If you or a family member were recently injured in a truck accident in Torrance, California, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced Torrance truck accident lawyer at The Simon Law Group, for help recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more at (424) 622-0812.
Our lawyers have over 250 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve collected over $600 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of injured clients since we founded our law firm back in 2009.
Accidents involving large commercial trucks can have devastating consequences, especially for occupants in passenger vehicles. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligent acts, we’re here to help you get justice. Just contact our law offices in Torrance, California, to schedule a free consultation today at (424) 622-0812.
Why Should I Call The Simon Law Group for Legal Advice After a Truck Accident in Torrance?
Truck accident cases are usually complicated. Trucking companies have the resources to conduct detailed investigations and hire teams of defense attorneys. Someone who wasn’t even at the crash scene may ultimately owe you compensation. They’ll do whatever it takes to avoid accepting liability.
An experienced Torrance personal injury lawyer is often the key to successfully recovering full compensation.
After a truck accident, our lawyers will take action immediately and:
- Conduct a comprehensive internal investigation into the accident
- Evaluate your injuries and calculate the value of your damages claim
- Identify all parties who share legal responsibility for your injuries
- Bring in experts who can help with valuation and other complex issues
- Defend you when the at-fault parties try to pin the blame on you
- Aggressively negotiate with the insurance company for a full settlement
- File a lawsuit and fight for you in court if the insurance settlement isn’t fair
We know how important it is to recover full compensation. Our Torrance personal injury attorneys are well-prepared to handle your case. Give us a call today to learn more about our top-rated legal representation.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in California?
According to data published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents across the U.S. in 2021. Another 117,000 trucking accidents caused injuries that year.
Although the size of the vehicle is not listed, California does keep track of accidents involving trucks. In Los Angeles County alone, 1,835 motor vehicle accidents involving trucks were reported in 2022. Unfortunately, 66 people were killed and another 2,437 people were injured. About 65% of those truck accidents occurred on state highways.
Overall, 11 trucking accidents were reported in the City of Torrance alone during 2022.
How Much Is My Torrance Truck Accident Case Worth?
Every personal injury case will be worth a different amount. That’s because each accident happens under different circumstances. They all involve unique victims who suffer differently due to their injuries.
Broadly speaking, victims with the most serious injuries tend to receive the highest compensation awards. Severe injuries will impact your life most dramatically, so settlements and verdicts tend to be higher.
However, there are many different factors that can ultimately impact the value of your truck accident claim, including:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Whether the injury impacts your earnings during recovery
- Whether you’ll make a full medical recovery
- How the injury will impact your future earnings if you suffer a permanent or long-term disability
- Whether you share any fault for the accident
- The degree to which the accident and injury impacts your emotional wellbeing
- Damage to your quality of life
- Whether you took appropriate steps to mitigate your damages or failed to seek medical care
- The strength of the evidence to establish liability
At The Simon Law Group, our number one priority is maximizing the amount of money you take home. If you were injured, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll review your case for free and offer more details about the potential value of your personal injury claim.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims in California?
In California, two types of compensatory damages are available to personal injury victims: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to compensate victims for their financial expenses.
You can seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Medications and medical devices
- Property damage
Non-economic damages compensate for non-financial harm that you have suffered, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Humiliation
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium
In rare cases, it’s possible that a court may award punitive damages. Punitive damages are reserved for cases where the defendant’s conduct was extreme and demonstrated an intentional disregard for human life and safety.
How Can California’s Comparative Negligence Law Impact My Truck Accident Settlement or Verdict?
In California, you can still recover compensation if you were partly responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.
California follows a pure comparative negligence law. If you’re assigned a percentage of fault, your compensation will be reduced. For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 and your share of fault is found to be 25%, your compensation is reduced to $75,000.
Having a trusted attorney on your side can be of the utmost importance, as they can work to minimize the amount of shared fault assigned to you.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Our legal team at The Simon Law Group handles all types of personal injury cases, including those where the victim has suffered:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Crushing injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Chest and thoracic injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our lawyers are here to help you navigate this difficult time. It’s never too early to reach out for legal advice–even if you or a family member are still recovering in the hospital. While you focus on your physical recovery, our lawyers will start investigating the legal issues. Just call today to schedule your free case evaluation.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Torrance, California?
Most accidents involving semi-trucks or big rigs happen because of driver error, or negligence.
Some common examples of negligent driving behaviors include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigued truck drivers, or violation of FMCSA hours-of-service rules
- Unsafe passing
- Weaving between lanes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Failure to account for the vehicle’s wide turns or increased stopping times
Other common causes of truck accidents include:
- Failure to properly maintain the vehicle
- Worn tires
- Faulty brakes
- Dangerous truck cargo
- Failure to properly attach a tractor to the trailer
- Dangerous road conditions
Ultimately, more than one factor may have played a role in your crash. Because California personal injury laws allocate blame between all parties who share some fault, it’s critical to identify every cause of your truck accident.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Torrance, CA?
By and large, most car accidents involving trucks come down to proving negligence. Negligence is a legal term that means something similar to carelessness.
Four elements are involved in negligence cases:
- The defendant’s legal duty of care (for example, all drivers have a general duty to drive carefully and obey traffic laws)
- The defendant breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty directly caused the accident
- As the victim, you suffered damages
To succeed, you’ll need evidence to prove these elements. That evidence might include:
- The truck’s black box recording device
- Police reports and traffic citations
- Medical records
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert witness testimony
- Data from the accident scene
- Information about vehicle damage
Your recovery should be your top priority. Our Torrance truck accident attorneys can handle the investigation and collect the evidence you need.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Damages?
Truck accident cases often involve multiple defendants.
Examples of potentially responsible parties include:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Third-party motorists
- Mechanics and truck maintenance companies
- Companies responsible for a truck’s cargo
- Government agencies
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts or safety equipment
When a truck driver is employed by a trucking company, the trucking company can be held liable for the driver’s negligent actions.
What Is the Deadline To File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in California?
Most personal injury cases are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in California. You must file your personal injury lawsuit within two years of the accident. If you wait longer, you lose your right to sue the at-fault driver for damages.
As there are exceptions to the statute of limitations, contact us as soon as you can to best protect your legal interests and right to file a claim.
Contact a Torrance Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents have the potential to impact your life in many different ways. You deserve to have an experienced Torrance truck accident lawyer who can help you stand up to the insurance companies. At The Simon Law Group, we have the experience you want in your corner. Give us a call today to schedule your free initial consultation to get started.
