Wilshire Boulevard carries thousands of cars across Los Angeles each day. Use its lanes for very long and you’re likely to see a few truck drivers treating the boulevard like a speedway, weaving in and out of traffic like a sports car. It’s also likely frequent travelers will see the frightening results of a big rig collision when driving by the smashed vehicles and ambulances on the scene.
Victims in these terrible accidents are right to question whether it’s just the semi-driver who should be helping pay for the damages, or if a truck company should also be liable. These questions often fall to a Los Angeles Big Rig Accident Lawyer to answer to ensure victims receive every cent they need in recovery.
Big Rig Accident Dangers on Wilshire Boulevard in L.A.
Wilshire Boulevard is known for its constant rush of traffic on narrow lanes. The 16-mile stretch extends from Downtown Los Angeles west into Santa Monica. It streams traffic through Brentwood, Westwood, and Beverly Hills. It carries traffic merging from Santa Monica Boulevard, Freeway 405, and Western Avenue.
Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists using Wilshire to make a work shift, a class, or just to reach some shopping destinations quickly find they share the lanes with big rigs, box trucks, and delivery vans. Most every truck driver is at risk to become distracted and veer out of their own lane. They might also be traveling too fast with a full load and be unable to stop for a red light in time to avoid a crash.
These giant vehicles represent a much larger injury threat for the drivers and passengers in the smaller vehicles they hit. That’s why victims in collisions involving a big rig need to know about the injury claims they can file against a truck driver and, potentially, the driver’s employer.
A free consultation with a qualified Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer, also serving Santa Monica victims, is the easiest way to find out what your injury is worth.
Do’s And Don’ts After a Big Rig Crash on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles
A violent crash involving a careless or reckless truck driver might leave you with a traumatic injury requiring weeks or months of hospital care, surgery, and physical therapy.
Big rig drivers will have commercial insurance to cover these costs. If the driver works for a trucking company or some other manufacturer or retailer, they may also be covered by the employer’s accident liability policy. In some cases, you could potentially earn support from both parties.
However, this coverage is not guaranteed, even when an LAPD accident report shows the truck driver was 100% to blame for the accident. Insurance adjusters work to keep you from getting what’s fair in an injury settlement. It’s necessary to work against their efforts to leave you with as little as possible to help in recovery.
There are definitely some things you can do immediately after your Wilshire Boulevard crash to make sure your big rig injury claim is as effective as possible:
DO’S
- Dial 911. No matter how minor your injuries appear, get examined by EMTs. If they feel you should go to the emergency room, let them take you. Make sure an LAPD or CHP collision report includes your account of what happened.
- Gather proof. If you are strong enough, collect evidence on the scene of your Wilshire Boulevard Big Rig Accident. Take photos of vehicle damage, relevant traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Show any logos to show the driver works for a company. Get contact information from witnesses.
- See your doctor. Make an appointment to get looked over and to have your injuries documented. Follow the recommendation from your doctor, including visits to specialists. Keep all medical billing invoices.
- Contact a Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney: Don’t talk to insurance adjusters until you’ve discussed your options with a skilled L.A. attorney. You can make mistakes in those first few days that cost you thousands of dollars down the road. A personal injury lawyer protects you from common insurance tactics and works to maximize any truck collision injury insurance settlement you earn.
DON’TS
- Making statements. Don’t give any recorded statements over the phone. Insurance representatives for the truck company will call after an accident. They will hope to record you saying something they can use to weaken your case later. Let your attorney handle communications with insurance adjusters and lawyers.
- Posting to Facebook. Don’t post photos of your accident and comment on any social media app. Insurance representatives will be searching for these posts and will use them just like phone statements as excuses to reject your request for assistance.
- Don’t accept a settlement on your own. Don’t sign any documents or accept any hastily offered insurance deals. Your big rig accident injury is probably worth a lot more than insurance adjusters will tell you. A lawyer working on your case will be helping you avoid these shady practices.
What Can I Receive Compensation for After a Wilshire Boulevard Traffic Accident?
After what may be a long, difficult, and expensive recovery, you’ll likely be wondering how much support a driver and trucking company will offer you.
Your compensation totals factor in the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you endure. Your Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer will be submitting each individual hardship you and your family face in an injury claim. Anything left off this list could end up as a bill you’d have to pay out of your savings.
These are just a few of the factors that can earn compensation after a Los Angeles truck crash:
- Medical expenses and estimates on any care needed in the future
- Costs associated with a permanent physical disability. Estimates on your lost earning potential, your medical care, and home healthcare costs over a lifetime.
- Physical pain and suffering. This includes the emotional trauma many victims suffer with. Victims may suffer anxiety and depression and lose their enjoyment of life. PTSD symptoms might also linger after a frightening big rig collision.
- Medical travel costs. This includes transportation to doctor’s appointments while you are off your feet. It might also factor in trips out of city or state to see specialists.
- Damage or destruction of property.
- All income you’ve lost from missing valuable time at work.
- Wrongful death benefits. When a family loses a loved one in a semi-truck accident, close relatives can file a wrongful death lawsuit. This lawsuit asks for help with funeral costs and remaining medical bills. This civil claim also seeks to protect the family in the future when they’ll be without the financial support the victim would have provided.
Contact a Los Angeles Big Rig Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury due to the careless actions of a truck driver, don’t allow an insurance company to determine what you’ll receive in compensation. A crash along Wilshire Boulevard might leave you off your feet, unable to work, and with no way to pay your growing medical bills.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. This evaluation from a real Los Angeles Big Rig Accident Lawyer comes with no obligation to you or your family. Make sure you are treated fairly and receive the support you need to fully recover and restore your life.