Following a truck accident, you are likely facing significant financial challenges that can be difficult to overcome without recovering compensation from the liable party. Fortunately, you can take charge of your legal claim after a collision with a commercial vehicle by hiring a truck accident lawyer in Bakersfield.
Our team at the Omega Law Group can help you understand California’s legal system and build a strong claim. You can rely on your Bakersfield personal injury lawyer to help you secure funds to cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses. Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal staff.
When to Hire a Bakersfield Truck Accident Attorney
It’s important to reach out to an experienced truck accident lawyer serving Bakersfield as soon as possible after any collision involving property damage, injuries, or fatalities. Your attorney can review your circumstances quickly and help you determine if you have a claim for compensation.
Generally, individuals can file a claim if someone else causes an accident through negligence. We can assess your eligibility for compensation following a collision with an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or another large commercial vehicle.
Securing the services of an attorney quickly can allow them to immediately begin an investigation into your accident. Additionally, it ensures you have someone on your side and protection when dealing with an insurance company.
Available Compensation Following a Collision With a Commercial Truck
After suffering injuries in an accident with a commercial truck, you may be eligible to pursue a wide variety of damages. Your truck accident attorney in Bakersfield can help you determine what compensatory damages apply so you can recover the maximum compensation available.
Medical Bills
Common truck accident injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). If you suffered these or any other serious injury, your Bakersfield truck accident lawyer can help you secure funds to cover:
- Emergency medical care
- Transport to a medical facility
- Tests to diagnose your condition
- All medical procedures (including surgeries)
- Medications and physical therapy
We know how to track the costs of all your healthcare bills, including these expenses in your claim for compensation.
Lost Wages
Our experienced legal team can help you secure funds for your lost wages and diminished earning potential. We help clients who end up with a disability caused by a truck accident that limits their ability to work.
Property Damage
Truck crashes can severely damage or total smaller vehicles. You may qualify for funds to cover the costs of repairs or replacing your car.
Pain and Suffering
Your Bakersfield truck accident lawyer may help you get funds to cover your non-economic losses following a truck accident. These funds cover your emotional pain and suffering as well as loss of companionship and consortium.
Punitive Damages
In addition to compensatory damages, you may also be eligible to pursue punitive damages after an accident with a commercial truck. Unlike the economic and non-economic damages listed above, punitive damages are not awarded as a means of compensating an accident victim for their losses. Instead, these damages serve as a form of punishment for the at-fault party.
Punitive damages are reserved for extreme cases involving gross negligence or intentional harm.
Wrongful Death
If a loved one was killed in a truck accident, you may also be able to recover compensation for damages not available in most personal injury cases, like funeral and burial expenses. An experienced Bakersfield wrongful death lawyer can help you determine which specific damages apply.
Have you been involved
in a truck wreck?
Our truck accident lawyers in Bakersfield are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
There Are Several Steps You Should Take After a Truck Accident to Protect Your Health and Help Ensure You Recover Damages
In the immediate aftermath of a truck accident, there are a variety of steps you can take to protect yourself both physically and financially. If you are physically able, following these steps can help ensure the strength of your claim and increase your chances of recovering fair compensation.
Check the Health of Everyone on the Scene
After a truck accident, the first priority is to assess the health of all individuals involved. Begin by checking yourself for injuries, as adrenaline can mask pain. If you have severe injuries, call an ambulance. Otherwise, check on passengers in your vehicle and others involved in the crash. If anyone needs urgent assistance, dial 9-1-1 and follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
Report the Accident
You must report the accident to law enforcement, even if no serious injuries are apparent. Filing a police report is crucial for documenting the incident and can impact your ability to claim compensation later. Not reporting the accident may expose you to potential legal issues from other parties involved.
Collect Evidence
Gathering evidence at the accident scene is vital. If able, take photos of the vehicles and the surroundings, and note any relevant factors that may have contributed to the crash. Speak with witnesses to collect their contact details and exchange insurance details with the other driver, but avoid making any statements that could be construed as admitting fault.
Seek Medical Attention
Regardless of how you feel immediately after the accident, it’s important to seek medical attention. Injuries may not be apparent right away, and some conditions can develop over time. A thorough examination helps ensure you are treated properly and strengthens your injury claim, as delayed treatment can lead to disputes regarding the origin of your injuries.
Inform Your Insurer
Notify your insurance provider about the accident, even if you plan to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer or pursue a personal injury lawsuit. You don’t need to provide extensive details, and typically, your insurance rates won’t be affected as long as you can demonstrate that the other party is at fault.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Lastly, it’s crucial to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer serving Bakersfield. Having experienced legal representation significantly increases your chances of recovering a larger settlement. Even after paying legal fees, you are likely to obtain more compensation than you would on your own.
