Truck Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When it comes to an auto accident, why is injury more severe when a commercial truck is involved as opposed to a vehicle?

A: Since a commercial truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds, the impact from this type of accident is usually much more severe and results in more serious injuries and death.

Q: What is a "commercial" truck, how does it differ from other types of trucks?

A: A commercial truck is a truck that is used to transport goods. These large trucks can be tanker trucks, 18 wheelers, or other very large trucks.

Q: What is a truck's "No-Zone"?

A: Simply put, this is like a truck driver's blind spot, where the truck driver has little to no visibility and cannot see what is behind him/her.

Q: If a truck jackknifes, does this mean that the accident was the driver's fault?

A: Since jackknifing is the result of a truck's brakes locking up, most of the time, yes.

Q: Does this mean I will automatically win a lawsuit if the truck jackknifed?

A: Not necessarily. Sometimes, outside factors and circumstances that were beyond the truck driver's control may have caused the truck to jackknife. The best way to find out is to provide a lawyer with the exact details of your case.

Q: What is an underride accident?

A: This type of accident involves part of a car sliding underneath a truck, resulting in serious impact that can cause decapitation and death.

Q: Can I get compensated for loss of wages due to the injuries I sustained from a truck accident?

A: If it is proven that the truck driver was negligent in the accident, then yes.

Q: Can I bring a lawsuit against the truck driver's trucking company because of injuries that were caused from the truck accident?

A: This is dependent on whether or not there was an established employment relationship with the truck driver and the trucking company.

Q: I think the accident may have been somewhat my fault. Should I even bother pursuing a claim?

A: This depends on just how much you have been at fault, and how much the truck driver may have been at fault. This is what comparative negligence does, it compares the amount of negligence between all involved parties. If the truck driver was still responsible for 60% of the accident, for example, you may entitled to receive compensation for 60% of all losses and damages.

Q: Can't I do the claim myself? Do I really need a truck accident lawyer?

A: A truck accident lawyer can help ensure that the claim is valid and properly assessed. Additionally, a truck accident lawyer can help get you more compensation than what would result from simply dealing with an insurance company on your own.

If you have anymore questions regarding Truck Accidents, contact our California Truck Accident Lawyer today!