Were you injured in a truck accident in El Cajon, California? Collisions involving tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and other commercial vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries and create complicated legal claims involving several potentially responsible parties.
If another person or company’s negligence caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses.
At Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers, we have spent decades representing accident victims throughout San Diego County. Our attorneys have more than 80 years of combined legal experience and have recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients.
Truck accident cases often require an investigation that goes well beyond determining whether a driver made a mistake. The trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, vehicle manufacturers, and other businesses may also have played a role in causing the collision.
Our El Cajon truck accident lawyers can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, identify responsible parties, deal with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced El Cajon truck accident lawyer.
Why Choose Pines Salomon After a Truck Accident in El Cajon, CA?
Commercial truck accident cases can be significantly different from ordinary passenger vehicle claims.
A trucking company may have attorneys, insurers, investigators, and other professionals protecting its interests soon after a serious collision. Important evidence may also be in the possession of the trucking company rather than the injured person.
Having an experienced attorney can help level the playing field.
Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers has represented injured people throughout San Diego County for decades. Our attorneys have recovered more than $100 million for clients, and members of our legal team have received recognition from organizations including Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys.
When you hire our firm after an El Cajon truck accident, we can:
- Conduct an independent investigation of the crash
- Obtain police and accident reports
- Preserve photographs, surveillance footage, and electronic evidence
- Identify the truck driver and motor carrier
- Investigate the driver’s qualifications and driving history
- Review available electronic logging device records
- Examine vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair records
- Investigate how cargo was loaded and secured
- Interview witnesses
- Consult accident reconstructionists and other experts when appropriate
- Determine whether multiple companies share responsibility
- Analyze available commercial insurance coverage
- Document your injuries and financial losses
- Calculate anticipated future damages
- Handle communications with trucking companies and insurers
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial when necessary
Our goal is to handle the legal process while you focus on your medical treatment, recovery, and family.
Why Are Truck Accident Cases Different From Car Accident Cases?
Both car and truck accident claims can involve negligence, insurance disputes, and serious injuries. However, commercial truck cases often present additional challenges.
Multiple Parties May Be Responsible
A typical car accident may primarily involve two drivers and their insurance companies. A commercial truck crash can potentially involve:
- The truck driver
- The motor carrier or trucking company
- An employer
- A vehicle owner or leasing company
- A maintenance or repair contractor
- A cargo-loading company
- A shipper
- A freight or logistics company
- A truck or parts manufacturer
- Another motorist
- A government entity responsible for a dangerous roadway condition
The exact parties that can be held responsible depend on how the accident happened and the relationships between the companies involved.
Commercial Trucks Are Subject to Additional Safety Rules
Interstate motor carriers and commercial drivers may be subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations governing areas such as driver hours, vehicle maintenance, inspections, and cargo securement.
For example, subject to applicable exceptions, property-carrying commercial drivers generally may drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and generally cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
Violations of applicable safety requirements can become important evidence when investigating why a crash happened.
Trucking Companies May Possess Important Evidence
Evidence relevant to a commercial truck accident can include information that would not normally exist in an ordinary passenger vehicle claim.
Depending on the vehicle and carrier, evidence may include:
- Electronic logging device data
- Driver records
- Dispatch communications
- GPS or telematics data
- Vehicle inspection reports
- Maintenance and repair records
- Cargo documentation
- Bills of lading
- Driver qualification materials
- Dash-camera footage
- Electronic control module data
- Post-accident drug or alcohol testing records
- Company safety policies
Electronic logging devices can automatically record information such as time, location, engine hours, vehicle miles, and identifying information for the driver, vehicle, and motor carrier.
This is one reason it can be important to investigate a truck accident promptly.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an El Cajon Truck Accident?
One of the most important steps in a truck accident case is identifying everyone whose negligence contributed to the collision.
The Truck Driver
Truck drivers may cause crashes by speeding, following too closely, driving while distracted, making unsafe lane changes, driving while fatigued, operating under the influence, or otherwise failing to use reasonable care.
A driver’s actions before the accident may also be relevant, including how long they had been driving and whether they properly inspected the vehicle.
The Trucking Company
A motor carrier may potentially bear responsibility for its own conduct or, depending on the circumstances, for conduct involving its driver.
Issues that may warrant investigation include:
- Hiring practices
- Driver training
- Driver supervision
- Scheduling practices
- Safety policies
- Vehicle inspection procedures
- Maintenance practices
- Prior safety problems
- Compliance with applicable trucking regulations
FMCSA rules require motor carriers subject to the regulations to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain commercial vehicles under their control and keep applicable parts and accessories in safe operating condition.
Maintenance and Repair Companies
A commercial truck contains systems that require regular inspection and maintenance, including brakes, tires, lights, steering components, and other equipment.
If an outside maintenance company performed inadequate repairs or failed to identify a dangerous problem, its conduct may need to be investigated.
Cargo Loaders and Other Companies
Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift during transportation, affect a truck’s handling, fall from a vehicle, or contribute to a rollover.
Federal cargo-securement rules are intended to prevent cargo from shifting within or falling from commercial vehicles operating in interstate commerce.
