Understanding Your Legal Rights After a Trucking Accident

Being in a road accident can be extremely scary. And when you're involved in a trucking accident, the situation can be even more difficult for you to handle. Trucks are massive, and when one collides with a car or a small vehicle, the result can be devastating! 

• You can get serious injuries,
• Your car can get destroyed, and 
• Your daily routine (or your life) might be disrupted. 

But there's one thing that you need to know about getting into a trucking accident in California - you can exercise your legal rights to protect yourself! And the best way to do that is by hiring seasoned personal injury lawyers in Sacramento! 

An attorney can explain your legal rights clearly, how your fault is determined, and help you get the compensation you deserve after the accident. If you want to know more about your legal rights and how you can protect them after a truck accident, you can keep reading this blog!

Why Trucking Accidents Are Different

Dealing with a truck accident is different from handling a car accident. Truck accident cases are usually more complex because several parties could be at fault! 

Here are some of the reasons why truck accident cases can get messier.

• More than one party can be at fault: In truck accidents, responsibility can fall on the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance crew, or even the cargo loaders.
• Insurance policies are much larger: Trucking companies usually have multi-million-dollar insurance coverage. And this can make claims more complex.
• Investigations take longer: Trucking accidents usually need accident reconstruction, driver logs, and black box data to figure out what really happened. And so, investigations can go on for a long time!
• Federal and state trucking laws apply. There are rules about how long drivers can be on the road, how cargo is loaded, and how trucks are maintained. And this can make the cases more complicated because any violation of these rules can affect who’s legally responsible for the crash.
• The damage is severe: A fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. And this weight is far more than a car. So, if your car crashes with a truck, you can get serious injuries, it can cause vehicle destruction, and more. That’s why trucking accidents often mean that you can get much higher compensation than regular car accidents.

It's important to know your legal rights after a trucking accident and have an accident lawyer in Sacramento by your side from the start. This way, you can take proper steps to protect your legal rights!

What are Your Legal Rights After a Trucking Accident?

After a trucking accident, you have specific legal rights under California law, even if the insurance companies make it seem otherwise. Here’s what you should know!

• You Have The Right To Compensation

You can pursue payment for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. You can also include long-term care expenses if your injuries continue to affect your life.

• You Have The Right To Know Who’s Responsible

Your accident attorney in Sacramento will investigate whether it was the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or even a manufacturer who is at fault. This process can also help your attorney decide on a fair compensation amount.

• You Have The Right To Legal Representation

You don’t have to deal with the insurance companies or the party at fault on your own. An accident lawyer in Sacramento can negotiate and fight in court (if needed) for your best outcome.

• You Have The Right To Access All Evidence

Your attorney can request the truck’s black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and camera footage to prove what really happened. And all this evidence can help you get fair compensation and the justice you deserve. 

• You Have The Right To Refuse Lowball Offers

Insurance companies often try to settle by paying you quickly, but for much less than you actually deserve. But you have the right not to accept low compensation!

• You Have The Right To File A Lawsuit

If you don’t receive a fair settlement, your accident lawyer in Sacramento can take your case to court and fight for full compensation. But you can do this within a limited time frame, which is usually two years from the date of your accident in California.

Having a trusted accident attorney in Sacramento by your side can simplify this process so that you can get the time to focus on your well-being and recovery after the accident!

Need Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Sacramento? Call Us Now!

Damages You Can Recover After Being in a Truck Accident

Understanding your legal rights also means knowing what type of compensation you're entitled to get after being in a trucking accident. Experienced personal injury lawyers in Sacramento can help you understand these details properly to make sure you get every dollar you deserve. 

But to have an idea, you can follow this table -

Economic Damages (things with a price tag)	Non-Economic Damages (emotional losses)
Medical expenses (current and future) Lost income or wages  Vehicle repair or replacement costs Rehabilitation or physical therapy	Pain and suffering Emotional distress Loss of enjoyment of life Permanent disability

How to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Truck Accident

Being in a truck accident isn't easy to handle. But what you do after the crash can actually determine how well you're protecting your rights and the amount of compensation you'll get. So, here's a guide for you so that you know what to do after a truck accident!

• Get Medical Help: You need to get medical help, even if you are feeling "okay." Some injuries might show up hours or days later. And so, getting checked by a doctor can help you have a medical record that you can use as evidence in case you need to file a claim.
• Call the Police & Report the Accident: You need to report the truck accident to the police to have a record of what really happened. This can support your side of the story later.
• Collect Evidence: If you’re able, take photos of the vehicles, your injuries, skid marks, road conditions, and collect information from witnesses, etc. This evidence might help your case later on. 
• Don't Speak to the Truck Company or Their Insurance Company: They may seem friendly, but their sole purpose is to protect their own company, and not you. So, you need to politely decline to give statements until you've spoken to your personal injury attorney in Sacramento.
• Keep All Your Records and Documents: You need to save your medical bills, repair estimates, receipts, and any record of communication related to the accident. These details can help prove your damages later.
• Contact Your Lawyer Right Away: Your accident lawyer in Sacramento can deal with the insurance companies, build your claim, and look for evidence. They'll make sure you're rights are protected from day one.

Besides these, you also need to ensure you're not posting about your accident online, as the opposite party can use it to reduce your claim.

Our Accident Lawyers in Sacramento Will Fight For Your Compensation Relentlessly!

Questions You Might Have About Your Legal Rights After a Trucking Accident