With over 100,000 big rigs on the road across the state of California, it’s no wonder why trucking and big rig accidents occur so frequently. With over 100 fatal truck crashes happening per year, it’s becoming a serious problem for drivers in California. Hundreds of people die every year in the hundreds of trucking accidents that occur across the state.

Being involved in a big rig accident can be a traumatic experience for all parties involved. Unfortunately, fatalities are common in trucking accidents. Most trucks that we see driving on the road weigh over 80,000 pounds. A car that’s impacted by that much weight at a high rate of speed will not end up in a good condition. Both the truck driver and the person in the other vehicle are at a high risk of injury if involved in a big rig accident. Aside from their personal safety, drivers are heavily impacted by trucking accidents as well. One accident could put an end to a driver’s career, either by causing a driver to have their license revoked or causing their insurance rates to increase in price massively.

What To Do After a Trucking Accident In Los Angeles

If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident with a big rig in the Los Angeles area, it’s important you find an experienced trucking accident attorney to handle your case. Having a personal injury attorney handle your claim with the involved insurance companies will allow for the best settlement possible. If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident involving a truck, get in touch with our trucking personal injury attorney. Here’s the steps to follow if you’re ever involved in a trucking accident:

• Get off the road and into a safe location.
• Check yourself, any passengers, and the other parties involved for any injuries.
• Call 911. If someone was hurt or more than $1,000 worth of property was damaged, dial 911.
• Do not admit anything to anyone at the scene of the accident. It’s always best to remain silent and retain an attorney so that you don’t say anything that may affect your claim.
• Get any witness contact information. Check out the area and see if there was anyone that may have witnessed the accident.
• Take photos of the accident scene and the involved vehicles. It’s good to have your own documentation of the accident to back up your claim.
• Get the other party's information. Get a photo of the other driver’s license, license plates, as well as insurance card.
• Receive medical treatment. Go to the hospital in an ambulance or go right after the police have cleared the scene. It’s best to receive medical treatment right after an accident even if you feel like nothing may have happened, as there may be delayed effects.
• Contact a trucking accident attorney to help you with your case. Having an attorney on your side is a big advantage when facing the insurance companies, as they will do their best to pay you the least amount of money possible.

With any type of insurance claim, the insurance companies try to pay out the claimants the lowest amount possible. If you’re involved in a trucking accident, you should not speak with the insurance company and reveal any details of the accident. Insurance companies like to take advantage of the people who aren’t aware of what damages they’ll be able to recover. A big rig accident is no joke, and the damages that arise can be life changing. At Sogomonyan Law Group, we understand the severity of trucking accidents and know how to get insurance companies to compensate our clients for what they’ve been through.

The Types of Trucking Accidents in California

There are quite a variety of different trucks on the road in California, Semi-trucks, construction trucks, delivery trucks, dump trucks, and commercial trucks are some of the different types of trucks seen on the road in California.

• Semi-truck Accidents. Semi truck accidents involve trucks such as 53 foot dry vans, reefers, flatbeds, or box trucks. Oftentimes, these trucks are hauling a trailer that’s usually loaded with freight.
• Construction Truck Accidents, Construction truck accidents usually occur in construction zones, when passenger vehicles are forced to share the road with vehicles such as forklifts, cranes, bulldozers, dump trucks, and other types of construction equipment.
• Dump Truck Accidents. Dump truck accidents are usually caused by driver error or fatigue.
• Garbage Truck Accidents. Garbage truck accidents occur quite often in California.

What Compensation Can A Los Angeles Trucking Accident Attorney Get Me?

Dealing with the effects of an accident can be very difficult. The injuries from a trucking accident could be life changing. Getting the right amount of compensation for your trucking accident claim is incredibly important to ensure the ability to be able to treat your injuries for the rest of your life. Having an experienced personal injury attorney who’s handled big rig accidents on your side will make things a lot easier. A personal injury attorney will be able to recover:

• Lost wages. You’ll be compensated for wages you’ve lost due to the accident.
• Emotional trauma. Being involved in a trucking accident is a life changing experience. The emotional trauma associated with a big rig accident can cause lifelong anxiety and PTSD.
• Medical bills. You’ll be compensated for any medical bills that you had to pay as a result of the accident.
• Property Damage. You’ll get compensation for your vehicle and any other property damaged during the accident.
• Pain & Suffering. As a victim of a trucking accident, you’re entitled to monetary compensation for the pain and suffering that you went through during the accident.

It’s not all the time that you’ll be able to get every form of compensation, but a personal injury attorney will be able to review your case and determine what you’ll be able to get compensated for.

Common Causes Of California Trucking Accidents

Most truck accidents in California are caused by the driver of the single passenger car. Truck accidents usually result in fatalities or other severe injuries, that’s why it’s so important to avoid big rig accidents whenever possible. Here are some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

• Driver fatigue. Tired drivers behind the wheel are a common cause of accidents with trucks.
• Inattention. Not paying attention while driving.
• Poor driver decisions. Driver’s think they are more capable than they actually are.
• Vehicle problems. Problems with vehicles such as broken headlights or brake lights cause drivers to get into collisions.
• Road factors. Obstacles on the road or problems with the road.

How Many Deaths Happen Every Year Because of Truck Accidents?

In California, there are hundreds of thousands of truck related accidents every year. This figure includes the minor fender benders as well as severe accidents that end in fatalities. About 4,000 to 5,000 people die in truck related accidents yearly. Residents of California make up about 200 to 300 of those yearly fatalities. Most deaths in truck related accidents are the people who a ein the normal vehicles. Big rig trucks can weigh anywhere from 10 to 30 times a typical passenger vehicle’s weight.

How Can Sogomonyan Law Group Help Me With My Trucking Accident?

An attorney is your partner in your fight against the insurance companies. Having an attorney on your side is an essential part in fighting the claim against the insurance companies. The team at Sogomonyan Law Group, APC will help you with your claim and will get you the maximum settlement amount possible. We’ll be:

• Contacting the insurance company on your behalf. You no longer have to communicate with anyone regarding the accident.
• Investigating what happened during your accident to help determine cause and liability.
• Determining the compensation that you’re entitled to.
• Negotiating your settlement.
• Filing a lawsuit if the insurance company doesn’t offer a proper settlement.

One of the biggest benefits of having an attorney on your side is having the ability to serve the insurance company with a lawsuit if they don’t offer a reasonable offer for your damages. Without an attorney, you’re not able to file a lawsuit. If you were seriously hurt in an accident, filing a lawsuit may even get you more damages than the insurance companies maximum settlement.