Orange County Truck Accident Attorney

Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?

The Personal Injury Attorneys at The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani Can Help

Tractor trailers, big rigs, and eighteen wheelers are large, heavy vehicles that can cause damage more severe than a typical automobile. Drivers in Orange County are no stranger to these trucks. When there’s an accident, though, tough challenges can lie ahead, but our Orange County personal injury attorney is experienced holding truckers and truck companies liable for financial damages to cover your injuries, property damage, lost wages, and more. Moreover, if you are a truck driver who was injured due to the negligence of a motorcycle or pedestrian, our truck accident attorneys can help as well.

Incidence of Truck Accidents

In California, the State-Wide Integrated Traffic Records System records all traffic accidents. Based on data from 2009 to 2014, there were 327 truck accidents in Brea and 213 in Seal Beach. There were a whopping 1,687 truck accidents during that time frame in Anaheim. The number of accidents doesn’t always correspond to higher traffic. Laguna Beach has less truck traffic, but it’s crowded, narrow streets increase the risk.

The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani Can Help

The legal standard for truck drivers is higher than for other motorists. Our Orange County truck accident attorney can navigate the complex legal process, and help you collect the right information and documentation for your case. Any information on the driver, truck maintenance, inspections, and adherence to regulations can be used to hold the driver accountable for a crash.

Factors That Lead to a Truck Accident

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), analyzed 120,000 large truck crashes that occurred between April 2001 and December 2003. Although the data were sampled nationally, they represent these most common causes of truck accidents:

Unsafe Lane Changes

Trucks running out of a lane, or off the road, represented 32% of the LTCCS sample pool. Due to these trucks’ size, rear/side blind spots can hide smaller passenger vehicles. Speeding and failure to use turn signals also affect safety.

Jackknife

Often resulting in a rollover accident, a jackknife occurs when the drive axle brakes lock and the tractor trailer skids. The vehicle doesn’t stop until the trailer and tractor form a 90-degree angle. According to the LTCCS, there were 7,000 accidents involving jackknifing.

Overloaded Trucks

Carrying excessive weight, an overloaded truck may experience burst tires, worn breaks, rollovers, and steering problems. Overloading can also cause road collapses, steering problems, or prevent the truck from slowing down.

DUIs

As it is for passenger vehicle drivers, driving a truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. Combined with control factors and the risks larger vehicles pose for other motorists, DUI further restricts a trucker’s ability to drive safely.

Rear-End Collisions

Trucks require significantly greater stopping distance than cars, making rear-end collisions one of the greatest risks. An 80,000 pound truck requires 426 feet to stop from 60 miles per hour. A car, on the other hand, requires just 240 feet.

Defective Products

Malfunctions brake, wheel, suspension, or even engine components can lead to dangerous conditions, and ultimately truck accidents. If a truck crash attorney finds a defective product, they can hold the manufacturer or installer liable.

Rollovers

Speeding, running over a curb, or traversing a steep incline/decline can trigger a rollover. Turning too fast, hitting objects on the road, or drifting and sudden corrections can cause one too.

Trucks vs Motorcycles

A motorcycle is essentially invisible to a trucker due to a truck’s blind spot and weight. Motorcycles offer comparatively less protection and big truck accidents pose a significant challenge for attorneys looking to negotiate large settlements.

Types of Truck Accidents

Big Rig

Big Rig Trucks are also known as 18 wheelers and semi-trucks. Thousands of people die each year in the U.S. due to truck accidents.

18 Wheelers

Transporting over three-quarters of cargo shipped in the U.S., 18 wheelers have large blind spots. They also have a high center of gravity, increasing the chances of a rollover.

Semi-Trucks

About 700 people die in them each year, most in a vehicle with a single trailer. Safety issues persist, despite warnings about driver fatigue, distracted driving, and maintenance.

Tractor Trailers

Risks include jackknife accidents, rollovers, and even under-ride accidents. If a vehicle is caught under the body of a trailer, severe head injuries often result.

Buses

Passenger vans, school buses, shuttle buses, and MARTA buses, controlled by government entities, can be a legal challenge for a Orange County bus accident attorney. About 360 million people are transported by buses every year.

Cargo Trucks

Exceeding the rated weight of a truck, unsecured cargo, or shifting trailer contents can cause a truck driver to lose control and crash.

Cement Trucks

A high center of gravity and hardening concrete can lead to an accident. Concrete may shift within the truck, or leak, creating an obstacle or pouring onto another vehicle.

Garbage Trucks

Driver experience is a factor. Operators also need to be aware of passing vehicles, visibility, and pedestrians. Side mirrors and beepers help, but don’t take the place of awareness.

Delivery Trucks - Ups, FedEx, USPS, etc.

Backing up to a missed address without checking for vehicles or pedestrians can cause a UPS truck crash, for example. Other risks include improper maintenance, drug use, or losing control of the truck.

Dump Trucks

Construction workers inside and outside their vehicles are at risk. Backing up or dumping near riverbanks/embankments can cause accidents.

Oversized Loaded Trucks

Oversized trucks are harder to control and stop. They also make wider turns, so nearby vehicles need to be more cautious. Improperly secured cargo can also pose a risk to motorists.

Typical Truck Accident Injuries

What to Do After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents are often traumatic and catastrophic. If you are able to:

Remain on the scene; call 911 or the police/state highway patrol.
Move your car off the road or use hazard lights, flares, or cones for visibility.
Seek medical treatment right away, whether you notice an injury or not.
Exchange information with other parties in the accident.
Check for witnesses; collect statements and contact information.
Take photographs of damage, injuries, and visible evidence.

Speak to a personal injury attorney in Orange County about handling insurance adjusters, and getting compensation for your injuries.

We Can Help Get You Compensation

If you’ve been involved in a semi-truck accident, our team of Orange County personal injury lawyers can help you get compensated for medical bills and other expenses. We’re experienced negotiating with insurance companies and know all the tricks they play to avoid paying fully.

Have you been out of work due to an injury? Damages can pay for lost wages, or even compensate for your damaged vehicle.

Call the firm today to set up up your no-cost consultation!

(888) 952-2952

Find out how much your case is worth

What Our Clients Say

"The service was exceptional! Philip treated me with respect, kindness and professionalism, throughout, to my wife and my case! I will definitely recommend the firm and the team who took care of my wife and I. Thanks to Wendy who was very humble and nice! Very Impressed with the Team! Jacob was very nice and made me feel good important because he believed in me and was honest from the beginning!This made me feel comfortable and confident my case was in good hands! I’m impressed that El Mero, Mero, Jacob personally came to meet with me and give me the great news that I wasn’t expecting!"

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