Have you or a loved one recently sustained catastrophic injuries in an accident involving a big rig, tractor-trailer, or another type of large commercial truck in Oceanside, California? Call Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers and learn about your legal rights and options at (619) 344-0360. Our Oceanside truck accident lawyers can help you maximize your financial award.
For more than a decade, Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers has been a leading advocate in personal injury litigation in Southern California. Our award-winning California trial attorneys have helped crash victims and devastated families win tens of millions of dollars in life-changing awards.
Benefit from 20+ years of experience and put yourself in the position to win your truck accident case. We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our Oceanside, CA law office to arrange a time for yours today.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Oceanside, CA
It can be difficult to know exactly why a truck accident happens. It can be tough to determine who’s at fault and financially responsible for resulting injuries and trauma. Negligent truckers and trucking companies certainly won’t make the claims process easy for victims like you.
Fortunately, our Oceanside personal injury lawyers can give you the edge you need to get the results you deserve.
We have decades of experience going up against truck and insurance companies that are more interested in profits than making things right for accident victims like you.
When you trust us after your truck crash, you can rest assured that your case is in exceptionally good hands.
You take the time and opportunity to recover from your serious truck accident injuries while we:
- Coordinate a thorough independent investigation into your Oceanside truck accident
- Identity all potentially responsible parties
- Gather evidence, including truck black box data, inspection maintenance logs, driver communications, company hiring records, medical records, and other information that might be helpful as we pursue maximum compensation on your behalf
- Review results of local, state, and federal investigations into the collision
- Protect you if the truck driver tries to blame you for the collision
- Handle negotiations with the trucking company, insurer, and other involved parties
- File a lawsuit and bring your case to trial if you are not offered a reasonable settlement during negotiations
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, our truck accident attorneys in Oceanside work on a contingency fee basis. It costs nothing to get our top-rated legal team to fight for you. We only get paid if we win your truck injury case.
Call our Oceanside law office to get started with a free case assessment.
Oceanside, CA Truck Accident Statistics
In 2021, 352 car accidents involving large trucks were reported across all of San Diego County.
334 of these accidents resulted in at least one injury (35 of which were severe), and 18 truck accidents were fatal.
Oceanside saw 18 of these tragic semi-truck accidents. All of these auto accidents resulted in an injury, one of which was reported to be severe.
Who’s Liable for an Oceanside Truck Accident?
Under California law, liability can be shared by anyone who contributes to an auto accident with a truck.
Once our team has conducted an exhaustive inquiry into your situation, we may determine that one or more of the following parties are responsible:
- Negligent truck driver
- Negligent third-party motorist
- Bicyclist or pedestrian
- Truck manufacturer
- Trucking company
- Freight broker
- Freight loader
- Government agency
- Property owner
It will be important to pursue compensation from anyone who indirectly or directly contributed to your truck accident. Leaving no stone unturned, we can help to ensure that you secure all of the compensation you are owed under California state law.
What Happens If the Truck Driver Is Blaming Me For the Crash?
Since California has pure comparative fault rules, sharing blame can affect how much money you are awarded after a truck accident.
The more fault you are assigned, the less money you will be able to recover when your truck accident case is resolved.
For instance, ten percent fault means that your damages will be reduced by ten percent. Fifty percent fault will mean your financial award is cut in half. Bearing all of the responsibility for a truck accident will bar a financial recovery altogether.
So, it’s not uncommon for at-fault parties or their insurance carriers to attempt to shift blame in an effort to limit their own liability.
The best way to defend against these claims is to be ready for them. As part of our investigation, Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers will anticipate reasons why a truck driver might attempt to blame you for the collision. We will then work to gather evidence that disproves these allegations or minimizes their impact.
What Causes Trucking Accidents in Oceanside?
Big rigs are large, heavy vehicles. In fact, a fully loaded rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and stretch more than 30 feet.
This is why truck drivers are required to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL), log dozens of hours of practical driving experience, and demonstrate a superior knowledge of state and federal trucking rules before they can hit the open road.
It’s also why the trucking industry is so tightly regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
In theory, accidents involving large trucks shouldn’t happen. At the very least, they should be few and far between. As we’ve seen, truck accidents happen all too often and are typically the result of negligence.
Some of the leading causes of large truck accidents in California include:
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Driving in violation of hour-of-service regulations, which can result in fatigued and drowsy drivers
- Texting and driving
- Other types of distracted driving behaviors
- Speeding
- Braking errors
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Unsafe turns
- Illegal passing
- Cargo shifts
- Lost loads
- Failing to perform pre-and post-trip inspections
- Sharp turns
- Negligent hiring
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
- Road defects
Defective trucks or equipment can also contribute to or completely cause an accident with a tractor-trailer.
What Damages Can I Get in an Oceanside Truck Accident Lawsuit?
When you pursue compensation in a truck accident claim, you can generally receive damages for economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages are paid to make up for the monetary costs and expenses a victim experiences because they were in a truck accident.
Examples include:
- Present and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Nursing assistance
- Disability
Not all trauma related to a truck accident comes with a receipt or generates a standard financial loss. That’s where non-economic damages can be helpful.
Non-economic damages that are commonly awarded in truck accident cases include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mental anguish
- Embarrassment
If there is evidence that a truck driver was extremely intoxicated or intentionally ran you off the road or that the trucking company defrauded inspection documents and failed to take care of its fleet of vehicles, a San Diego County jury might award punitive damages, as well.
Victims Can Suffer Catastrophic, Fatal Injuries in Big Rig Accidents
Statistically speaking, occupants of small cars and pedestrians are most likely to sustain severe and catastrophic injuries in auto accidents involving large trucks.
Common truck accident injuries include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck and back injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Burn injury
- Amputation
- Broken bones
- Crush injury
- Chest injury
- Joint injury and other soft tissue damage
- Wrongful death when an Oceanside truck accident is fatal
It’s important to seek medical treatment at the closest hospital in Oceanside immediately after your large truck accident. Once you have stabilized, take a moment to reach out to the compassionate legal team at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers. We’re always here to take your call and provide you with the support and guidance you need during this difficult time.
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits in California?
There is a two-year time limit that applies to most truck accident lawsuits in the state of California.
This gives you two years from the date of your truck accident or a loved one’s death to file a claim and pursue damages.
You don’t want to let time run out because once the statute of limitations expires, you give up your legal right to compensation.
Don’t miss out on the money you need because of a procedural technicality. Let our truck accident attorneys in Oceanside handle your case so that you can concentrate on getting better.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Oceanside Truck Accident Lawyer
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of truck accident cases, including jackknife accidents, rollover truck accidents, lost-load truck accidents, fatal truck accidents, and more. Do not hesitate to reach out to our Oceanside truck accident attorneys to discuss your legal options and learn about how we can help you achieve the best results in your case.
To arrange a free consultation, give us a call or reach out to us online. Someone will always be standing by to help.
