Northridge Truck Accident Lawyer

Everyone recognizes the familiar sight of large commercial trucks such as semi-trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, and 18 wheelers barreling down the road with their cargo. However, this sight doesn’t cause most people to stop and think about the potentially disastrous consequences that often result when these huge vehicles are involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle. The Northridge truck accident attorneys at Walch Law are all too familiar with the aftermath of these crashes, which is why we will start working to get you the maximum compensation possible from the moment you hire use. We know a check will help you stay afloat after a serious truck accident, so we’ll fight to get you paid as quickly as possible. Call us today to learn more and start on the road to recovery.

Northridge is a moderately large town of over 70,000 in the San Fernando Valley sandwiched between the gigantic, congested 101, 118, and 405 freeways. These three freeways are major thoroughfares on routes travelled by large commercial trucks on the West Coast en route to their final destinations, which means drivers should expect to encounter several of the almost 6 million registered California commercial trucks anytime they drive these roads. However, risks of truck accidents are not limited to freeways. This means motorists must be vigilant at all times because tragedy can strike anywhere; for example, a big rig collision with a car at Roscoe Boulevard and Reseda Boulevard left one person dead and another hospitalized in critical condition.

Even though typical motor vehicle collisions can easily result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities, the probability of these results skyrockets when the crash involves a commercial truck. These monstrous vehicles often weigh over 100,000 pounds, causing severe damage to smaller passenger vehicles – and their occupants – in an accident. The probability of serious damage becomes even more likely considering most accidents involving commercial trucks occur on freeways at speeds much greater than ordinarily found on city streets. The vehicle size difference and greater speeds involved translates to more violent, forceful impacts and higher levels of damage. The federal government and California are aware of these dangers, and they have responded by regulating:

• Truck driver licensing
• Hazardous material transport
• Maintenance requirements
• Driver logs to ensure compliance with trucker hour limits

Victims of Northridge truck accidents understandably want to be compensated by the responsible party for their injuries. The most common way to do this is through a personal injury lawsuit arguing their harm was caused by the defendant’s negligence. Anyone who negligently caused the victim’s injuries can be sued – not just the driver. This means it may also be proper to sue:

• The truck driver’s employer
• A maintenance or repair shop negligently performing work
• A government agency responsible for maintaining, designing, or building safe roadways

If you can prove someone breached a legal duty of care owed to you and caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensatory damage. Courts may award damages for physical, emotional, and financial injuries including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages from your inability to work
• Disability, disfigurement, or scarring
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Loss of consortium

The time following a truck accident can be confusing, emotionally charged, and overwhelming. This makes it easy to forget a few simple tips that can help you recover physically, strengthen any future claim you make for compensation, and keep you from making costly legal missteps. After an accident:

• Call 911 if there are injuries or property was damaged
• Notify law enforcement and cooperate with responding officers
• Photograph all vehicles involved, the scene, and important evidence that may indicate fault such as traffic control devices or skid marks
• Collect contact information from every driver, passenger, witness, and responding police officer
• Don’t apologize, admit fault, give any recorded statement, talk about your injuries (or lack of injuries), or comment about your health
• Hold on to important documents related to the accident or your injuries – this includes hospital records and bills, paystubs, accident reports, auto repair charges, and related receipts

Anyone involved in a truck accident has firsthand experience of the trauma involved in these collisions; not only victims forced to deal with physical and emotional injuries, they often face added stress from figuring out how to manage the additional financial burdens from lack of income, property repairs, and massive medical bills. They may even believe they can’t afford an attorney. The skilled Northridge truck accident lawyers at Walch Law don’t believe financial limitations should prevent you from seeking justice – this is why all our cases are taken on a contingency basis and you pay nothing until after you have gotten paid. Robert and Gary have over 45 years of experience delivering successful results for clients; contact us today to learn how they can put their skills to use to help you.