Fresno Box Truck Accident Lawyer

In Fresno, as well as throughout California, box trucks are some of the most common commercial vehicles you will see on the road. Like other commercial trucks, box trucks are much larger and heavier than regular cars, harder to maneuver and stop in emergencies or inclement weather, and generally cause greater amounts of damage to the cars they collide with, which typically results in more severe injuries to the people inside those vehicles.

As devastating as normal car accidents can be, box truck accidents can be even more damaging. From physical injuries to emotional and mental damage, worrying about paying medical bills or other expenses can make an already stressful process much worse.

Contact Fresno Box Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation

A box truck accident presents its own unique challenges, from dealing with serious injuries to trying to figure out whose insurance company is responsible for covering the damages. When you’ve been injured in a Fresno box truck accident, you should contact Martin Gaspairan and his firm, Maison Law.

Mr. Gasparian has decades of experience working directly with insurance companies to recover fair compensation for our clients. To learn more about our client-specific approach to box truck accidents, contact us today for a free consultation.

What is a Box Truck?

A box truck shares many of the same dimensions and characteristics as other commercial trucks. As one of the most common types of cargo trucks on the road today, there’s a good chance you’ve seen or come in contact with one of them in Fresno. Box trucks get their name from their boxy shape, and are also known as:

• Box vans
• Cube trucks
• Bob trucks

Technically, they are cab trucks with an enclosed cargo area.In many box truck models, the back door rolls up, similar to a cargo bay or garage door.

The bed of these box trucks can range up to 27 feet long and weigh 33,000 pounds at their heaviest. Given their dimensions, box trucks are most frequently used for transport of commercial goods like furniture or home appliances. They are also frequently used by moving companies.

Dangers of Box Truck Accidents

The obvious danger of box trucks, even if you are not the one driving the truck, is their vast size and weight as compared to other vehicles on the road. While some box trucks also carry dangerous cargo, there are further dangers inherent in box truck accidents, like negligent drivers, poor vehicle maintenance, and the inability for you and other cars to maneuver around them. Here are just a few of the most common types of accidents you may encounter:

• Blind spot accidents – Because box trucks are so much larger and more difficult to maneuver, box truck drivers sometimes don’t check their surroundings before changing lanes or making a turn. This can lead to collisions that hurt both the box truck driver and driver in the other car.
• Truck rollovers – Box trucks are difficult to drive, especially in inclement weather and bad road conditions. Also, sometimes these vehicles are improperly loaded with cargo, which leads to them being unbalanced. These conditions can usually result in the truck rolling over and causing an accident.
• T-bone accidents – Similar to blind spot accidents, box trucks are frequently involved in t-bone collisions, where they veer into other lanes and contact the side of other cars. Because of their weight, box trucks can push these cars into traffic, worsening the accident.
• Tire blowout – Box trucks, especially rentals, are not always maintained properly. With a lot of wear and tear, tires don’t always keep up with the demands of transporting goods. When the box truck suffers a tire blow out, it can cause the driver to lose control and crash into other drivers or pedestrians.
• Unloading Accidents – Not only do box truck accidents occur on the road, there is also a high risk for injury while unloading or loading the box truck.

Furthermore, box truck accidents occur on both highways and streets. Their size and weight make box trucks difficult to maneuver at higher speeds, and also makes it difficult for other drivers to maneuver around them at high speeds. In most every case, if you’re involved in a box truck accident, you can expect to suffer injuries.

Common Box Truck Accident Injuries

Accidents involving box trucks are very similar to other truck accidents when it comes to injuries that victims might suffer, including:

• Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Whiplash
• Broken bones
• Amputations
• Cuts and bruises

If you have been injured in an accident involving a box truck, make sure to seek medical attention first and foremost. After that, contact one of our Fresno box truck accident lawyers to gameplan about how to recover compensation.

Assessing Liability In a Fresno Box Truck Accident?

One of the main difficulties with assessing liability in a box truck accident is that there are a number of possible parties that could be involved. As the box truck driver’s employer, the trucking company could be held liable for the box truck drivers’ actions, as well as for the safety of the box trucks that it owns.

In addition to a box truck driver and company, several other parties may be liable for a truck accident. These parties may include:

• The manufacturer of the box truck and its parts.
• Vendors providing services to the company.
• The owner of the cargo in the box truck.
• The person who loaded the cargo into the box truck.
• Maintenance personnel that failed in the upkeep of the box truck.
• The driver of the other vehicle.
• A local government or contractors responsible for road design or maintenance.

Factors in Determining Liability

While negligence is a possibility, other factors can contribute to box truck accidents. Even the most experienced box truck driver can fall victim to bad weather conditions or poorly maintained roads. Other factors that can determine liability in a box truck accident include:

• Aggressive driving
• Alcohol and drugs
• Distracted driving
• Fatigue
• Malfunctions or defects
• Overloaded and improperly loaded trucks
• Speeding

What Steps Should I Take After a Fresno Box Truck Accident?

Like any accident, there are certain steps you should take in the immediate aftermath of a box truck accident. First and foremost, you’ll want to make your way to safety and check yourself and other passengers for injuries. From there, you’ll want to:

• Report the accident to the police.
• Get medical help by calling an ambulance.
• Gather witness statements and ask for their contact information.
• Take photos and videos at the accident scene to survey the damage.
• Exchange information with the other involved parties.
• Get proof that the box truck driver was employed by the trucking company, if necessary.

Once you have taken the initial steps after a box truck accident, contacting an experienced box truck accident lawyer should be your next move. Our skilled team of Fresno box truck accident lawyers can help you with a variety of tasks, including filing an injury claim with your own insurance provider, filing a claim directly with the at-fault parties’ insurance carrier, or filing a personal injury lawsuit at-fault parties.

Consult With Experienced Fresno Box Accident Lawyers

Being involved in a box truck accident causes damage to not just the victims, but their families. Box truck accidents are extremely dangerous and those who are liable for them should be held accountable. If you or a loved one has been injured in a box truck accident in Fresno, please contact Maison Law today for a free initial consultation.