Irvine Truck Accident Lawyer
Are You in Need of a Truck Accident Attorney?
A collision with a commercial truck is fundamentally different from an ordinary car accident. The enormous size and weight of an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, delivery truck, or other commercial vehicle can produce devastating forces, leaving occupants of smaller vehicles with catastrophic or fatal injuries.
For people who are injured in Irvine and Orange County, the legal issues can also be more complicated. Truck accident cases may involve commercial drivers, trucking companies, employers, maintenance providers, cargo companies, multiple insurance policies, and federal safety regulations.
You may want to contact a truck accident lawyer if:
- The trucking company or its insurer is pressuring you to accept a settlement quickly.
- You suffered serious injuries that require hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, or ongoing medical treatment.
- Your injuries prevent you from working or may affect your future ability to earn income.
- Another party disputes responsibility for the collision.
- Multiple vehicles or potentially responsible parties were involved in the truck accident.
- A family member died because of injuries sustained in a commercial truck accident.
Injured in a Truck Accident?
A commercial truck collision may cause devastating injuries. Call (949) 955-0127 to speak with an Irvine personal injury attorney.
Why Choose Peterson Law Group Over Other Truck Accident Lawyers in Irvine?
Peterson Law Group PC represents people who have suffered serious injuries because of another party’s negligence. Attorney Chris Peterson handles personal injury cases from the firm's Irvine office. He can investigate how the crash occurred, identify liable parties, examine safety and employment records, and evaluate the full extent of your damages.
Here’s what sets our firm apart:
- Serving Clients Since 2001: Peterson Law Group PC has represented California clients for decades and provides representation in serious personal injury matters.
- Recognized by Super Lawyers: Chris Peterson has been recognized by Super Lawyers through a selection process that considers peer evaluations and independent research.
- National Professional Recognition: Chris has been nominated for the American Bar Association's On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers.
- Orange County Bar Association Leadership: Chris serves on an Executive Committee of the Orange County Bar, reflecting his involvement in the local legal community.
- Straightforward Representation: Chris is known for his direct approach, strong communication skills, and commitment to finding practical solutions to difficult legal problems.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Truck accidents can take many forms, and each type of collision can present different questions about how the crash occurred and who may be responsible. Our firm handles a range of commercial truck accident cases.
18-Wheeler & Big Rig Accidents
An 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer can cause catastrophic damage when it collides with a passenger vehicle. These crashes may involve driver error, excessive speed, fatigue, improper maintenance, cargo problems, or other contributing factors.
Jackknife accidents occur when a truck's trailer swings outward at an angle to the cab. The trailer can sweep across several lanes of traffic, potentially striking multiple vehicles.
Truck rollovers can occur when a driver takes a turn too quickly, loses control, encounters shifting cargo, or experiences another destabilizing event. A rollover may affect vehicles traveling beside or behind the truck and can create secondary collisions.
Improperly loaded or secured freight can shift, affect vehicle stability, or fall into the roadway. Cargo-related hazards may also raise questions about whether responsibility extends beyond the driver or motor carrier to another company involved in loading the trailer.
Truck Underride Accidents
An underride accident occurs when a smaller passenger vehicle travels partially or substantially underneath the rear or side of a large truck or trailer. Because the truck's body may be higher than the passenger vehicle's hood and other protective structures, the point of impact can reach the passenger compartment.
Delivery Truck & Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Delivery vehicles and other commercial trucks are a regular part of Orange County traffic. This can include parcel delivery vehicles, box trucks, utility vehicles, service trucks, and other vehicles operated for business purposes.
When a driver causes a collision while performing work duties, the driver's employer may also become relevant to the liability analysis. Under California legal principles of vicarious liability, an employer may potentially be responsible for negligent acts committed by an employee while acting within the scope of employment.
Get a Truck Accident Case Review
If a truck accident left you seriously injured, learn about your options for pursuing compensation.
Contact Peterson Law Group PC at (949) 955-0127 to learn more today.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?
Multiple parties can be held liable for a commercial truck accident depending on what caused the crash. That’s why a truck accident investigation should look beyond the person sitting behind the wheel.
Liable parties may include:
- Truck Driver: A commercial driver may be responsible for speeding, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, fatigue, impairment, or other negligent conduct.
- Trucking Company or Motor Carrier: A carrier's own conduct concerning hiring, training, supervision, vehicle operations, or other matters may become relevant depending on the evidence.
- Driver's Employer: Under vicarious liability principles, an employer can potentially be responsible for an employee's negligence committed within the scope of employment.
- Cargo Loading Company: Improperly loaded or secured cargo can affect vehicle handling or create dangerous roadway hazards.
- Maintenance Contractor: A company responsible for inspection, repair, or maintenance may become relevant if mechanical problems contributed to the collision.
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer: A defective truck, tire, braking component, or other product may create additional liability issues in appropriate circumstances.
Federal Trucking Regulations & Evidence
Commercial trucking is subject to federal safety regulations. This can become important when investigating why a collision occurred.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes hours-of-service (HOS) requirements intended to limit how long covered commercial drivers may operate without required off-duty periods and breaks.
Federal requirements also address areas such as driver qualifications and commercial vehicle operations. Records relating to these requirements may help establish what happened before a serious crash.
