Food trucks add an awful lot of flavor to our lives. California food trucks set up shop in local communities and deliver some outstanding snacks with small wait times.
In most cases, those food trucks do have to pack up and leave at some point, and getting out on the road can be a bit of a dangerous adventure for everyone else on the freeway or boulevard.
The normal food truck is probably larger and heavier than your vehicle, and in a crash, it can do a lot more damage. If a food truck driver’s carelessness or a lack of maintenance on the truck causes that crash and you are injured, you should expect assistance in your recovery. Where to find that help may be a confusing question after being struck by a business on wheels. That’s when talking to a California Truck Accident Lawyer can help.
A Free Consultation for California Food Truck Accident Victims
If you or a loved one are injured in a California food truck collision, please talk to a skilled legal professional before speaking with any insurance representative. There may be several parties that should be held responsible for the costs of your recovery. Leaving just one party off your claim can cost you thousands of dollars in compensation and leave you paying out of pocket for your care.
Contact Maison Law of California for a free and confidential consultation. It’s a no-risk way for you to learn what your injury is really worth before insurance companies try to convince you otherwise. If you feel the California Car Accident Lawyers at Maison Law can help you earn the maximum in compensation for your family, you won’t need any upfront money. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
Food Truck Accident Dangers in California
There are 35,512 food truck businesses in the U.S. in 2022 according to IBISWorld. The researchers also report that California has the most Food Trucks of any state with 753 businesses registered. These rolling restaurants whip up some great meals, but they also bring extra hazards to California’s crowded roads.
These are just some of the added dangers food trucks carry with them:
- Weight — Food Trucks on average weigh between 14,000lbs and 16,000lbs. And of course, some food trucks are actually pull-behind trailers that might weigh considerably less, but the weight of the vehicle pulling it still factors in. We discuss weights with food trucks because a normal mid-sized SUV may only weigh 5,000lbs. When these smaller cars and SUVs suffer food truck collisions, the results can be devastating.
- Shape and Size – The shape of the food trucks also makes them more likely to extend into your lanes and take wider turns creating additional accident risk. Large food trucks are difficult to control and have a lot more blind spots too.
- Careless Drivers – There’s also the food truck driver behind the wheel, who may be looking at a phone to find the next stop. The driver could simply be drowsy after a long, hot day and not paying attention to your car stopping ahead.
- Maintenance – You may have noticed that food trucks don’t always look like the best-maintained vehicles on the road. A lapse in tire or brake maintenance could lead to a crash and leave a food truck owner liable. These built-in dangers and more can make travel alongside a big food truck that much more nerve-wracking.
Who Can I Sue After a California Food Truck Accident?
When food trucks take to the roads, the owner may be behind the wheel or an employee could be piloting.
Regardless of who is driving, it is usually the business and food truck owner who is liable for your injuries. The owners will have commercial auto insurance covering themselves and their employees when they drive.
Their insurance coverage could have to provide you or a family member with compensation for all hospital bills and money to replace your lost wages while missing work. That policy should also cover the pain you’ve experienced and the emotional trauma you suffered in the accident and in recovery.
Your California Food Truck Accident Lawyer also works hard to identify other parties that may share blame for your accident. A food truck may be part of a fleet owned by a larger restaurant or catering company. This could bring a bigger insurance coverage policy into play. A recall on defective parts could lead to a food truck manufacturer being liable for an accident and your injury costs.
Compensation Available After a California Food Truck Accident
After an accident, your California Personal Injury Lawyer will be preparing a strong case to present to the insurance company for the food truck business.
This should include any evidence you managed to collect from the scene. You should try to get photos of the food truck damage and your own damage in the aftermath of a crash. You should also take down witness contact information. Try to tell police officers everything you remember about the food truck accident, including if the driver was acting carelessly at the time. The LAPD will create an accident report that will serve as evidence for you.
With your evidence in hand, your California Car Accident lawyer will file a truck accident claim that lists all of the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you’ve faced.
These are just a few of the factors that will determine how much in compensation you’ll receive:
- All hospital, doctor, and physical therapy expenses.
- All costs associated with a permanent physical disability. Estimates on a lifetime of support.
- The emotional distress and physical pain you endure.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of consortium (intimacy with a partner).
- Earnings you’ve lost while missing work.
- Damage or destruction of property.
- Wrongful death damages. A family who had lost a loved one in a food truck accident can ask an insurance company for financial support in the aftermath of a tragic collision.
Contact a California Food Truck Accident Lawyer
After a serious California traffic accident involving a food truck make sure you know every benefit available to you and your family.
Take advantage of a free case consultation from Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law.
It’s a no-risk way to speak with a real California Truck Accident Lawyer and find out how to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with insurance companies. It’s critical that you stay informed so they can’t rob you of the financial support you need to make a full physical and financial recovery.