Side-Impact Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
In addition to being several tons heavier than the average passenger car, even without any cargo onboard, tractor-trailers are also much longer, taller, and even wider than virtually every other street-legal vehicle. Add all that together, and you have a vehicle that is uniquely difficult to stop once it gets rolling and has massive blind spots along its sides. Negligent truck drivers are particularly likely to end up T-boning someone in an intersection or sideswiping someone on an interstate compared to most other drivers.
Side-impact truck accidents in Los Angeles are some of the most dangerous traffic collisions that can happen on the Golden State’s roads, and unfortunately, they tend to make for especially complex civil claims as well. By working with our knowledgeable truck accident attorneys, you can give yourself far better chances of achieving fair financial recovery after this sort of wreck than you would have trying to file suit on your own.
Where and Why Do Side-Impact Truck Crashes Happen?
As mentioned above, intersections and entrance or exit ramps on major highways are two of the most common spots where side-impact truck crashes generally happen around Los Angeles. An out-of-control truck barreling through a red light or stop sign can wind up smashing directly into the side of a vehicle advancing lawfully through that intersection, causing catastrophic harm to everyone inside. As for the latter case, a momentary failure to check their mirrors or use their turn signals can lead to a truck swerving into the side of a vehicle in one of their blind spots, potentially shoving them off the road or even pulling them underneath the trailer attached to the truck’s cab.
What both types of incidents have in common, though, is that they almost always stem from some type of negligent act by the truck driver involved, and more specifically, from that truck driver violating their duty of care to act lawfully and responsibly behind the wheel. Proving that such a breach of duty was the main and direct cause of a specific injury is the primary thrust behind virtually every successful truck crash lawsuit.
Getting Around Legal Obstacles to Recovery
Our legal team could also help you avoid many of the procedural pitfalls that often keep unrepresented plaintiffs from getting paid fairly after side-impact truck crashes in Los Angeles. To start with, we could help build and formally file a strong claim within the filing deadline set by the statute of limitations, which—as per California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1—typically allows injured people just two years to file suit after the date of their initial injury.
We can also help contest accusations of comparative fault—in other words, allegations that an injured person holds some of the blame for causing their injuries through their own misconduct. Truck drivers and trucking companies often try to use comparative fault as a way of reducing their own liability for a wreck, and support from legal counsel can be key to ensuring this kind of accusation does not unfairly lead to a reduction in the value of a final damage award.
Discuss a Possible Side-Impact Truck Accident Lawsuit with a Los Angeles Attorney
Getting T-boned or sideswiped by a commercial truck can very quickly lead to a crash with life-threatening repercussions. Unfortunately, proving that an individual truck driver or their employer should be legally liable for the harm this type of wreck has caused you can be extremely different to manage alone, as many Californians unnecessarily learn every year.
You have help available with your side-impact truck accident in Los Angeles from our knowledgeable lawyers, all of whom have years of experience fighting for the rights of people like you. Call today to discuss your recovery options.
