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Hurt and Need a Commercial Truck Accident Attorney in San Diego, California?
At the Levinson Law Group, our San Diego truck accident attorneys fully understand the devastating consequences of a semi-truck accident, and your family’s need to recover financial compensation for the number of losses you have suffered following an accident. Our legal team will work hard on your behalf to maximize your settlement.
Our founder, Gordon Levinson, spent years working for some of the largest insurance companies in North America. Now he uses that knowledge and experience fighting for injured and aggrieved people against the big insurance companies. When commercial 18-wheelers collide with pedestrians, the injuries that result are often devastating and even fatal. If you are suffering these consequences after a truck accident, put our experience, insider knowledge and expertise on your side.
Commercial Truck Accidents in San Diego, California
Commercial trucks and 18-wheelers are absolutely critical for the support of the California and national economy – these trucks carry consumer goods and products both in and out of our state, providing individuals and businesses with the commodities they need.
But there is also no doubt that such vehicles can be dangerous. In fact, commercial trucks and 18-wheelers weigh, on average, more than 10 times that of a standard passenger vehicle. This means that when a commercial truck is involved in an accident, the amount of force involved is great, and the damages that result can be very severe. While most truck drivers are conscientious and realize the importance of remaining vigilant while on the road, that is unfortunately not always the case.
According to the most recently available data from the California Highway Patrol, there are have been more than 6,000 truck accidents each year over the past three years. While most of these accidents do not involve fatal injuries, more than 300 people per year are killed in California trucking accidents.
The number of fatal truck accidents in California is steadily increasing
- 2013: 278 people killed in truck accidents
- 2014: 310 people killed in truck accidents
- 2015: 315 people killed in truck accidents
- 2016: 362 people killed in truck accidents
- 2017: 367 people killed in truck accidents
San Diego County sees more than its share of fatal truck accidents every year. For example, in 2017, there were 20 fatalities stemming from truck-involved collisions.
Learn more about truck accidents with our infographic.
18-Wheeler Truck Accidents Change Lives
Have you lost a loved one in a San Diego truck accident? Are you concerned about what your loss may mean for your financial future? Are you wondering whether you have any options to hold the negligent truck driver responsible for the tragedy? It is a rare occurrence that the driver or passenger of a smaller, passenger vehicle is involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler or large commercial truck and walks away unscathed; instead, the opposite is nearly always true: those within the smaller vehicle suffer devastating injuries. Nobody would ever expect something so senseless to happen and, of course, you may not know what to do next. As time goes on, you may begin to realize that your losses are not limited to the emotional impact of the accident; your family may also be suffering financially.
Injuries that are suffered may truly change the course of the victim’s life, leaving them unable to care for themselves, work and earn an income, maintain normal relationships, and do the things that they love the most. Such injuries can include the following.
The trauma of a truck accident and the injuries that result can lead to psychological injuries, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, too.
You Deserve to Be Compensated
There is no amount of money that can ever truly compensate an individual who is seriously injured in a truck accident for their losses – nothing will restore the person to the quality of life they maintained prior to the crash. But a large settlement award can help. At the Levinson Law Group, our San Diego truck accident attorneys advocate for your right to recover 100 percent of your damages, including compensation for the following:
Medical expenses. The medical expenses that a truck accident victim sustains often total in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You should not have to pay for these expenses out-of-pocket.
Future medical expenses. Serious injuries can lead to long-term harm, which necessitates future surgeries, treatments, therapy, medications, in-home care, and more. A semi-truck accident settlement should reflect these expenses.
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If a commercial truck accident leaves a victim unable to work and earn an income, the individual should be compensated for the value of their lost wages and loss of earning capacity and benefits, including things like retirement benefits and bonuses that would have been earned but for the accident.
Property damage. If any property was damaged in the accident compensation should be allocated.
Pain, suffering, and emotional anguish. While the above damage types are all economic in nature and based on monetary losses, a plaintiff in a trucking accident lawsuit also has the right to seek non-economic damages for intangible losses, such as the value of a person’s physical pain, suffering, and emotional anguish.
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Why It’s Important to Work with a San Diego Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents are not only especially serious, but there are multiple potentially liable partied involved in a truck accident. Because of this, an attorney should be hired to help determine the damage values and negotiate for a fair settlement.
Determining liability can prove complicated, and without proof of liability, a plaintiff will have an extremely difficult time recovering compensation for their harm.
Following a truck accident, it is important that a thorough investigation is conducted to determine the cause of the truck accident. This will likely require the opinion of experts, the analysis of electronic control module (“black box”) data, the testimony of eyewitnesses, and more.
Defendants in a Truck Accident Lawsuit
- The truck driver – truck driver negligence, such as driving while impaired or driving at an unsafe speed, is a common cause of semi-truck accidents;
- The trucking company – if a trucking company hires a driver negligently, fails to maintain trucks, or otherwise contributes to the accident, they can be held liable for damages (they may also be held liable for a truck driver’s actions under the theory of vicarious liability);
- A shipper or loader of cargo – improperly loaded cargo may shift in transit, causing a crash;
- A third-party driver – if a semi-truck accident happened because of the negligence of another driver on the road, such as the driver of a passenger car swerving in front of the truck, this driver may be held liable for damages; and
- A manufacturer of the truck or truck part – if a part defect, such as a tire blowout, was the cause of the accident, the manufacturer of the defective part may be held liable.
Causes of Fatal California Truck Accidents
A fatal truck accident shouldn’t ever occur. However, history proves that these accidents happen far too frequently. Often, fatal truck accidents are the result of a truck driver’s negligence when the truck driver engages in some prohibited or irresponsible action that caused or contributed to the accident. Most truck accidents are entirely preventable.
