Traffic in and out of Clovis can get crowded at almost any time of day. It’s not just drivers in cars and SUVs that make travel so dangerous. Big rigs and produce trucks from local farms run up and down our streets and highways. Heavy delivery vans also whip in and out of our neighborhoods.
A careless truck driver can cause a devastating collision that might crumple a smaller vehicle or leave a tractor-trailer on top of a car. Victims who suffer severe injuries in these accidents will need help holding an at-fault driver and perhaps the driver’s employer liable for all recovery costs.
Seek a Free Consultation with a Clovis Truck Accident Lawyer
After a big rig crash that leaves you with a serious injury, you may not know where to turn for help. You likely won’t know what your injuries are worth and what support you’ll need in the future in order to rebuild your life.
That’s why it’s so important to schedule a free case consultation with a skilled Clovis Truck Accident Lawyer. It’s a no-risk opportunity to learn about the support that’s possible through a truck accident injury claim. It’s also important to figure out if a trucking company should also be contributing to your recovery.
If you decide we can help you get more for your truck accident injury claim, you don’t have to worry about having money for a lawyer. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. At that point, our fee comes out of the settlement money your family receives.
Truck Accident Dangers in Clovis
Rushing around on busy routes like The Sierra Freeway or on Fowler Avenue, it’s easy to see the hazards that large semi-trucks and box trucks represent. These vehicles sometimes weigh 70,000 lbs or more. Stopping for red lights or keeping these big loads in one lane can be challenging for truck drivers.
Unfortunately, not all truck drivers are paying attention to the lanes ahead like they should. They can glance at a cell phone or a radio dial, and in that time travel blindly down the road to smash into your vehicle.
In addition to the extra impact force a large van or manufacturing truck will carry, their shape also makes them more dangerous. Some large trucks sit up high, with plenty of clearance underneath. It’s enough space for your family vehicle to end up under a tractor-trailer. Victims inside can be waiting for critical medical care while emergency crews try to free them from the wreckage.
These and other hazards that come with traveling alongside trucks on Clovis roads all make it necessary to protect yourself before a crash and after a devastating collision has occurred. A Clovis truck accident attorney makes sure you aren’t blamed for your crash and then goes after a truck driver’s insurance company and the driver’s employer to seek help with recovery costs.
Who Can I Sue After a Clovis Truck Accident?
A collision with a big rig can leave you with questions about who should pay hospital bills and other damages. You could spend weeks in a cast and in physical therapy and lose out on paychecks while you are unable to work.
A truck driver’s commercial truck accident insurance may have limits to the coverage it will provide. That’s why it’s important that every party that’s responsible for your accident is held accountable. When multiple insurance companies are involved, it’s easier to make sure victims receive full support for every hardship they suffer.
Your truck accident lawyer will be investigating all responsible parties and filing claims with each. Those parties that may be held accountable include:
- Truck drivers who work for themselves or a small family company will have commercial truck accident insurance.
- Truck drivers who work for a local farm, a company, or a corporation will have insurance backing from their employers.
- Major trucking corporations might provide good coverage for accident victims, but they’ll also have more resources to contest any claim you make. You’ll want to have a legal representative on your side to even the field.
- Truck manufacturers. If a defect in the way the truck was made contributed to the cause of your accident, you could ask a truck maker for compensation.
What to Do After an Accident Caused by a Truck Driver in Clovis
After a truck accident occurs, you’ll want to make sure all the evidence available is collected and presented in your injury insurance claim. This prevents a truck insurance company from falsely accusing you of causing the accident and then rejecting your claim.
To construct the strongest case against a commercial truck accident insurance company, you may need to begin the search for proof right on the scene of your accident. If you are left physically able, try to gather this evidence:
- If you haven’t already, call 911. Alert authorities no matter how minor you think your accident is. Allow EMTs to check out every pain you have. Give Clovis Police or the California Highway Patrol every detail you remember of what led to the accident. Include if you saw the truck driver proceeding distracted or acting recklessly. A collision report will become valuable evidence.
- Take pictures when the scene is secure. Show the damage to all vehicles involved. Show lane markings and skid marks involved. Take photos of any visible injuries. Highlight any signs or logos on the truck that show the company the truck driver works for.
- Swap information. Get driver’s license and insurance information from the truck driver. Get the employee number of the driver if you can.
- Don’t talk about who was at fault on the scene. Never accept blame. Allow investigators and your Clovis Truck Accident Lawyer to help determine fault. Don’t say that you are all right and not injured. You may not really know the extent of your injuries until a day later when your shock wears off.
- Find out how to contact witnesses. Your personal injury lawyer will secure valuable testimony from them later.
- See your doctor. Get all pain examined in the days that follow your truck accident. Follow the doctor’s recommendations and see specialists and attend physical therapy if it’s suggested.
- Contact a Big Rig Accident lawyer after a serious injury. When an accident involves something other than a minor injury, insurance companies will spend every effort to try to limit the compensation you receive. A skilled personal injury lawyer builds a strong case to send to insurance companies so that you can earn more in settlement negotiations.
What Can I Receive Compensation for in a Truck Accident Insurance Settlement?
Your personal injury lawyer will want to know about every financial hardship you’ve suffered in recovery. This won’t just include the hospital bills you receive in the mail. The bills you fall behind on, like the rent and car payments, because you are losing paychecks while missing work should also be considered when determining the size of a truck accident settlement check.
The non-economic damages such as the emotional pain you endure must also factor in. You may suffer from depression and anxiety during a long and difficult recovery. You may not be able to participate in your hobbies and in family activities. You could also endure PTSD symptoms every time you are reminded of your truck collision.
These are just a few of the other factors that can earn you and your family compensation after an accident:
- Current hospital bills and estimates on care needed in the future.
- Cost for physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medical equipment.
- Permanent disability/disfigurement support.
- Physical pain and emotional damages suffered.
- Travel costs for medical treatment.
- Lost wages and benefits from work.
- Cost of repairs or replacement of car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
California grants accident victims up to two years after an accident to file an accident claim against a truck driver’s insurance. This deadline also applies to a case filed against a tanker truck company.
Can my family receive support after a loved one is killed in a Clovis truck accident?
Yes. Families should seek wrongful death benefits from truck accident insurance companies. This support covers the cost of a burial and pays medical bills. The income the deceased can no longer provide should be replaced.
Should I speak with the truck driver’s insurance representative?
Only give basic information. The insurance adjuster will ask you to make a recorded statement about what happened. Decline. They hope that you’ll say something they can twist around to use to weaken your case.
Contact a Clovis Truck Accident Lawyer
Major trucking businesses might provide good coverage for accident victims, but they’ll also have corporate lawyers on staff working to contest any claim you make. Their lawyers might try to shift the blame to you in an accident or question what a doctor says about how severe your injury is. You’ll want to have a legal representative on your side to protect you from this unfair treatment.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from the Clovis Truck Accident Lawyers at Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family. Make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover from a big rig collision and get back to your normal life.
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