San Bernardino Trucking Accident Lawyer

You’ve Been Hurt in a Truck Accident. How Should You React?

Trucking is a key part of California’s economy — yet truckers often have difficulty navigating California’s congested roads. Interstates 5 and 10 are both notorious for truck accidents, with annual numbers for both pushing well into the four figures.

Truck accidents are especially dangerous for other motorists. Trucks can be massively heavy and slow to come to a complete stop. The statistics tell the story: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 600 fatal accidents involving trucks in California each year. According to the NHTSA, San Bernardino averages between 50 and 100 such fatal accidents annually.

In addition to those fatalities, thousands of Californians — many of the San Bernardino residents — are seriously injured in truck-related accidents each year.

To help you protect your legal rights, let’s take a closer look at what to do if you are involved in a trucking accident.

How to Respond After a San Bernardino Truck Accident

The decisions you make in the minutes after a serious truck collision can have a major impact on your safety, health and well-being and financial prospects. If you are in this situation, consider the following steps:

• Move yourself out of danger. Sometimes secondary accidents are deadlier than the initial collision.
• Call 911 and law enforcement.
• If the collision is significant, ask for a medical evaluation. Serious internal injuries may not be apparent for days, weeks or even months after a collision.
• Take photos and videos of the crash scene to document it as evidence.
• Ask witnesses for contact information. Their impartial perspective can be crucial to resolving an insurance claim or court case.
• Exchange insurance and vehicle information with other motorists.
• Track your medical expenses (lost wages, medical bills, etc.).

The Importance of Talking to a San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident litigation can be trickier than expected. The rules governing how truck drivers are supposed to work are extensive. For example, drivers are required to keep detailed logs and only work a certain number of hours without breaks. An attorney can review this information to see if there are any violations that may help establish liability.

Additionally, a truck manufacturer or trucking company may also be liable for a collision in some cases. If maintenance was not performed (or not performed properly), or some other defect was present, an attorney can help uncover these facts.

Insurers and trucking companies are well-resourced and have trained professionals to help them defend claims and lawsuits. Victims should have equally aggressive representation — which is why it is important that an experienced attorney be consulted to help you in San Bernardino receive any compensation to which you are entitled.