As established in this paper, significant rig truck accidents on the commercial are a considerable risk factor for death among motorists in routine, non-commercial passenger cars. Unfortunately, such mishaps are far from being rare in society. If you have been part of a truck accident in San Diego, please get in touch with our team of successful and professional attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg.
Truck or commercial vehicle accidents are usually complicated, and the scene investigation is even more complex than some common car accidents. Cited truck operators know their means of earning a living are endangered; hence, they would do anything to exclude blame. While this is the case, trucking companies usually initiate immediate inquiries on how to minimize their exposures. This is because insurance services are business ventures that only aim at making profits. Thus, insurance companies will do everything possible to avoid satisfying their customers’ claims.
These measures initiated by the trucking companies and insurers generate numerous opportunities for the number of parties who can become defendants, which is why pursuing compensation is complex. Our team members are committed to conducting extensive legal research, investigating all potential factors involving this case, and producing a global and integrative legal plan. Our goal is to win justice for victims of tractor-trailer accidents and make sure that the culprit is made to answer for the suffering they have caused the victims. If you were involved in a truck accident in San Diego, let our lawyers get you justice for your losses.
35+ Years of Winning Truck Accident Cases in San Diego: Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
For over 35 years, the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg have been a powerhouse in San Diego, securing justice for truck accident victims and their families. When you choose us, you select a team of experienced trial attorneys with a proven track record of winning even the most challenging cases. Our success is built on relentless dedication, expert knowledge, and the skill to get results in complex truck accident litigation.
We’re not just about winning—we’re about ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. Trucking companies and insurers know that when they face us in court, we’re ready to stand up to them and fight for your rights, no matter how difficult the case may seem.
Why Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous
Tractors, semi-trailers, and other large trucks are sometimes 20 times heavier than an ordinary car or truck. Consequently, this difference in size and mass shows that they are more careful on the road. The US government has standard procedures and policies to regulate truck drivers’ activities, conduct, and actions on the streets to minimize the frequency of accidents related to such drivers.
These regulations include:
- Strict Blood Alcohol Limits: All commercial vehicle drivers, especially trucks, should not have a BAC level of more than 0.04%.
- Alcohol-Free Driving Hours: Commercial drivers should not consume alcohol for the next four hours of their journey.
- Age and safety requirements: The driver must be at least 21 years old and have no unsafe driving record.
- Regular Vehicle Inspections: Drivers must constantly check their vehicles and cargo.
- Driving in Hazardous Weather: Whenever situations become dangerous, drivers must exercise the care and caution necessary to bring operations to a halt.
- Rest Breaks: Truck drivers must be relieved routinely to minimize the number of times the drivers fall asleep while driving and cause an accident.
- Log Hours Carefully: Truck drivers must write down the time they spend behind the wheel and cannot drive for more hours than the law allows.
- The Risk of Negligence: Why Some Of The Truckers And Companies Go Along With The Lowest Standards
However, most truck drivers or organizations that own the trucks violate these regulations in their desperate bid to shave off some time or reduce costs. They may drive for longer hours without taking their deserved rest or even fail to check on their vehicles thoroughly and those they will be using; companies may force drivers down to work extra hours or even neglect safety requirements to amass profits. The sufferer is in the cold when reckless actions cause serious accidents.
Shocking San Diego Truck Accident Statistics: What’s Really Behind the Surge?
Increased accidents on the San Diego roads involve trucks, and the figures are even worse than before. The California Highway Patrol data suggest that the number of crashes with large trucks increased in San Diego County in 2020 to 352 crashes. Worryingly, 20% of these accidents occurred in San Diego, demonstrating a local problem.
Truck accidents: Their Impact on people in San Diego
The effects of these truck accidents are always disastrous. In 2020, San Diego saw 72 truck accidents within the city, leading to:
4 deaths that families and loved ones have to struggle with after losing their dear ones.
Eighty-nine people sustained injuries, with 4 of those, as mentioned above, being life-altering and severe.
Statistics are essential to highlight, but those numbers show individuals who lose their lives to reckless driving and avoidable accidents.
Speed: The Walk-In Leading Cause of Truck Accidents in San Diego
Another cause that has frequently reoccurred in truck accident reports is speed. Specifically, in evaluating potential contributing factors to the truck accidents that occurred in San Diego in the calendar year of 2020, excessive speeding emerged as the most recurrent contributing factor, accounting for 32 percent of all the avoidable truck accidents. Never before has it been shown that speeding compromises the basic skills of a truck driver and simultaneously worsens the consequences of an accident if one occurs.
Why San Diego Drivers Should Care About These Statistics
All drivers in San Diego need to understand why the number of fatal truck accidents is increasing. Being cautious on the road is essential, especially when close to trucks. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving through a downtown area or on highways; having this kind of statistics can go a long way in helping you make better decisions while on the road.
What Compensation Is Available for San Diego Truck Accidents? A Look at the Most Common Injuries
If one has been involved in a San Diego truck accident, the citizen is likely to suffer both physically, emotionally, and financially. Knowing what you are allowed to do and to what extent is helpful to regain stability. The Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, your San Diego truck accident attorney, is here to ensure you get all the compensation you are entitled to.
