Truck Accident Attorney in Los Angeles

Truck Crash Types & Potentially Liable Parties

The firm handles cases arising from several types of commercial truck collisions:

• Jackknife accidents
• Rollovers
• Underride collisions
• Tire blowouts
• Wide-turn accidents
• Rear-end collisions

Determining responsibility requires examining how the collision occurred and which individuals or businesses contributed to it.

Potentially liable parties may include:

• Truck drivers whose conduct contributed to the collision
• Trucking companies responsible for poor hiring practices or inadequate vehicle maintenance
• Cargo loading companies that improperly secured or distributed a load
• Vehicle manufacturers responsible for defective truck parts

Driver Hours & Electronic Records

Federal hours-of-service rules regulate how long property-carrying truck drivers can operate. A driver is generally limited to 11 driving hours during a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive hours off duty. The rules also require a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving and generally limit on-duty time to 60 hours in seven days or 70 hours in eight days.

An investigation may compare driver logs with electronic logging device data to assess compliance with these limits. It may also examine black box data, maintenance records, and other materials related to the truck’s condition and operation. Because electronic data can be overwritten and other records may be lost, prompt preservation can be important.

The Truck Accident Claim Process

The firm investigates the collision and identifies potentially liable parties. Depending on the evidence, this work may address the driver’s conduct, the trucking company’s practices, cargo loading, vehicle maintenance, or a defective component.

The firm then negotiates with the insurance company for a settlement. Because these cases can involve more than one policy, negotiations may extend to multiple insurers or responsible parties. If the parties can’t reach a settlement, the firm can take the case to civil court.