Your truck accident attorney will collect evidence that may include:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) records
- Engine control module (ECM) or other electronic vehicle data
- Dashcam footage
- Driver qualification information
- Hours-of-service records
- Inspection records
- Maintenance and repair documentation
- Dispatch information
- Cargo and shipping documents
- Cellphone or communications evidence, when legally obtainable
- Photographs and surveillance video
Injuries From Truck Accidents
When a collision results in catastrophic injuries, compensation may need to address current medical bills and long-term health issues.
Serious truck accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Multiple fractures requiring surgery
- Crushing injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Severe neck and back injuries
- Amputations
- Permanent disfigurement
- Neurological injuries
- Permanent disability
Calculating Damages After a Serious Truck Accident
The value of a truck accident claim depends on the victim’s injuries, financial losses, liability evidence, available insurance coverage, and other circumstances.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Assistive equipment
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Long-term personal assistance
- Pain and suffering
- Other legally recoverable losses
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in California
A wrongful death claim allows certain surviving family members to seek compensation after losing a loved one because of another party’s wrongful act or negligence. Eligible parties may include the deceased person’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain other individuals depending on the circumstances.
A wrongful death claim may seek damages for losses such as funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship, affection, assistance, protection, and moral support.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Irvine
After a serious truck accident, prioritize medical care and preserve information that may help identify the commercial vehicle and carrier involved.
Consider taking these steps:
- Seek emergency medical treatment. Truck crashes can cause serious internal, neurological, and orthopedic injuries that may require immediate evaluation.
- Call 911 and report the accident. Law enforcement can respond, secure the scene, and document available information.
- Document the scene. Photograph vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, cargo, roadway conditions, and other relevant details when possible.
- Obtain witness information. Independent witnesses can be particularly valuable when the trucking company disputes how the collision happened.
- Do not make a recorded statement for an insurance agent. Allow your attorney to handle all communications with insurance companies.
- Speak with an attorney before settling. Make sure you understand your injuries and potential future losses before signing a release.
No Attorney Fee Unless We Win
Peterson Law Group PC handles personal injury matters on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay an upfront attorney fee, and the attorney fee is contingent on obtaining a recovery.
Contingency fee representation helps level the playing field by allowing injured people to obtain legal representation without having substantial financial resources available to pay hourly attorney fees.
Serving Irvine and Orange County
Irvine sits within a Southern California transportation network that includes major freeways and commercial routes used by passenger vehicles and trucks. Truck accidents can occur along I-5 and I-405, as well as routes connecting with the 133 and 241 toll roads and commercial areas throughout Orange County.
Southern California's broader freight network also connects Orange County highways with freight moving to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, making commercial trucks a familiar presence on regional freeways.
When a truck collision causes life-threatening trauma, victims may require specialized emergency treatment. UCI Health is home to Orange County's only Level I adult trauma center and treats severe motor-vehicle crash injuries.
What Clients Are Saying About Us
You are the best of the best! - J.H.
Our family appreciates what an amazing resource you are and the job you did for us. You are the best of the best!... I can’t say enough about Peterson Law Group and respect you as much as any company I have ever worked with.
I would recommend Chris to anyone- I.K.
Chris helped turn a stressful case into a great result. He was very professional and knowledgeable about all the complex details of the law and my case, and he fought hard for me. I would recommend Chris to anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents
Who is liable in a truck accident?
Liability for a truck accident may extend beyond the truck driver. Depending on what caused the collision, responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, driver's employer, cargo-loading company, maintenance contractor, or vehicle or parts manufacturer.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in California?
For many California personal injury lawsuits arising from truck accidents, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Exceptions can apply, and accidents involving government entities may be subject to much shorter deadlines. Contacting an attorney right away is the best way to protect your claim and find out which deadlines apply.
What is my truck accident case worth?
There is no standard value for a truck accident case. Compensation depends on factors such as the severity and permanence of your injuries, past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, available insurance coverage, and evidence of liability. Catastrophic injuries may require an especially careful evaluation of future medical, vocational, and financial needs.
Why do I need a lawyer specifically for a truck accident instead of a general car accident attorney?
Truck accident claims can involve issues that do not typically arise in an ordinary car accident, including federal trucking regulations, commercial insurance policies, electronic logging devices, driver qualification records, motor-carrier responsibility, cargo records, and multiple potentially liable companies. An attorney handling a truck accident should know what evidence to investigate and understand how commercial trucking issues may affect liability.
What if the truck driver was working for a large company like Amazon or FedEx?
When a commercial driver is working at the time of an accident, the company connected to that driver's work may become part of the liability analysis. But responsibility depends on factors such as who employed or contracted with the driver, who controlled the work, who owned the vehicle, and the circumstances of the collision. An attorney can explore all your options for seeking compensation.
What federal regulations apply to commercial truck drivers?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates many aspects of interstate commercial trucking, including hours of service (HOS), driver qualifications, vehicle operation, inspection, and maintenance requirements. HOS rules limit driving and on-duty periods in an effort to address risks such as driver fatigue.
Speak With a Trusted Irvine Truck Accident Attorney
Peterson Law Group PC is committed to helping seriously injured people pursue justice and holding negligent parties accountable.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injuries in a commercial truck accident, call (949) 955-0127 to find out how we can help.
You won’t owe us anything unless we win your case!
Call To Reach Us For A Prompt Response
Los Angeles Office: (213) 236-9720
Irvine Office: (949) 955-0127