By working with an experienced semi-truck crash attorney in San Francisco, you can recover the full compensation you need to get your life back on track after a commercial trucking accident.
If you’ve survived a collision with a commercial truck, you already know just how devastating and traumatizing these accidents can be. When you get hit by an 18-wheeler, the damage done to your vehicle and the injuries to your physical and emotional wellbeing are bound to be extensive.
Unfortunately, these are some of the most complicated traffic accidents to seek compensation for. Multiple parties could be at fault, and none of them are going to be eager to come forward and accept financial liability for what happened.
If this sounds like your situation, a San Francisco truck accident lawyer from Haffner Law can help you successfully resolve your personal injury claim. No matter who was at fault, we’ll be able to help you recover full compensation for your losses.
Fault Is Complicated in Semi-Truck Crashes
The large number of people and entities involved in operating a semi-truck is what makes these claims so much more complicated than what’s seen in “normal” car accidents. The relationship between the trucker and his or her employer can also add an additional layer to things.
If the trucker is an independent contractor, then he or she might have a separate insurance policy that needs to be taken into account. Even then, the trucking company or someone else involved in running the commercial truck could still be at least partially to blame for the wreck.
These are just a few of the parties that your semi-truck accident attorney will need to consider during the investigation into the crash:
- Trucker
- Trucking company
- Third-party maintenance company
- Owner of the cargo, especially if it was considered hazardous
- Cargo-loading team
- Manufacturer of the commercial truck or its parts
Proving Who Was Responsible for the Truck Accident
In order to prove that one or more of the above entities was responsible, we’ll need to identify everything that led to the 18-wheeler accident. This makes it critical to contact one of our attorneys as soon as possible, as evidence and witness testimony are always easiest to collect while they’re still fresh and readily available.
Proving your case will directly depend on this evidence, which could vary substantially according to the cause of the accident. For example, you might suspect that a trucker was driving drowsy because he or she veered across the median without warning late at night.
However, proving that this was the cause will require additional evidence, such as examining the truck driver’s rest logs and whether the trucking company was encouraging the trucker to drive long distances with little rest.
Your lawyer will know how to build a case proving driver fatigue, as well as many other potential causes of commercial trucking wrecks:
- Distracted driving
- Driver intoxication, whether by drugs or by alcohol
- Speeding or reckless operation
- Unsecured cargo or tractor-trailer doors
- Defective truck parts or tires
- Dangerous road conditions
The Type of Truck Crash Could Be Key to Your Case
During the investigation, the type of 18-wheeler wreck you experienced could be key to your case, as this can reveal the traffic conditions at the time of your crash and how the truck driver reacted to them. This makes it critical that you not leave out any details when discussing your case with your San Francisco truck accident lawyer.
For example, if the trucker was making a swinging turn, the insurance company might try to accuse you of not paying attention to the driver’s signals. If we can prove that the trucker either failed to signal a wide turn or initiated the turn at an inappropriate time, it can greatly help your case.
Likewise, a lost load might indicate that the trucker was at fault for not ensuring that the freight was secure. However, it could just as easily implicate the cargo team. And if the cargo was hazardous, the shipment’s owner might be at fault for failing to inform the trucking company of the content’s shipping requirements.
From Jackknife accidents to underrides, our firm will know how to investigate your truck accident type and what the crash type will mean for your case.
FULL Compensation for a Commercial Truck Wreck
After any traffic accident, you’re at high risk of accepting an inadequate settlement amount when you attempt to deal with the insurer on your own. They might lowball the offer they make, blame you for the crash, or use your statements against you—sometimes all at once.
Your San Francisco semi-truck crash attorney won’t let this happen to you. We’ll work with you and your doctors to ensure that your claim is properly valued and that the insurer doesn’t get away with any of these tactics.
In the end, your financial compensation needs to account for all of your accident-related losses, whether they’re financial or non-economic in nature. This could include any of the following examples, although your settlement isn’t limited to these damages, either:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and earning ability
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Transportation expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and disfigurement
San Francisco Truck Accident FAQ
A commercial truck accident is rarely an easy thing to recover from, and you probably have a number of questions about what’s ahead and what to expect. An attorney from our firm will be happy to address all of your concerns, and we’ve answered a few of the more common questions in the section below:
How do I get compensated after a hit-and-run semi-truck accident?
While it’s not impossible for a trucker to hit someone and not realize it, that doesn’t mean he or she isn’t financially liable for the damages caused. Your accident lawyer might be able to help you identify the trucker through paint scrapes, video footage, and other evidence. Failing that, it might be possible to file an uninsured driver claim with your own auto insurance carrier.
If my family member died in a fatal truck accident, how do I hold the responsible party accountable?
You might have grounds to seek justice through financial compensation by filing a wrongful death claim against the liable party. Our firm will be able to help you determine if you meet California’s criteria and how best to proceed.
Who’s responsible when a semi-truck is overloaded and wrecks because of it?
The party who loaded the truck is almost certainly going to be found at least partially responsible. Depending on their relationship to the trucker and trucking company and whether these parties were aware of the overload, they might also bear a portion of the fault.
Connect with a San Francisco Big Rig Collision Attorney
It might not be easy to get fully compensated for a semi-truck accident, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Haffner Law can help you recover every penny in compensation that you’re owed for your damages and injuries.
To find out what your claim could be worth and what your next step should be, schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable San Francisco truck accident lawyer. Just complete our contact form below or call us directly at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637).
