to see the following parties named as defendants in truck accident lawsuits:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Freight brokers
- Drivers of other vehicles
- Transportation services
- Mechanics
- Cargo owners
- Government agencies responsible for road maintenance and design
It’s important to note that trucking companies can be liable for their own negligence as well as vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees. If the truck driver or another party employed by the trucking company causes the accident, the trucking company can be on the hook for their mistakes.
Not all truck accident lawsuits are based on negligence. Sometimes, a party can be strictly liable for a big rig crash or held accountable for intentionally harmful actions.
What’s My Truck Accident Case Worth?
No two truck accident cases are alike. The value of your claim depends on the seriousness of your injuries, how long your recovery will take, and the overall impact the crash has on your daily life.
Several factors can influence the value of a truck accident case in Van Nuys, including:
- The type and extent of your physical injuries
- Whether you sustained permanent disabilities or long-term limitations
- The cost of medical care, future treatment, and rehabilitation
- Time missed from work and any reduction in earning capacity
- The emotional or psychological effects of the crash
- How significantly your daily life, independence, or relationships are affected
- The strength of the evidence tying the crash to the negligent party
- Whether comparative fault or failure to mitigate damages becomes an issue
A thorough evaluation of your medical records, expert assessments, and the overall impact of the accident helps build a clear picture of your damages. This detailed approach allows your attorney to determine what full and fair compensation should look like under California law.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Collisions with large trucks tend to cause serious physical injuries, including:
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputation injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis injuries
- Neck injuries
- Brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burn injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Leg injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Even minor truck accident injuries can wreak havoc on your life. Once you’ve reported the truck crash to the local authorities, make sure you get to the closest emergency room in Los Angeles County for a thorough medical exam.
These steps can help to limit potential complications, ensure you receive necessary treatment, and create an important record of your injuries that can support your future claim for damages.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Van Nuys Truck Accident Victims?
You can receive compensatory damages if you win a truck accident lawsuit in Van Nuys, CA. These damages include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages can help you with:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, may cover:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
- PTSD
- Disfigurement and scarring
California law also permits punitive damages to punish and deter reprehensible actions. If your truck accident lawsuit gets to trial, a jury can order the defendant to pay these additional damages if there’s clear proof that they acted with malice or gross negligence.
What if the Trucking Company Blames Me for the Accident?
You can still recover compensation, but expect your financial recovery to be reduced. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, a plaintiff’s financial award is reduced proportionately to shared fault.
The more responsibility you share for the truck accident in which you were injured, the more it’ll hurt your financial recovery. If you were 25 percent at fault for a tractor-trailer accident in Van Nuys, your settlement or jury award can be reduced by 25 percent of its value.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Truck Accident Attorney in Van Nuys?
You pay nothing until we win compensation for your personal injury case. Contingent representation means our fees are dependent on your case results. If we don’t win, you won’t pay our truck accident lawyers in Van Nuys a thing.
When we secure a settlement or a verdict for you at trial, our attorney’s fees are a percentage of that award.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?
Yes, unless an exception applies, you must file your truck accident lawsuit within California’s two-year statute of limitations.
Exceptions may apply to truck accidents involving children or government tort claims. However, an exception could provide less time to act, not more. So, it’s important to know the rules that apply to your case so that you don’t miss the filing deadline. Once it expires, you lose the ability to recover maximum compensation from the trucking company, its insurance carrier, or another responsible party.
Arrange a Free Consultation With an Experienced Van Nuys Truck Accident Lawyer
Call the award-winning trial attorneys at JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers if you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Van Nuys, California. Someone else was careless, and now it’s time for them to take accountability.
Our experienced Van Nuys truck accident lawyers can offer the kind of powerful legal representation you’ll need to make that happen. We offer a free consultation, so call our law office in Van Nuys to discuss your truck accident case with our team today.
