Vista Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Were you involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle in Vista, California? Numerous legal options may be available to hold the at-fault party liable for their actions. You can receive compensation for things like your pain, suffering, and financial expenses if your claim succeeds.

Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers has been helping accident victims in the area for over a decade, and our Vista commercial vehicle accident lawyers have 20 years of combined experience. Since our personal injury law firm was founded, we’ve secured over $40 million for our deserving clients. We are confident we can help you obtain compensation for your injuries as well.

We’re available 24/7 to take your call at (619) 344-0360 if you’d like further information. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation to review your case.

What Can Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Do To Help After a Collision With a Commercial Vehicle in Vista?

What Can Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Do To Help After a Collision With a Commercial Vehicle in Vista?

Commercial motor vehicles are a necessary component of today’s economy. They’re ubiquitous on highways across the country, bringing important goods across state lines that wouldn’t reach their destination otherwise. Unfortunately, serious damage can result when a big-rig truck or similar vehicle is involved in an accident. If this has been your experience, you deserve compensation that adequately reflects your losses and injuries.

That’s exactly what Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help you achieve. Our award-winning Vista injury lawyers treat our clients like family; we’ll allocate the resources and attention your case needs in order to reach a favorable outcome. To that end, we can help after a commercial vehicle accident in Vista, CA, by:

  • Thoroughly investigating your accident and determining your best course of action
  • Collecting evidence on your behalf with the help of experts if necessary
  • Demanding compensation and negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party
  • Filing a lawsuit and taking your claim to court if the circumstances call for it

To begin the process of forming an attorney-client relationship, just send us a message online or give us a quick call today. Your initial case review is completely free of charge.

Commercial Vehicle Accident Statistics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides annual crash facts related to large truck and bus accidents. The latest year from which data are available is 2020, and the numbers are as follows:

  • In 2020, a total of 4,842 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes
  • Also that year, 45,900 large trucks were involved in injury crashes
  • There were approximately 415,000 police-reported accidents involving large trucks overall

FMCSA indicates a few trends related to these figures, noting that:

  • From 2018 to 2020, the number of large trucks weighing 10,001 to 14,000 pounds increased by 14 percent
  • The number of medium/heavy trucks involved in crashes rose 19 percent over that same time frame

These numbers indicate that commercial vehicle accidents are common across the United States and trending upward. 

How Valuable Is My Vista Commercial Vehicle Accident Case?

Evaluating a commercial vehicle accident case is a complicated process that is specific to the facts involved in the situation. Various factors can influence how much a case is worth, including:

  • Type and severity of injuries sustained
  • Availability of evidence in support of the victim’s compensation claim
  • Age of the victim at the time of the commercial vehicle crash
  • Whether the victim shares some of the blame for the accident
  • The nature of the at-fault party (for instance, whether the trucking company is involved in the case)

The best way to find out the value of your case is to reach out to a trusted Vista commercial vehicle accident attorney for a free consultation. During that time, the lawyer can provide further insight.

Establishing Liability After a Vista Commercial Vehicle Accident

In most commercial vehicle accident cases, you must prove that the at-fault party was negligent to establish liability. There are four legal elements required to do so, which are:

In some cases, you may be able to submit a claim against the trucking company itself under a theory of vicarious liability. This could be to your benefit, as the company will likely have a lucrative insurance policy you can pursue full compensation from.

In personal injury cases, you, as the injured victim, will have the burden of proof. You must submit enough evidence to show that your contentions are more likely true than otherwise to prevail. Types of evidence you can present include:

  • Medical records
  • CCTV footage, if available
  • Eyewitness and expert testimony 
  • Photos and videos of the accident and your damages

In rare instances, such as an accident caused by a defective part or machinery, you may file your claim under a strict liability theory instead of negligence. These claims do not require you to prove that the at-fault party was negligent.

Common Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Vista, California

The commercial motor vehicle industry is highly regulated at the state and federal levels. Despite these best efforts, accidents occur regularly for a variety of reasons. These include the following:

  • Violations of the FMCSA hours of service regulations
  • Distracted driving
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Drunk driving
  • Intoxicated driving
  • Aggressive driving, such as speeding or tailgating
  • Improper lane usage
  • Poor road or weather conditions

If you or a loved one were injured in a commercial truck accident, contact Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers today for legal advice and help.

What Damages Can I Recover After an Accident With a Commercial Vehicle?

Accident victims in Vista, California, can recover economic damages and non-economic damages. Together, these are referred to as “compensatory damages.”

Examples of compensatory damages include, but are not limited to:

Punitive damages may also be available in rare cases involving extreme conduct from the at-fault party. These damages are not considered compensatory and are meant to “punish” the responsible person or entity for their actions.

We’ll Fight for Compensation for All of Your Commercial Vehicle Accident Injuries in Vista, CA

Since commercial vehicles are relatively large and heavy, they can cause especially serious injuries in the event of a crash. Types of injuries we can help you pursue compensation for include:

Reach out today for a free case review to learn about your legal options and rights. Our Vista personal injury attorneys are here to help.

What Happens if I’m Blamed for My Commercial Vehicle Accident in Vista?

California law allows you to receive compensation even if you share some of the blame for your injuries; the state follows a pure comparative negligence standard.

Under pure comparative negligence, each party will be assigned a percentage of fault. Your damages may be reduced according to your assigned percentage. For example, if you are awarded $500,000 but are assigned 20% of the blame, your compensation may be reduced by 20% to $400,000.

Because of this system, the at-fault party will likely try to pin as much of the blame for the commercial truck accident on you as possible. Having an experienced attorney on your side could prove vital in this area, as a lawyer can help protect you from unfounded allegations of blame.

How Much Time Do I Have To File a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim in California?

In the State of California, you will generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. This deadline applies to a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

However, an exception to this statute of limitations deadline may apply to your case. It is best to contact a qualified attorney as soon as you can to ensure you know the correct deadline for your situation.

Reach Out for a Free Consultation With an Experienced Vista Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

California is an at-fault state regarding car insurance, so you likely have the ability to file a claim against the at-fault driver after a commercial vehicle accident in Vista. However, as discussed above, you might also be able to pursue compensation directly from the trucking company. Doing so may be in your best interest, and Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help you along the way.

Our Vista commercial vehicle accident attorneys work on contingency, as we believe financial concerns should not prevent you from hiring us. You won’t pay us a cent upfront; we’ll only take attorney’s fees if we win or settle your case.

Call us today to schedule your free case review.

Our personal injury law firm in Vista, CA also provides: