Claremont Traffic Accident Attorneys Helping Victims of Big Rig Crashes

There are millions of large commercial trucks on the road across the United States, including eighteen-wheelers, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, semi-tractors, and other “big rigs.” Long-haul trucking is an important part of the U.S. economy, but in the wrong hands, these vehicles are incredibly dangerous. Big rigs weigh 20-30 times as much as a typical passenger vehicle; any accident involving a big rig is much more likely to be catastrophic for any other drivers, pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and passengers involved.

If you’ve been injured in a big rig crash in Southern California, you may be owed money for the lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering you’ve endured. Call a dedicated and trial-ready Claremont big rig accident attorney at Blasser Law to find out if you have a claim for damages.

Who Is Liable After a Big Rig Crash?

If you were injured in a large truck crash, you could be entitled to compensation from several different parties. Different parties may be liable depending upon the circumstances of your accident, the causes, and the nature of the driver. At Blasser Law, we’ll help you recover compensation after your big rig accident from any and all responsible parties, including:

• Negligent truck driver. Drivers who cause crashes by way of their negligence can be held liable for the damage they cause. Truckers who drive while drowsy, distracted, drunk, or intoxicated are much more likely to cause a crash. Truck drivers must follow appropriate safety protocols, including limitations on the number of hours they can drive in a given day or between long rests. Failing to follow safety rules is strong evidence of negligence. If the trucker owns their big rig, they can and should be held liable for the harm they’ve caused you.
• Freight company. Trucking and freight companies are responsible for the actions of their employees through the legal doctrine known as “respondeat superior.” If a truck driver causes a crash while on the job, their boss is liable. Moreover, freight companies may be directly responsible for an accident when their negligence contributed to the likelihood of a crash. Trucking companies who fail to properly maintain their vehicles, purchase shoddy trucks and truck parts, fail to hire qualified drivers, ignore trucking safety regulations, or fail to properly train their drivers are directly liable for any accident that occurs as a result.
• Negligent third parties and contractors. Truckers and freight companies interact with many other parties in the process of shipping goods. The negligence of those parties can lead to an accident down the line. For example, the company that hired the truck to deliver the goods, or the company that stored those goods at a warehouse, may have been responsible for loading the truck. If they loaded too much, failed to balance the load, or failed to properly secure the load, the trucker is more likely to lose control on the road and wind up in a crash.
• Truck manufacturer. Defective auto parts and truck parts often contribute to accidents. If the big rig’s brakes or tires failed, rigging came loose, fasteners weakened, or any other aspect of the vehicle failed at a critical moment, the culprit may be poor truck manufacturing or design. Truck and vehicle parts manufacturers can be held liable when their shoddy merchandise leads to a serious crash.
• Government agency. Some accidents are caused by poor road maintenance or road design. Potholes, malfunctioning traffic lights, or poorly designed intersections and freeway entrances can all increase the risk of a crash. If a defective roadway caused your accident, you could have a claim against the state or local agency that was responsible for the design and upkeep of the road. Claims against the government are challenging but not impossible for a seasoned truck accident lawyer.

Call Our Claremont Big Rig Accident Attorneys After a Southern California Large Truck Crash

For assistance in seeking money damages after a Los Angeles County big rig crash, contact the dedicated and passionate Claremont personal injury attorneys at Blasser Law at 877-927-2181.