Types of Compensation You Can Claim
After a truck crash, you may qualify for various types of compensation, depending on the severity of your injuries and the specifics of the crash:
- Medical Expenses: There are always very many hospital bills that are incurred shortly after a person has been involved in an accident. You may need reimbursement for emergency treatment, operations, appointments with doctors and specialists, physiotherapy, and further treatment. This is also true for future care if your injuries prove to necessitate such attention or treatment in the future.
- Lost Wages and Future Earnings: Loss due to workplace injuries tends to be significantly higher among women than men. As different types of vehicles and trucks bring severe consequences, the victims cannot return to work immediately. Medical expenses must be paid, especially when one can’t work as they pay for the required treatment.
- Pain and Suffering: Apart from the bodily harm, there may be pain and suffering arising from emotional trauma that emanates from the accidents. This non-economic compensation is meant to cover all the emotional losses and physical suffering you experience from the crash.
- Property Damage: Besides personal injuries, truck accidents can result in significant losses, this time to your car. Reimbursement of property damage allows you to fix your vehicle or replace it and get back every dollar that you lost to the damage.
Common Injuries in San Diego Truck Accidents
Truck crashes constantly lead to serious physical injuries and sometimes turn out to be fatal. Some of the most common injuries include:
- TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries): This can lead to disability and most manifest in impaired thinking, speaking, moving, or walking.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These are injuries to the spinal cord that can bring about paralysis throughout one’s life. Hence, they ought to be improved and need constant attention throughout one’s life.
- Bone Injuries: As for vanity fractures and broken bones, these are likely to cause some surgeries and many months of rehabilitation.
- Organ Blows: Some injuries affect critical organs in the body like the liver, spleen, or kidneys, which, if they reach the intestines, can lead to a fatal condition and need immediate medical attention.
- Whiplash Neck Injury and Other Neck Injuries: The rear-end collision of a truck with another vehicle often leads to whiplash and other neck injuries that may require ongoing medical treatment.
What to Ask Your Lawyer Before Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Court
- What experience do you have with truck accident cases?
- What evidence is needed to strengthen my case?
- How long will the process take?
- Do you work on a contingency fee basis?
- What are the chances of settling out of court?
- What is your trial experience?
Who’s Liable For My Trucking Accident?
Anyone who has ever been a victim of a trucking accident has likely, at some point, asked, “Who is to blame?” One cannot quickly pinpoint who is to blame more in truck-related accidents. They need to be investigated; necessary evidence needs to be collected, and at times, even the assistance of professionals of the particular industry. Although one party appears to be clearly at fault, several others could commonly be sued to cover your losses and suffering.
Here’s a breakdown of who could be liable:
Negligent Truck Drivers and Trucking Companies
Thus, it means that where the truck driver is driving at a high speed, under the influence, or distracted, such a driver can be held directly negligent. However, please do not underestimate that sometimes trucking companies are equally to blame for either inadequate screening or training of drivers or forcing their drivers to exceed legal requirements.
Maintenance Companies
Trucks require regular check-ups and servicing to be fit for the road. Any damage in such cases could be squarely attributed to a maintenance company if they refused to fix a known problem or neglected a perilous flaw.
Freight Loaders and Forwarders
Loose or inadequately tied loads can cause a truck to become uncontrollable to the driver. The accident could have happened because a distributor, loader, or shipper was entrusted with the task and violated safety measures.
Truck makers & components suppliers
Non-conforming vehicles or parts, including the brake system, tires, and steering, may cause fatal accidents. Companies are responsible for negligence if they produce their products with inherent flaws or put together aggressively market them even if their use threatens the lives of everyone using the road.
It is important to realize, too, that in many truck accident cases, more than one alleged party is at fault. Every case is peculiar, and identifying all potential defendants may involve a detailed study of the facts and opinions and an examination of the principles in the trucking industry.
How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
Let me start by saying that anyone seeking an attorney’s help after being involved in a truck accident is not dumb. But actually, you will find that every truck accident is unique. How much your case is worth can depend on the type of accident, the extent of the resulting injuries, and how your life has been impacted. While it’s impossible to give an exact figure without a thorough evaluation, here’s a look at the key elements that influence the value of your claim:
- Medical Bills and Future Expenses
- Lost Wages and Earning Potential
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Impact and Quality of Life
- Additional Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Because truck accidents often involve serious injuries, trucking companies must carry sizeable commercial insurance policies. This means these cases can result in higher settlements. However, accurately determining the value of your case takes time, research, and expert analysis.
How We Help You Get the Justice You Deserve
To this end, at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, we are committed to ensuring that reckless tractor-trailer drivers and trucking firms are brought to task. You will get all the assistance you need to wade through this intricate legal procedure with the comfort of knowing that all culpable individuals and entities will be made to pay for your suffering. In this way, we negotiate overstimulatingly to ensure you receive the maximum compensation or take it to court to make it happen.
If you are a truck accident victim in San Diego, please contact us at 619-257-4443 for legal assistance. Let us use our 35 years of expertise in helping people like you get started.
