If you or someone in your family was hit by a truck in California or Nevada, you can get money for your hospital bills, the paychecks you lost, your vehicle, and what the crash has put you through. Mendez & Sanchez APC has won over $1 billion for injured clients, including a $21 million truck accident settlement. Talking to us is free, we answer 24/7 in English and Spanish, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different
A loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Your car weighs around 4,000. When the two collide, the person in the car almost always gets the worst of it. Close to 6,000 people a year die in crashes involving large trucks in the United States, according to federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
But the biggest difference is not the size of the truck. It is who shows up afterward. Trucking companies have rapid response teams: investigators and lawyers who can be at the crash scene within hours, sometimes before the tow truck leaves. They are there to protect the company, not you. While you are in the emergency room, they are already building their side of the story.
The money is also different. Federal law requires most interstate trucking companies to carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance, and many carry millions. That means the insurance company will fight much harder, because much more is on the line.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident?
Truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties, which is one reason they are more complicated than a typical car accident. Responsible parties can include:
- The truck driver (fatigue, distraction, speeding, impairment)
- The trucking company (unsafe hiring, inadequate training, pressure to meet deadlines)
- The cargo loader (improperly loaded or secured freight that shifted and caused the crash)
- The truck manufacturer or parts supplier (defective brakes, tires, or steering)
- A maintenance company that failed to keep the truck in safe operating condition
What to Do After a Truck Accident
- Call 911 and get medical attention. Even if you feel okay, get checked out. Serious injuries from truck crashes can be delayed in their symptoms.
- Do not move the vehicles if it is safe to stay. The scene itself is evidence.
- Photograph everything you can: both vehicles, the road, skid marks, debris, the truck's license plate and DOT number, and the driver's information.
- Note the trucking company name on the trailer. The company is often different from the driver's employer.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster. Trucking company adjusters are experienced at minimizing claims.
- Contact a truck accident attorney immediately. Electronic logging devices, dashcam footage, and maintenance records can be deleted. A lawyer can send a preservation letter to the trucking company within hours.
What Evidence Matters in a Truck Accident Case?
- The truck's electronic logging device (ELD) data, which shows hours of service and potential fatigue violations
- Dashcam and surveillance footage from the accident scene
- The driver's qualification file and training records
- The trucking company's inspection and maintenance logs
- The driver's drug and alcohol test results after the crash
- Cell phone records if distracted driving is suspected
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Vehicle and property damage
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- In cases of extreme negligence, punitive damages may also be available
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?
California and Nevada both allow 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, truck accident evidence has a short shelf life. Electronic data can be overwritten. Do not wait. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after the crash.
