An accident between two passenger vehicles can be traumatic. However, this trauma can reach greater heights when a semi-truck is involved. Commercial trucks are heavier, longer, bigger, and more difficult to steer compared to passenger vehicles. Because of their sheer weight and size, a truck accident often results in catastrophic injuries or death.
If you have been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you must speak with a Richmond truck accident attorney at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. Even in a non-fatal trucking accident, the injuries can be severe and life-altering. Speaking with an experienced Richmond personal injury lawyer regarding your legal options can protect your rights and your claim, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other damages.
What to Do If You Were in a Richmond Truck Accident
All types of auto accidents result in damages to a person and/or their property. When a commercial truck is involved, these damages can be immense. A tractor-trailer accident usually results in severe injuries, high medical treatment costs, pain and suffering, lost income from missed time at work, or death. In the aftermath of an accident, you must speak with an experienced Richmond truck accident attorney to file a claim against the at-fault driver. Because accidents can involve several parties, a skilled truck accident attorney is needed to establish the elements of causation. At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, our experienced truck accident lawyers can handle every aspect of your CA truck accident claim. If you were in a semi-truck accident, the personal injury lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are prepared to help you seek the compensation you deserve. We can help you secure a settlement that will cover the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and additional damages.
What to Do After a Commercial Truck Accident
These days, truck accidents are common on American roadways. To strengthen your case, you must take certain measures in the aftermath of the accident. If you are able to get out of your vehicle, speak with the police and make sure they create an accident report. Accident reports can be used as valuable evidence in your claim. If possible, you should also preserve any evidence from the accident. This can include taking photos of the damage done to your vehicle and the truck, skid marks in the road, your injuries, debris in the road, or broken or faulty traffic lights or signs. You should also exchange information with any witnesses and the truck driver.
Medical Treatment
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers
Richmond, CA 94801
(510)-399-2994
After a truck accident, seeking medical attention should be your top priority. Even if you don’t think you need to be seen, you must head to your nearest emergency room or urgent care facility. Some types of injuries may not be obvious until several hours or days after the accident.
In most cases, truck accident injuries are often severe and may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries, head injuries, or other types of brain trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Burns
Compensation in a Richmond Truck Accident Case
All Richmond motorcycle, car, and truck operators are required to drive responsibly. Specifically, drivers owe others a duty of care and mustn’t drive negligently or recklessly. If another driver operates their vehicle recklessly or negligently and injures you, you must seek compensation. Or, if you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another motorist you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the decedent. For help filing a claim or lawsuit, contact an experienced and skilled Richmond truck accident lawyer today. At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we’re prepared to advocate on behalf of a truck accident victim and help them hold the at-fault party or parties responsible for their injuries and other damages.
Common Types of Accidents
Truck crashes can occur in several different ways and the variety of injuries and damages often depend on the type of accident that occurred.
– Jackknife
A tractor and trailer are attached by a device called a coupling. When a coupling fails or if the trailer is thrown off balance, this can cause the trailer to swing out perpendicular to the tractor, just like a folding knife. The trailer can then collide with any cars in the adjacent lanes which can result in catastrophic injuries and damages.
– Rollover
A commercial vehicle rollover accident is one of the most terrifying types of truck accidents. These accidents often occur when a trucker fails to adjust the semi’s speed. Speed adjustment, steering errors, inattentive driving and other errors are common causes of a rollover crash. These accidents are also a function of forces that can affect a heavier, larger vehicle that is driving at a high speed on a curved surface. Centrifugal force can cause a semi-truck to lean away from the direction of a curve as the vehicle travels on a curved lane. Rollover crashes often have devastating consequences, such as catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
– Override
A rear-end crash is considered a minor fender bender when it involves two passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case when a large commercial truck is involved. When a commercial truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, the truck may drive onto the back of the car. Sometimes, a semi-truck can even drive over the back seat of the vehicle, which usually results in fatalities for any passengers in the back.
– Underride
Underride accidents occur when a passenger vehicle crashes into the back of a commercial truck because the semi-truck improperly changed lanes or suddenly stopped. In these cases, the front of a smaller vehicle can become wedged under the truck, often severely injuring or killing the motorists in the front seat.
– Cargo Spills
Some types of commercial truck accidents don’t involve direct collisions with other vehicles. Instead, the cargo can fall off a flatbed truck or out of a trailer, either into the road or onto other vehicles.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Truck Accidents in California
There are many types of truck accidents and many factors that can cause collisions. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that truck driver error is the cause of most trucking accidents.
Some examples of truck driver negligence can include:
– Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can occur when the trucker fails to give proper attention or care to the road. In many cases, the trucker is paying attention to an electronic device such as a cell phone or tablet while they’re operating a semi-truck. Distracted driving takes the trucker’s attention away from the road and increases the chances of a serious accident.
– Truck Driver Fatigue
Truckers are often incentivized or encouraged by their employers to drive for several hours on end, sometimes without sleeping or taking a break. For example, a trucking company can offer a driver a large cash bonus if they get their cargo delivered sooner than expected. When a semi-truck driver drives while fatigued, they can experience a delayed reaction time and will not be able to stop their big rig in time to avoid a collision. A driver can also fall asleep at the wheel, causing an accident with another vehicle and bringing about catastrophic personal injuries and property damage.
– Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Drunk driving while operating a big rig often leads to disaster. Like when driving while fatigued, a trucker’s reaction time is slowed, and they exercise poor judgment.
– Speeding
Speeding is a type of reckless driving that can have devastating consequences. When truckers operate their vehicles above the posted speed limit, they can lose control of the truck and cause a fatal collision with a smaller vehicle. Exceeding the speed limit in inclement weather or around a sharp turn can result in the truck overturning in the middle of a roadway. Additionally, when truckers exceed the speed limit in wet weather conditions, a big rig can hydroplane, which will cause the trucker to lose control of their vehicle and collide with a passenger
Damages in a Truck Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident you may be eligible for compensation for damages including but not limited to:
- Medical care
- Lost wages
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Truck accident victims usually incur overwhelming losses due to the severity of their injuries and other damages. Once the negligent party or parties have been identified, a truck accident lawyer can assist their client in assessing the full value of their losses to ensure they receive a fair settlement. They can also take over all communication with an insurance company or defense attorney to prevent them from taking advantage of you during this stressful time.
Legal Advice When You Need it the Most
If you have been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, an experienced injury lawyer at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you build a strong case that will hold all negligent parties responsible and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our attorneys will work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, private investigators and economists to determine the value of your truck accident claim. We know how devastating your life can be following a truck accident due to medical expenses, damage to your vehicle and other types of financial damages. At this time, you may be struggling to carry out normal daily activities due to the catastrophic injuries you have sustained, and you may be unable to return to work. Do not let the insurance company or trucking company force you into accepting a small truck accident settlement. Let our experienced truck accident attorneys fight for you and make sure you receive the fair compensation you deserve from the responsible party.
Contact the Truck Accident Lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Richmond, contact a truck accident attorney at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today. Our law firm offers free, no-obligation consultations. We can meet with you to help you determine if you have a valid claim.
If you decide to work with us, we will get started right away, investigating your case and gathering vital evidence that will hold the at-fault trucker driver and other negligent parties liable for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today at 800-718-4658 or text or email to schedule a no-obligation case review and let our team of truck accident attorneys hold the liable parties responsible.
