Pasadena Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers
Delivery trucks bring essential goods to California homes and businesses every day. However, these large commercial trucks are also hazards on Pasadena interstates, neighborhood streets, and urban boulevards. Any mistake or oversight can become a tragic disaster if a delivery truck accident occurs.
California law allows injured people to seek money for medical bills and other expenses caused by someone else’s carelessness. But getting a profit-driven insurance company to make a fair payout is not as simple as filing a truck accident claim and waiting for a settlement check. Accident victims often need dedicated legal representation from experienced personal injury lawyers to get the compensation they deserve.
If you suffered injuries in a crash involving a delivery truck, get the Law Offices of Pius Joseph on your side. For over 30 years, firm founder Pius Joseph has successfully represented clients seriously injured in commercial motor vehicle accidents, both in and out of the courtroom. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction limited only to trial lawyers with a track record of winning million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for injured people. Individual results vary, but rest assured that our law firm will prepare your case with the goal of securing maximum compensation for you.
Call or contact us today for a free consultation with a Pasadena delivery truck accident lawyer.
Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
A delivery truck crash happens for many of the same reasons car accidents do. Most often, these collisions come from driver negligence. Examples include:
- Breaking traffic laws
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Failure to check blind spots
- Following too closely
- Unsafe lane changes
Other delivery truck accidents happen because of negligence more specific to commercial truck operations, such as:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Negligent hiring practices by the trucking company
- Inadequate maintenance
- Improper cargo loading
- Truck part defects or malfunctions
California law and federal regulations place tight restrictions on the trucking industry. When violations occur that cause an accident, the penalties can be severe.
Who Is Liable in a Delivery Truck Accident?
Delivery truck accident liability can fall on multiple parties, such as the negligent truck driver, trucking company, a truck manufacturer of defective auto parts, and other drivers.
In many cases, the legal doctrine of vicarious liability holds employers responsible for injuries their employees cause while performing job duties. Liability could be different if the driver was an independent contractor. In those cases, the individual driver is often responsible.
However, even in accident cases involving independent contractors, the truck company could be at fault. California law establishes that most owner-operated truckers are legally considered employees for the purpose of benefits and employer liability unless they meet specific exemption criteria. So, even in cases where the trucker is an independent owner-operator, the company might still be vicariously liable.
Maximizing your compensation for a delivery truck accident means identifying every liable party and filing a personal injury claim with each relevant insurer. An experienced Pasadena delivery truck accident attorney from the Law Offices of Pius Joseph can determine who should be held responsible for the collision that injured you.
Steps to Take After a Delivery Truck Accident
Take the following steps after a crash with a delivery truck driver:
- Call 911 to report the accident.
- Get names and insurance information from all involved parties.
- Document the accident scene by taking photos and videos.
- Get contact information from any witnesses.
- Seek medical attention, even if you didn’t need emergency treatment.
- Keep all accident-related records, such as the police report, receipts, insurance information, and communications with your employer.
- Contact a delivery truck injury lawyer in Pasadena to learn your legal options.
Compensation for a Delivery Truck Accident
Truck accidents tend to result in the most severe injuries, leaving victims with lifelong disabilities. Recovering full and fair compensation is essential to obtain reimbursement for immediate losses and prepare for the future. Successful delivery truck crash claims can provide money for:
- Past and continuing medical expenses
- Lost income and benefits
- Reduced lifetime earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket injury costs such as childcare, housekeeping costs, and home modifications to accommodate a new disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Lost quality of life
California is one of a minority of states that uses pure comparative negligence rules, meaning that delivery truck accident victims can still recover damages even if they are 99 percent responsible for a crash. However, courts reduce the award based on the individual’s percentage of the blame.
How a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Delivery truck accidents raise important issues about liability and negligence that make them more complex than typical car accident claims. Multiple entities contribute to trucking operations, and all or some might be liable for the wreck that hurt you. Commercial trucks are also subject to additional federal regulations that could affect a delivery truck accident lawsuit.
A Pasadena delivery truck accident attorney will investigate the crash and gather evidence crucial for building your case. A lawyer will also send a letter of spoliation to any trucking companies to prevent them from destroying pertinent records or performing fleet maintenance that erases physical evidence. An attorney will also place an appropriate value on your case, manage all settlement negotiations with the insurance company, and take the case to trial if that gives your truck accident claim the best chance for a fair result.
Contact a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in Pasadena
With over three decades of experience serving California injury victims, the Law Offices of Pius Joseph has the track record, respect, and reputation for excellence that you should expect from a skilled Pasadena truck accident lawyer.
Past clients like J.J. and L.L. can attest to our firm’s commitment to personalized attention and professional client service. They write, “Never have we experienced a law group, and the individuals who work there, so interested in putting you first and making you feel like a caring family. Their communication throughout the process was excellent, [with] phone calls, personal meetings, text messages, and e-mails keeping us ‘in the loop.’ The end result for us was truly amazing, and we felt we made lifelong friends.”
Ready to get started? Call or contact our firm today for a free consultation with a delivery truck accident lawyer in Pasadena.
