When do you need a California truck accident attorney?

If you are in an accident involving a truck in California, you may need a California truck accident attorney. A California truck accident attorney knows that while California typically leads the nation in fatal traffic accidents, it does not tend to have the most fatal truck accidents.

Preliminary 2006 statistics available to California truck accident attorneys show that California had 12,389 non-fatal truck crashes; 4,023 truck injury crashes; 5,780 Injuries involving large trucks; 8,366 truck towaway crashes; and nine large truck hazmat crashes. A California truck accident attorney knows that while large trucks – over 10,000 pounds – are just three percent of vehicles on the road, they account for more than a quarter of fatalities in multi-vehicle accidents.

Any California truck accident attorney knows this is, of course, because of their size. A California truck accident attorney understands that about 10 percent of those injured in a crash with a large truck will be killed, and almost all of those injured or killed in truck accidents are not truck drivers.

California truck accident attorneys know that trucking is covered by federal and state regulations covering equipment maintenance and safety and operating hours for drivers, since faulty equipment and driver fatigue are often the cause of accidents. In fact, many of these regulations were crafted by California truck accident attorneys to protect the public. A California truck accident attorney knows that any violation of these regulations is clearly negligence, and cause for the trucking company to be held accountable.

California truck accident attorneys and insurance fraud

It is important to be aware when choosing a California truck accident attorney that there has been a large amount of insurance fraud in the state involving attorneys, especially in southern California, where more than 65 percent of insurance claims involve some sort of fraud. The incentive for a dishonest California truck accident attorney can be high, as the insurance settlement for a staged accident like a “swoop and squat” can be $20,000 or more.

California truck accident attorneys know this type of criminal behavior victimizes everyone, as insurance rates climb, and honest California truck accident attorneys have a higher standard to meet to establish a legitimate claim. California truck accident attorneys know that auto insurance fraud costs Californians more than half a billion dollars each year.

California truck accident attorney and truck liability

California truck accident attorneys know that truck drivers are often victims of fraudulent accidents, since their heavy vehicles can be difficult to stop quickly, even moving at moderate speeds. Very heavy traffic in Los Angeles, the car capital of the world, along with an often desperate immigrant population and an insurance commission stretched to the limit exacerbate the situation. Also, a California truck accident attorney knows a truck typically carries more liability insurance, typically up to $1 million. Trucking companies are also self-insured, and don’t have the resources to investigate whether an accident is fraudulent.

That liability limit can be good news to California truck accident attorneys and you, if you have a legitimate claim. But, California truck accident attorneys also knows $1 million can run out quickly if your injuries are serious and long-term, so you may need a California truck accident attorney to make sure you receive compensation in line with the nature of your injuries. Also, for small to mid-size trucking companies that are self-insured, a California truck accident attorney knows that their ability to cover a victim’s financial needs in the event of a serious accident may be limited.

California Truck Accident Attorney Case Evaluation Form