Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often more complicated than standard vehicle crashes due to the size and mass of commercial trucks. Understanding the common causes of these accidents is critical in determining liability and pursuing fair compensation.
One common cause relates to driver negligence. This includes factors like speeding, fatigue, distractions, and failure to respect traffic laws. With tight delivery schedules, some truck drivers may violate hours of service regulations, leading to decreased alertness and increased risk of accidents.
Equipment failure is another primary cause. This can involve brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering mechanism faults, often due to improper maintenance by the trucking company or maintenance provider. Sometimes, accidents occur due to faulty design or manufacturing defects of the truck itself or its components.
Poor road conditions, such as potholes, inadequate signage, or improper lighting, are also potential causes. These situations can lead to a truck driver losing control of the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
Improper loading or overloading of commercial trucks can cause balance and control issues. An overload or poorly balanced cargo can make the truck vulnerable to tipping over or losing items during transit, creating hazardous road conditions for other road users.
The Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims
The statute of limitations refers to the specific period during which an individual can legally file a claim or lawsuit related to an incident. For truck accidents in California, this time frame is two years from the date the accident occurred. This might seem like a substantial period, but the aftermath of a truck accident often involves medical treatment, recovery, and grappling with the trauma. This leaves the victims with a limited time to effectively pursue the case.
Missing this two-year window could result in the legal system dismissing your claim outright, no matter its merit. If this time period has lapsed, you may lose the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. At Advicase, we understand the importance of taking prompt action. Our truck accident attorneys offer expert advice and guidance in initiating the legal procedures as soon as possible after a truck accident. By acting quickly, we ensure our clients’ right to compensation isn’t forfeited due to technicalities or time constraints.
Why Choose Advicase for Your Truck Accident Lawsuits
At Advicase, our experienced attorneys specialize in truck accidents in Santa Ana and beyond. We recognise that accidents involving commercial vehicles on city streets or major highways can cause severe injuries, and victims deserve compensation. Our skilled truck accident lawyers have ample experience proving liability and fighting for the rights of truck accident victims, ensuring your medical expenses and lost income are adequately covered.
Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
The objective of compensation in truck accident cases is to help victims regain their life to the fullest extent possible after the incident. At Advicase, we aim to secure maximum compensation, covering a wide range of damages and losses associated with the accident.
For starters, medical expenses incurred for treating injuries resulting from the accident can be considerable. This includes hospitalisation costs, doctor’s fees, surgical expenses, cost of medication, rehabilitation fees, and any required ongoing care or treatment.
Lost wages or income due to the inability to return to work during the recovery period can also place economic stress on the victim. Expected future income loss, in the event of any permanent disability caused by the accident, is also factored into the compensation claim.
Property damage is another area of compensation. This pertains to the repair or replacement costs of any personal property damaged in the accident, including your vehicle.
Compensation also entails non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. This involves the physical pain and emotional distress experienced by the victim because of the accident and ensuing injuries, which can be substantial and long-lasting.
A unique part of compensation can come in the form of punitive damages. These are sought when it is proven that the truck driver or the trucking company acted egregiously or manifestly negligent, such as drunk driving or knowingly violating safety regulations. Punitive damages are meant to punish the culprit and deter similar conduct in the future.
Common Questions about Truck Accident Cases in Santa Ana
Everything you need to know about truck accidents in Santa Ana