Fresno, California, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the area. Having increased its population by over 35,000 residents between 2012 and 2019, the city is as booming as it is busy. Fresno’s bustling environment doesn’t end with its population. Over the years, more and more registered drivers and commercial vehicles have taken to the roads.

Unfortunately, with so many vehicles on the road comes the risk of motor vehicle accidents and collisions. Truck collisions can be particularly devastating, as trucks’ large nature and limited visibility make them bigger hazards on the road.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the costs of your injuries or property damages. The top-rated team of Fresno personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw is here to help. Having served the Fresno area for over 19 years, we’re well-equipped to help you build your truck accident case.

If you’re ready to seek the restitution you deserve, give us a call today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

Oftentimes, accidents involving large trucks, particularly commercial trucks, bring up many questions regarding local, federal, and corporate regulations. This legislation can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with it, especially if they’ve recently been a victim of a truck accident. At OnderLaw , our attorneys are well-acquainted with the laws surrounding these accidents and are prepared to use our legal knowledge and years of experience with similar cases to help you.

In addition to our experience, OnderLaw has many valuable resources to offer our clients. When you say yes to OnderLaw , you’re also saying yes to our many successful strategies and extensive network of legal connections. We will do our best to protect your rights so that you can obtain the compensation to which you’re entitled.

Another part of our commitment to you is the way we handle communication. Rather than leave you to deal with the insurance companies and other involved parties, we manage all communication on every client’s behalf. This streamlines the legal process and protects you from accidental self-incrimination so that you can focus on what’s important – your health — while we build your truck accident case.

Why Choose OnderLaw ?

OnderLaw has been keeping clients happy since 2002, reaching favorable settlements and winning impressive awards. Our firm has reached over $3 billion in settlements and has been recognized for our excellence by several local and national organizations. Our attorneys have been named as members of the 2015 Rue Ratings Best Attorneys of America, a distinction extended to 1% of attorneys nationwide. We’ve also been recognized by the American Trial Lawyers Association and the American Society of Legal Advocates.

Top personal injury attorney Breanna L. Hunt has been fighting for justice since graduating from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Hunt was a regional finalist in the 2019 American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition and served as the national liaison for the Federal Bar Association. Her tenacity and attention to detail have made her a valuable member of the OnderLaw team, which she joined in 2020.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There is no one cause of truck accidents. Many factors can contribute to truck collisions, including the negligence of other drivers and the overall road conditions at the time of the crash. A few examples of common causes of truck accidents are:

  • Roadside construction
  • Weather conditions
  • Vehicle malfunction/defective part
  • Drugged driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Drunk driving
  • Cell phone use while driving
  • Negligent employers who fail to properly screen or train their drivers
  • Aggressive driving
  • Exceeding hours of service requirements
  • Improperly loaded cargo

Types of Truck Accidents

Because of the many causes of truck collisions, no two truck accidents look exactly the same. There are many types of truck crashes that you might find yourself injured in. Some examples include:

  • Jackknife accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • T-bone collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Turning accidents
  • Blind spot accidents
  • Sideswipe accidents
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Rollover accidents
  • Fallen cargo accidents

Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Accidents

As you might expect, there is a wide range of injuries one might sustain from a truck accident. While some injuries are less severe than others, the cost of medical care is a major factor when determining compensation. You may be entitled to reimbursement for medical expenses for any of the following injuries:

  • Lacerations
  • Contusions
  • Concussions
  • Paralysis
  • Burns
  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Organ damage
  • Amputation
  • Whiplash

Compensation for a Truck Accident Claim

When seeking compensation in a truck accident claim, there are several factors to consider. Generally, the more severe your injury, the greater your potential compensation will be. In order to demand compensation from the insurance carrier, you’ll have to total your losses, or damages.

Damages are often divided into two main types: economic and noneconomic. You might seek compensation for one or both of these.

  • Economic damages are most often expressed in monetary terms. These may include the cost to repair damage to your property, to recoup lost income or wages as a result of an accident, or any medical expenses related to the injuries you suffered in an accident. To estimate these costs, keep copies of receipts for all repair costs, paystubs, timecards, and medical bills and records.
  • Noneconomic damages are less quantifiable and most often refer to the intangible pain and suffering costs associated with an accident. Examples of these “costs” or losses include loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of mobility, or emotional/psychological trauma. Your attorney has experience assessing the value of these sorts of costs and can help you arrive at an appropriate number. You can help by document any counseling or therapy you receive as a result of an accident and keeping a journal that details how your injury impacted your daily life.

Proving Negligence in California

In the state of California, liability or fault is determined on the basis of whose negligence caused the accident. In a truck accident, proving liability is tricky because the liable party might be the truck driver, but the cargo loaders, the trucking company, or even the mechanic who just serviced the truck could be liable. A thorough investigation into the accident will be required to determine where fault and liability lie.

Negligence occurs when someone fails to perform their duty to keep others safe. The truck driver is expected to drive in a reasonable way and not cause a crash by driving aggressively. The trucking company is expected to perform due diligence and check the background and licensure of the drivers it employs, and provide additional training. The cargo loaders are expected to adhere to the limitations placed upon them by federal regulations for the weight and dimensions of permissible cargo. There are many potentially liable parties in a truck accident.

California is a pure comparative negligence state. That means even if one party is found to be 20% liable for the crash, they may still seek compensation for 80 percent of the damages the court decided they suffered. For example, if a jury determines that you are entitled to $75,000 of compensation in your truck accident case but that you were 20 percent liable, you will only be able to obtain $60,000 in damages or $75,000 less 20 percent.

Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Lawsuits

To give your truck accident case a chance of being heard in a court of law, the most important thing you can do is file a lawsuit. Depending on the type of suit you’re filing, there are a few timelines to consider:

  • If you’re seeking compensation for personal injuries sustained in an accident, the state of California’s statute of limitations provides a period of two years from the date of the accident in which to file a lawsuit.
  • If you wish to pursue compensation for property damage alone, you will have a three-year window that begins on the date of the accident in which to file a lawsuit.
  • If you’re pursuing compensation for damages or injuries sustained in an accident with a government agency or government employee, the state provides a period of six months from the date of the accident in which to file a lawsuit.

Truck Accident Statistics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that in 2018, there were 5,096 large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes nationwide. The same report finds that there was a 5% increase in the number of large trucks involved in personal injury accidents, from 107,000 to 112,000.

The California Highway Patrol reports that in 2017, there were 6,969 truck drivers involved in injury crashes in the state of California. 

Need Help? Call OnderLaw Today

Truck accidents can be overwhelming to deal with on your own. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, let OnderLaw help. We are ready to provide you with the high-quality legal counsel that has come to be expected of our firm.

Call OnderLaw today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Don’t allow the devastating effects of a truck accident keep you down any longer. Take the first steps on your journey to justice today.