Determining Liability Following a Truck Accident in Bakersfield
Determining who is liable in your commercial truck accident can prove complicated. In many situations, lawyers build claims against the truck driver. Truckers can cause collisions if they:
- Ignore their blind spots when backing up
- Change lanes without looking for other vehicles
- Drive too fast for the conditions
- Operate a truck with an improperly secured load
Many truck accidents occur because drivers get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol, tired, or distracted.
However, truck drivers are not the only potentially liable party in these accidents. Our team may also build a claim against the trucking company. We may hold the company responsible if the accident occurred during work hours or if the company failed to complete proper maintenance on the truck.
Additionally, there are a variety of other parties who could be held responsible, including, the truck manufacturer, the company that loaded the vehicle, and the company that performed maintenance on the truck. Let our family take care of your family by contacting us so we can dig into the causes of the collision immediately.
Injured in a truck crash?
Our truck accident lawyers in Bakersfield are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
Commercial Truck Drivers Are Held to a Higher Standard of Safety
Commercial truck drivers and their employers are held to a higher standard of safety compared to other motorists. These enhanced regulations are in place due to the greater risks associated with large vehicles. Trucking companies are required to offer comprehensive training and ensure their drivers adhere to all applicable government guidelines.
One key regulation mandates that operators of 18-wheelers obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Depending on the type of cargo they transport, these drivers may also need to acquire additional endorsements on their licenses. Additionally, there are stringent rules governing drivers’ service hours and weight limits for 18-wheelers.
Noncompliance with these safety regulations can lead to significant penalties, including punitive damages and potential criminal charges for both the trucking company and the driver.
Service Hour Regulations for Truck Drivers in California
California Vehicle Code Section 21702 establishes restrictions on the number of hours commercial truck drivers can operate their vehicles. Truck drivers often face pressures from their employers to adhere to tight deadlines, and some companies even implement incentive programs to reward quicker deliveries.
These pressures can lead to excessive driving hours, creating safety hazards for all road users. Under California Vehicle Code 21702, limitations are set to address these employer-induced pressures and enhance roadway safety.
Under the law, truck drivers must adhere to the following limits:
- No more than 12 consecutive hours of driving in a single day
- No more than 12 hours of driving within a 15-hour window
- No more than 12 hours of driving in a day unless they have had at least eight consecutive hours off-duty
It’s also important to note that if a driver starts their day in another state, any hours spent driving before entering California will count toward their daily driving limits once they cross the state line.
Hurt in a
truck accident?
(310) 526-8383
Steps in a Commercial Truck Accident Investigation
Our team can review all the factors that contributed to your truck accident, allowing us to find the responsible party. Some of the steps we are likely to take during our investigation include:
- Visit the scene of the truck accident
- Get a copy of the official police accident report
- Acquire black box data from the truck
- Review the trucker’s driving record
- Get video or photo evidence from the accident
We dig deeply into the reasons for your claim and use the evidence we collect to back up your story about what happened. We put our clients first, always, and we’re ready to discuss your situation. If you suffered severe injuries in a collision, our Bakersfield catastrophic injury lawyers will help get you the compensation you need.
Reason to Choose Our Personal Injury Firm
Our team at the Omega Law Group handles complicated cases using our extensive legal training and resources. We have decades of combined experience and stay on the leading edge of technology that helps with legal cases.
We provide our clients with personalized advice and assistance with all their legal needs. Furthermore, we have a reputation for success with truck accident claims. You can learn about our past wins from our case results.
Our Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
When you work with our legal team, you will never have to worry about receiving a legal bill you can’t afford to pay. We handle truck accident claims using contingency pricing, which means that we will not collect a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
If we are able to get you money for your losses, we will collect a single fee for our services, which will be assessed as a fixed percentage of the money you recover at the end of your case. Our fee will be paid directly out of the payout from the liable party, meaning you will never have to pay any money out of your own pocket.
Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California
The personal injury statute of limitations in California gives most drivers two years from the time of their collision to file a personal injury claim. However, exceptions may impact the time available to move forward with your case, so we recommend discussing the specifics of your situation with your lawyer as soon as possible.
Getting help right away can strengthen your chances of getting compensation. Your lawyer can obtain evidence and speak with witnesses while they clearly recall the events surrounding the crash.
In addition to hiring a truck accident attorney in Bakersfield, make sure that you contact local police to report your truck accident and seek medical care for your injuries as soon as possible.
Speak to a Truck Accident Attorney Serving Bakersfield, CA
You can trust a Bakersfield truck accident lawyer from the Omega Law Group to handle all your legal needs after a collision with a semi-truck, dump truck, garbage truck, tow truck, or other large vehicle. We’ll put you first and always have someone available to address your concerns.
Reach out to us today by phone or through our online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team. Don’t forget to check out our client testimonials to get a better idea of the type of service we provide to our clients.
