Truck Collision Lawyer in West Covina & Claremont, CA

Truck collisions are an unfortunate common occurrence on Southern California’s busy freeways. In most cases, roadways are populated by a variety of vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and on local roadways, bicycles and even pedestrians. When a truck collides with a pedestrian or another type of vehicle, the pedestrian or occupants of the smaller vehicle can suffer extremely severe injuries. If you or a family member was in a collision with a commercial truck or van, semi-truck or 18 wheeler then the Rohde Law Office can help. Attorney Richard Rohde is a truck accident attorney with offices in West Covina and Claremont, serving the San Gabriel Valley. Mr. Rohde has 15+ years of experience, has recovered millions of dollars in compensation, and can answer your questions today.

An injury can mean substantial physical and financial damages for the victim. Individuals who are facing medical bills, lost wages, and other damages because of their injuries can seek compensation for these damages through personal injury claims.

May 2024 Settlement Alert

What Causes Truck Crashes?

Like any other type of accident, truck accidents can be the result of driver negligence. This negligence could be on the part of the truck driver or on the part of another driver involved. Examples of driver negligence include:

• Distracted driving; Driving drunk or while under the
• influence of a drug;
• Overly fatigued driving (need required driver logs);
• Aggressive driving; and
• Failing to maintain a vehicle properly, increasing the chance of a malfunction.

There are also a few specific ways a truck driver can cause a crash/collision through negligence. These include:

• Overloading the truck, increasing the risk of the trailer coming unlatched from the tractor and rolling into traffic;
• Jackknifing, a type of accident that occurs when a truck’s trailer swings to an acute angle, at which point the driver no longer has control over it; and
• Driving on roadways where trucks are not permitted due to space limitations. These include particularly narrow roadways, roadways with tight turns, and roadways that pass under low bridges and overpasses.

When a truck driver causes a collision through negligence, he or she, (or their employer) is liable for all victims’ damages, e.g., medical bills (past & future); lost earnings (past & future); and general pain & suffering, including possible loss of consortium if they are married (past & future).

Differences and Similarities Between Truck and Car Collisions

Aside from the specific types of crashes that can occur with a commercial truck, there are other differences between truck collisions and crashes that only involve passenger vehicles. One of these differences is the sheer difference in power and momentum between a heavy tractor trailer and a relatively lighter passenger vehicle. This weight and power difference often means that in a collision, the smaller vehicle’s occupants have a significantly higher risk of being severely injured or killed. Truck drivers are not immune to their job’s fatality risks: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck driving is one of the deadliest jobs in the United States.

When it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim after a truck collision, the process is quite similar to that of a regular vehicle accident. The victim must demonstrate that the truck driver’s negligence was the substantial factor causing his or her injury through evidence like photographs/video, witness testimonies, and the official accident report, and etc. Depending on whether the truck driver was an owner operator or an employee, the victim’s compensation may be paid by the driver’s employer’s insurance and/or their motor carrier aka truck insurance.

Work with an Experienced Claremont & West Covina Truck Collision Lawyer

When you are suffering from an injury and facing financial damages as a result, work with an experienced truck accident lawyer at Rohde Law Office located in West Covina and Claremont. We work with clients throughout the San Gabriel Valley to pursue compensation for your damages. To get started on your personal injury claim, contact Rohde Law Office today to schedule your initial consultation with us.