Walnut Creek Truck Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving large commercial trucks are often devastating for victims and result in life-changing injuries. If you get injured in a truck accident, you need an attorney with years of experience in this practice area to help you recover. Your lawyer should be familiar with the complex issues involved in your case and able to take the case to trial, if necessary.
At Milanfar Law Firm, PC, our trial attorneys in Walnut Creek can protect your best interests as an injured truck accident victim. Our attorneys also represent defendants, trucking companies, and insurance providers – giving us a unique vantage point for both sides of a case. We have what it takes to demand justice and achieve your goals. Request a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Walnut Creek today.
Truck Accident Statistics
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 5,005 large trucks and 232 buses were involved in fatal traffic accidents in 2019 (the most recent year data is available). This was a two percent increase from the number of large trucks involved in fatal accidents in 2018. In addition, 119,000 injury crashes involved commercial trucks – a six percent jump from the previous year.
Large truck accidents take place in every state, but California is consistently at the top of the list for the highest number of commercial truck collisions each year. California sees an enormous number of common carriers and big rigs pass through it due to the size of the state and the number of major shipping ports. The Port of Los Angeles is the largest shipping port in North America, followed by the Port of Long Beach. This increases the risk of large truck accidents in the state.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Walnut Creek, CA?
If you get injured or a loved one dies in a truck accident in Walnut Creek, one of your first tasks is to determine the cause of the collision. This is because California uses an at-fault auto insurance system, meaning the insurance company of the at-fault party must pay for victims’ medical bills and property damage. Some of the most common causes of large truck accidents include:
- Truck driver error
- Driving while distracted
- Following too closely
- Speeding
- Trucking company negligence
- Broken federal safety laws
- Poor fleet maintenance
- Equipment malfunctions
- Imbalanced trucks
- Lost cargo loads
Negligence is at the heart of most truck accidents in California. In personal injury law, someone is negligent if they fail to use a reasonable amount of care, resulting in harm to others. If your attorney can establish proof of negligence, this will most likely result in the negligent party having to pay for your losses. The party named as the defendant in your case may be the truck driver, truck owner/operator, trucking company, cargo company, third-party driver, maintenance crew, or the government. There are many complex legal issues that arise in trucking accidents. Check out our frequently asked questions to get your questions answered.
Why You Need an Attorney for a Commercial Truck Accident Case
Hiring a lawyer to represent you can be beneficial during any personal injury case. In a lawsuit involving a commercial truck, however, it is even more important to protect yourself with legal representation. Truck accident cases have unique elements that can be difficult to navigate on your own – especially while you’re also dealing with physical injuries. They include:
- Catastrophic injuries. Trucking collisions often cause devastating injuries, such as brain injuries or paralysis. It is important to hire a lawyer to make sure you receive fair and full compensation for a severe or life-altering injury.
- Powerful adversaries. Going up against a trucking company or another powerful adversary after an accident can be difficult on your own. Hiring a lawyer gives you the edge that you need to protect your legal rights.
- Black box and other unique evidence. Trucking accident cases involve unique types of evidence that an attorney can help you preserve, collect and present in a compelling way.
- Federal trucking laws. A lawyer can help you navigate the federal laws that apply only to the commercial trucking industry, such as hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers and truck maintenance requirements.
- The possibility of a trial. Truck accident claims are often complicated and high in monetary value. This increases the chances of the case going to court – in which case you will need an attorney to represent you.
Hiring a trial attorney does not mean your case will go to court. A trial attorney will simply prepare your case as if it is going to trial, with careful attention to detail. This will strengthen your settlement negotiations with an insurance company and improve the chances of achieving a positive case resolution. If your case does have to go to trial, having an attorney can be invaluable.
How Our Technical Aptitude Benefits You
Milanfar Law Firm, PC is a proven leader in the use of cutting-edge technology and research to build cases and tell our client’s stories. Attorney Shahrad Milanfar developed one of the first comprehensive courses on how to effectively implement an iPad in trial. We can use technology to improve your truck accident case with tools such as:
- Large truck vehicle dynamics
- Accident reconstruction
- Vehicle computer systems
- Black boxes, event data recorders and electronic logging devices
- Medical billing and accounting software
Truck accident cases are unique. Our advanced understanding of how technology can be used in the justice system could be a significant advantage during a claim. We will use our knowledge of technology and human decision-making to effectively state your case during mediation and court trials. This can improve the odds of achieving the results that you desire and deserve.
Contact Us for a Free Truck Accident Case Review in Walnut Creek
Being injured in a truck accident is an extremely traumatic experience. You do not have to deal with what comes next alone. The attorneys at Milanfar Law Firm, PC can draw on years of experience in truck accident law – working for plaintiffs as well as the defense – to help you with your truck accident case. We are compassionate trial attorneys who work equally as hard for our plaintiff clients as we do for those we defend. Our mission is to provide the highest level of service to our clients and community.
Discuss your Walnut Creek truck accident case with one of our lawyers during a free case consultation. Call (925) 433-6003 or contact us online today.