The California Highway Patrol keeps track of all fatal truck accidents through its Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. According to the most recent data, the most common causes of truck accidents where the truck driver was determined to be at fault include the following:
- Speeding
- Improper turning
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Intoxication
- Traffic violations
Drowsy and Distracted Driving
Notably, these statistics do not take two major causes of fatal truck accidents into account: drowsy and distracted driving. Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, often, by choice. This is because trucking companies pay drivers by the mile. So, the more mileage a truck driver can cover in a day, the more they get paid. Additionally, trucking companies apply tremendous pressure on drivers to get to their destination as quickly as possible. The result is that truck drivers will often push themselves past their limits.
Given the tedious nature of long-haul drives, truck drivers will often try to keep their minds off the seemingly endless miles they need to cover. These activities remove a driver’s attention from the road, increasing the likelihood of a serious accident:
- Installing a television in the cab
- Frequently using the radio or changing station
- Playing games or using social media on a phone
Pressure to Defy Regulations
Federal regulations require truck drivers to take short breaks every few hours and to take longer breaks in between trips. To enforce this requirement, truck drivers must keep a log detailing their rest breaks. After a fatal accident, reviewing these rest logs can often provide crucial insight as to whether a truck driver was on the road too long, which may indicate they were too tired to drive safely.
Unfortunately, there have been many instances where truck drivers inaccurately fill out rest logs in an attempt to cover more mileage. An experienced San Diego truck accident lawyer will know where to look for red flags related to falsified rest logs.
Due to the nature of the industry, truck drivers can feel compelled to break the rules. Truck drivers and trucking companies can—and should—be held accountable after a fatal trucking accident.
We command an in-depth understanding of all relevant laws and regulations and put that knowledge into each of our clients’ cases.
California Wrongful Death Cases Following a Fatal Truck Accident
If you recently lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, your family is confronted with tremendous grief. Nobody would ever expect something so senseless to happen and, of course, you may not know what to do next. As time goes on, you may begin to realize that your losses are not limited to the emotional impact of the accident; your family may also be suffering financially.
In the wake of a fatal California truck accident, you can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit seeking to hold the at-fault driver accountable. A wrongful death case is similar to other personal injury claims, except that it is filed by the accident victim’s surviving loved ones instead of by the accident victim themselves.
The compassionate attorneys at The Levinson Law Group understand the pain you and your family are experiencing. For decades, we’ve been helping families overcome their grief and move on after tragic accidents. Under California law, any of the following family members can bring a wrongful death claim:
- Children
- Domestic partners
- Grandchildren
- Spouses
- Stepchildren
- Any other party who is entitled to the accident victim’s property under the California intestate laws
Damages in a California Fatal Truck Accident Claim
Damages in a wrongful death claim come in two types: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages provide compensation for the out-of-pocket expenses your family incurred as a result of the accident. Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional and psychological losses you sustained.
Economic Damages
The following are all types of economic damages:
- The financial support the accident victim would have provided to their family
- The loss in value of gifts or other benefits the family could have expected from the accident victim had they lived
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The value of household services the deceased accident victim could reasonably have been expected to provide to their family
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages—although just as important as economic damages—are more subjective in nature and depend on how the accident impacted you and your family. Examples of non-economic damages following a fatal truck accident include:
- Loss of society and companionship
- Loss of affection
- Loss of protection
- Loss of training and guidance
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of moral support
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages cannot be proven through receipts, paychecks and economic forecasts. At The Levinson Law Group, we have extensive experience bringing compelling claims for both economic and non-economic damages on behalf of our clients. Over the past two decades, we’ve recovered more than $40 million in compensation for families.
Recent San Diego Truck Accident Settlement Examples
Truck accidents can be devastating due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, making the impact far more severe than typical vehicle collisions. The force of a truck crash can lead to life-altering injuries, and victims are often left vulnerable and in need of extensive recovery. At Levinson Law Group, we are dedicated to helping clients secure the compensation they deserve after such accidents. We have recently achieved significant settlements for clients involved in truck accidents throughout California, showcasing our commitment to securing justice for those seriously injured in these crashes.
$750,000 Commercial Truck Accident Settlement in Anaheim, California
In October 2023, we represented a client in Anaheim who was rear-ended by a commercial truck while merging onto the freeway. The accident caused a concussion, along with neck, back, and shoulder injuries. To manage the pain and recovery, the client had to undergo chiropractic rehab and receive injections. Despite an initial offer of $75,000, our commercial truck accident attorneys at Levinson Law Group fought relentlessly and successfully negotiated a $750,000 settlement, ensuring our client received the compensation needed for their injuries and treatment.
Accident Resources
Contact the Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers in San Diego, CA at The Levinson Law Group
If you have been hit by a semi-truck, settlement of your case may be a top priority. Before you accept a settlement, though, we strongly recommend consulting with an experienced San Diego semi-truck accident lawyer who can review your settlement and ensure that you’re compensated in full.
Our attorneys have more than 40 years handling some of the most complex and contested car accident cases. Our San Diego trucking accident lawyers explore all potentially liable parties and insurance coverage available. We are skilled investigators that know what to look for and how to prove fault.
When you choose to work with The Levinson Law Group, you can rest assured that you will have someone in your corner throughout the process. We begin by explaining the recovery process in relatable terms and make ourselves available to answer your questions whenever they come up. To learn more about your options, give The Levinson Law Group a call at 760-827-1700. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.
