San Jose has a hand in developing and manufacturing products made nowhere else in the world. It’s also surrounded by very fertile farmland. The booming industries of technology and agriculture send a steady stream of large trucks out on our local highways and interstates.
All of that activity is a great sign of a healthy economy, but that’s no comfort when you have a swerving 18-wheeler in the lane next to you or filling up your rear-view mirror. Giant transport trucks and farming vehicles can end up in your lane or turn in front of you and leave you no room to avoid a frightening collision.
A San Jose Truck accident with a big rig, a box truck, or a produce hauler might leave you with painful injuries. You’ll likely be forced to consider if you can count on truck drivers and their employers for recovery support.
A Free Case Consultation for all San Jose Truck Accident Victims
Collisions with commercial vehicles differ from normal, everyday accidents because more than one party may be liable for your injury. The driver and the company that owns the vehicle they drive could be held accountable. To find out who exactly should be held responsible for the pain you’ve endured, contact an experienced San Jose Truck Accident Lawyer. Maison Law offers this consultation at no charge or obligation to you or your family. It’s a risk-free way to determine what your injury may be worth and how to demand what’s fair.Truck Accident Dangers on San Jose Highways
Collisions with big trucks also differ from normal accidents in that the force of impact involved could be much greater. This is due to the additional weight these vehicles carry, even when they aren’t loaded down. With interstate speeds factored in, these enormous and heavy vehicles may not slow down until they’ve violently struck several vehicles. The shape of these trucks also makes them more dangerous to the occupants of cars and SUVs. Smaller vehicles often end up underneath higher-riding trucks, at times trapping injured victims and delaying critical medical care. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors truck accidents across the nation every year. In 2019, they reported that 5,237 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. What’s more, the rate of fatal accidents involving big vehicles rose nearly 50% over the previous decade.Steps to Take After a San Jose Truck Accident
You could be due support from several insurance policies after a truck collision, but securing that money won’t be easy. Insurance companies will want you to back up every claim you make with proof, even when a police collision report makes the fault in the accident clear. You can lay a strong foundation for your eventual San Jose truck accident insurance claim by collecting a wealth of evidence right on the scene after a crash. If you are physically strong enough, try to comb the area for these details:- Contact the police and paramedics. Tell investigators about everything you remember about the truck driver’s behavior before the collision. Let emergency crews check over your injuries. Go to the hospital if that’s their recommendation.
- Pull out your cellphone. Take pictures or videos of everything that may prove useful. Show damage and get images of any visible injuries. Get photos of traffic signs, lane markings, and skid marks that illustrate what happened. Capture all the evidence you can of the company the driver works for including logos on the side of the truck.
- Talk to witnesses. Ask them what they saw. Find out how your personal injury attorney can reach them later.
- Exchange information with the truck driver. Take photos of a commercial driver’s license, insurance card, and employee number if possible.
- Note the presence of security cameras in the area. Jot down the addresses of homes or businesses that may have footage of your accident. Let your attorney know about this possible evidence immediately so your lawyer can secure the video before it is deleted.
- Go into your doctor’s office to get checked out. Make sure to note any pain that arises in the days after an accident. The shock of being in a collision might mask the pain of a major injury until the next morning. Keep all medical invoices.
Who May Be Held Liable in a San Jose Truck Accident?
Determining who can be held accountable for your accident is a vital task. Getting this part wrong can cost you thousands of dollars in compensation. It’s not uncommon for a truck driver’s personal commercial liability insurance to have low coverage limits. This means that once the insurance money is exhausted whatever bills remain will have to be paid out of your savings. When you hold additional parties liable, you have a much better chance of earning full compensation for every hardship. These are just a few of the potential defendants that may be forced to support you through recovery:- Independent Driver – Drivers may work for themselves and own the payload they are hauling. They’ll have commercial insurance you’ll hope to draw from.
- Local Trucking Company– Drivers may be working for a smaller, local delivery or shipping company that provides some insurance. These companies may also face liability if the poor maintenance of their trucks and tires prove to have caused an accident.
- National Distributor – The local employer may be contracting out drivers to a bigger transportation company that ships goods across the nation. That company could bear liability for your injuries.
- Large Corporations – These national companies may have their own network of trucks and drivers. Companies like Amazon or Sysco often carry large insurance policies for their drivers. Unfortunately, these businesses also have corporate lawyers who fight to free their employers from blame after an accident.
- Truck Manufacturer – A problem with the way a truck is built could be the cause of a major accident. A parts defect or a design flaw could have led to an impact. The maker of the vehicle would have to provide compensation to victims.
