Pasadena Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks are a common sight on Pasadena roads. From semis and moving vans to dump trucks and cement mixers, these massive vehicles can inflict catastrophic injuries in a collision, leaving victims in excruciating pain and facing a long road to recovery. The medical bills and emotional stress that come with these injuries take a significant toll.
The Law Offices of Pius Joseph is committed to upholding the rights of people injured in tractor-trailer crashes. Winning a case against trucking companies and other defendants can be a complex undertaking, but it’s an area where founding attorney Pius Joseph excels. Over the past three decades, he has handled over 100 jury trials and recovered substantial compensation for clients, including a $2 million verdict for a client injured in a multi-vehicle truck wreck and $1.25 million for a victim who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury in a commercial truck collision.
When you need legal help, you can count on the Law Offices of Pius Joseph to stand by your side. Call or contact us online for a free consultation with a Pasadena commercial truck accident lawyer.
What Makes Truck Accidents Different Than Other Auto Accident Cases?
Truck accidents differ from other traffic crashes in several ways:
- Size matters – Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The sheer size and weight difference means that crashes often result in severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, and complex fractures. These catastrophic injuries cause permanent disabilities that affect a person’s life and livelihood forever.
- Higher costs, bigger claims – Truck accident victims often face higher medical bills, longer periods of lost income, and more extensive rehabilitation than people injured in passenger vehicles. These increased costs make securing maximum compensation critical for recovery.
- Complex liability – Multiple parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, or even manufacturers of defective parts, might share responsibility for a commercial vehicle accident. Additionally, federal regulations governing trucking operations can play a role in these cases, adding another layer of complexity to the claims process.
- Deep pockets, more fight – Trucking companies and their insurers can afford to fight truck accident claims. They are often aggressive in their tactics, making effective legal representation essential for victims to protect their rights and secure fair compensation.
Without help from a Pasadena big rig accident lawyer, many people injured in truck crashes either don’t recover any money or settle for less than their claim’s full value.
Top Causes of Commercial Truck Collisions in Pasadena
Most commercial motor vehicle accidents typically involve careless actions by the truck driver or another negligent party. Common causes of semi-truck crashes in Pasadena include:
- Driver fatigue – Truck drivers often work long hours to meet delivery deadlines, which can lead to drowsy driving and slower reaction times. Fatigue-related crashes are common in the industry despite federal regulations requiring truck drivers to take breaks at specified intervals.
- Distracted driving – Activities like texting, eating, or adjusting navigation devices can divert a driver’s attention from the road, increasing the likelihood of a collision.
- Improper loading – Overweight loads or unevenly distributed cargo can make trucks harder to control, leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents.
- Speeding or reckless driving – Tight schedules can pressure drivers to exceed speed limits or engage in aggressive driving behaviors, increasing the risk of a catastrophic collision.
- Mechanical failures – Defective brakes, tires, or steering systems can result in loss of vehicle control. Both trucking companies and manufacturers might share liability for faulty equipment that causes an accident.
- Insufficient driver training – Inadequate training on handling large vehicles or specific routes can lead to errors that cause truck crashes, such as improper turns or failure to account for blind spots.
- Poor vehicle maintenance – Neglecting routine inspections and repairs can cause accidents, such as tire blowouts or brake failures, that often involve trucking company negligence.
If you believe any of these factors played a role in the crash that injured you, consult a Pasadena truck accident attorney immediately.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Because big rigs and other commercial trucks are much heavier and sit higher off the road, they’re more likely to cause serious injuries in a collision, such as:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Crushed, severed, or amputated limbs
- Severe burns
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions
Compensation in Commercial Truck Accident Claims
Recovering maximum compensation after a truck accident requires working with a skilled attorney who can thoroughly assess your losses and hold the liable parties accountable. With help from the right legal team, your financial compensation could include money for:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy
- Cost of accident-related expenses like home health care and assistive medical devices
- Lost income
- Reduced future earnings
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
A proven attorney with experience handling commercial truck accident claims in Pasadena can calculate your losses and fight for full and fair compensation from the at-fault party.
What to Do After a Truck Crash
The most important steps to take after a Pasadena commercial truck accident are to report the crash to the police and seek immediate medical treatment. Next, follow these tips to protect your legal rights:
- Get the names and insurance information of all drivers involved in the truck accident.
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene.
- Get the contact information for any witnesses, if possible.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions and attend all follow-up appointments.
- Make copies of your medical records and save any accident-related receipts.
- Do not discuss your case with anyone other than your lawyer, particularly on social media.
- Report the accident to your insurance company, but do not give a recorded statement or speculate about fault.
- Contact a Pasadena commercial truck accident lawyer.
California law gives you just two years from the date of a crash to file a truck accident lawsuit, but talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Truck companies and their insurers start working on ways to minimize their liability the moment a crash happens. You need an attorney to begin an immediate investigation and prevent the defendants from gaining the upper hand.
Contact a Pasadena Big Rig Accident Lawyer Now
When you need a fierce advocate, get the Law Offices of Pius Joseph on your side. We provide comprehensive legal support aimed at obtaining meaningful compensation for you. But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what past client Jennifer Renteria says about working with our firm:
“Everyone was so helpful and friendly. They treated their clients as family and focus more on their clients’ needs and problems rather than about themselves. Definitely would recommend getting a consultation with Mr. Pius Joseph. You won’t be disappointed.”
Call or contact us today for a free case review.
