Maison Law represents victims of truck accidents in Hayward and throughout Alameda County every year. Our personal injury attorneys aggressively fight to protect the rights of those who have been involved in these life-altering accidents. We will work to hold truck drivers and other negligent parties accountable for the harm that they have caused you during these difficult times. Please contact us today for a no-obligation case consultation.
Do I Need a Lawyer Following a Truck Accident?
If you are involved in a truck accident in Hayward, you may wonder if you need the help of a lawyer to move forward. In some cases, you may be able to handle a personal injury claim without the assistance of an attorney. This is especially true in cases involving minor injuries or property damage. Essentially, you may need the help of a truck accident lawyer if the following statements are true regarding your accident:- Another party was partially or completely at fault for your accident
- Your injuries required a hospital stay or follow-up medical visits
- You were forced to miss time at work due to your injuries
- You were otherwise impacted by your injuries caused by an accident
How Do Truck Accidents Commonly Occur?
Truck drivers in Hayward and other areas of California are supposed to drive as safely as possible as they share the road with other drivers. Truck drivers have months to years of training before they hit the roads. However, not all companies make sure that their drivers are properly trained or have necessary experience, which means that they could be more likely to get involved in an accident. Here are some of the common reasons for truck accidents that happen in Hayward every year:- Driver fatigue
- Driver distractions
- Adverse road conditions
- Improperly secured cargo
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Equipment failure
- Driving while impaired
Who is Liable for a Hayward Truck Accident?
Working with a truck accident attorney can ensure that your case is thoroughly investigated from start to finish with accident reconstruction teams and other experts. There are a few different parties who could be responsible for one of these accidents, including the following:- A truck driver: In most cases, the truck driver is fully liable or shares liability for their involvement in an accident. This means that their commercial truck insurance will likely cover you or your family.
- A trucking company: Truck drivers typically work for larger trucking companies. Companies can sometimes share liability in an accident if they hired an unsafe driver or didn’t give the driver proper training. They tend to have their own insurance to cover drivers and those injured in these accidents when a driver was working for their company at the time of a collision.
- A national distributor: Truck drivers sometimes work for national transport companies, who employ large insurance companies and corporate attorneys to handle their claims. This means that you will need the help of an experienced attorney to fight back and protect your rights.
- A cargo loader: Cargo loaders sometimes load trucks improperly, which means that they could be carrying way over their weight limit or with cargo that can cause a truck to tip over in traffic. In these cases, loaders could be responsible.
- A truck manufacturer: If a part on a truck is defectively designed or malfunctions, a manufacturer could be responsible for a resulting accident.
What Compensation is Available After a Hayward Truck Accident?
To receive compensation in your truck accident claim, you will need to list all of the hardships that you have endured as a result of your accident. Your attorney can help you determine if you are eligible for some of the following damages after your accident:- Medical expenses you have incurred or expect to incur in the future due to your accident
- Lost wages and benefits due to missing time at work
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages meant to punish a grossly negligent defendant
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Therapy-related costs
- Wrongful death damages if a life was lost in an accident