Depending on the circumstances, our attorneys can investigate the motor carrier, driver, loading operation, and other businesses involved in transporting the cargo.
Truck and Parts Manufacturers
Some crashes are caused or worsened by defective brakes, tires, steering systems, coupling equipment, or other vehicle components.
When evidence indicates that a defective truck or component contributed to an accident, a manufacturer or other party in the product’s chain of distribution may need to be investigated.
What Types of Trucks Can Cause Serious Accidents?
Our attorneys can investigate accidents involving many kinds of commercial and heavy vehicles, including:
- Tractor-trailers
- 18-wheelers
- Semi-trucks
- Box trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Dump trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Garbage and refuse trucks
- Construction vehicles
- Tow trucks
- Utility trucks
- Moving trucks
- Concrete and cement trucks
- Commercial vans
The type of vehicle can affect the evidence, regulations, insurance policies, and responsible parties involved in a claim.
Where Do Truck Accidents Happen in El Cajon?
El Cajon sits along several important East County transportation corridors.
Major routes in and around El Cajon include Interstate 8, State Route 67, and State Route 125. Busy local roads also include East Main Street, West Main Street, North Second Street, Jamacha Road, Fletcher Parkway, Broadway, Magnolia Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Greenfield Drive.
Commercial vehicles may use these roads to travel between businesses, warehouses, construction sites, retail locations, and communities throughout East County and the greater San Diego region.
Truck accidents can occur during:
- Freeway merging
- Lane changes
- Heavy stop-and-go traffic
- Turns at intersections
- Deliveries to businesses
- Entry into or departure from commercial properties
- Travel through construction areas
- Sudden traffic backups
Whether your collision happened on I-8, SR-67, SR-125, Main Street, Second Street, or another El Cajon roadway, our attorneys can investigate the specific conditions surrounding the crash.
What Is My El Cajon Truck Accident Case Worth?
There is no standard settlement amount for an El Cajon truck accident.
The value of a claim depends on how the accident happened, the severity of your injuries, the financial consequences of those injuries, available insurance coverage, and many other circumstances.
Factors that may influence the value of your case include:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- Emergency medical expenses
- Hospitalization and surgery
- Future treatment needs
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Whether your injuries are permanent
- Whether you can return to your previous job
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning ability
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Disability or disfigurement
- How your injuries affect your family and daily life
- Property damage
- The strength of liability evidence
- The number of responsible parties
- Available insurance coverage
- Whether you share responsibility for the accident
Catastrophic truck accident injuries may require years or a lifetime of medical care. Accepting a settlement before understanding your long-term prognosis can make it difficult to determine whether the amount adequately addresses your future needs.
Our El Cajon truck accident lawyers can evaluate your medical records, employment losses, future needs, and other damages when determining what compensation to pursue.
What Compensation Can I Recover After an El Cajon Truck Accident?
An injured person may be able to recover compensatory damages for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for measurable financial losses, which may include:
- Ambulance expenses
- Emergency room treatment
- Hospital bills
- Surgery
- Medical testing
- Doctor appointments
- Prescription medication
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Medical equipment
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Vehicle damage
- Transportation expenses
- Other accident-related costs
Non-Economic Damages
Truck accidents can also cause substantial losses that do not have a receipt or invoice.
Non-economic damages may include compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Inconvenience
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different from compensation for an injured person’s losses. They are not available simply because someone acted negligently.
California Civil Code § 3294 permits punitive damages in certain non-contract cases when oppression, fraud, or malice is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Additional requirements apply when punitive damages are sought against an employer based on an employee’s conduct.
Whether punitive damages may be available depends on the specific evidence in a case.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
The size and weight disparity between a large commercial truck and a passenger vehicle can contribute to devastating injuries.
Our lawyers can represent truck accident victims suffering from:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Crush injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ injuries
- Burns
- Severe lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries
- Vision or hearing loss
- Amputations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological trauma
Some victims require multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, assistive equipment, home modifications, or ongoing personal care.
A truck accident claim should consider not only the bills you have already received but also the long-term effect the injury is reasonably expected to have on your life.
How Do Federal Trucking Rules Affect an Accident Claim?
Federal trucking regulations do not automatically establish liability in every commercial vehicle accident, and which rules apply depends on the truck, driver, carrier, cargo, and operation involved.
However, regulatory records can provide important evidence.
Hours-of-Service Rules
Subject to exceptions, federal rules generally limit a property-carrying commercial driver to 11 hours of driving following 10 consecutive hours off duty and restrict driving after the 14th consecutive hour after beginning a duty period.
Electronic Logging Devices
Covered drivers use electronic logging devices to record hours-of-service information. ELDs synchronize with the vehicle engine and can capture data including driving time, vehicle movement, miles, engine hours, time, and location information.
Maintenance Requirements
FMCSA regulations require covered motor carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain commercial vehicles under their control.
Cargo Securement
Federal rules also impose requirements designed to prevent cargo from shifting, leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling from commercial vehicles.
Investigating compliance with applicable rules can help reveal whether a safety failure contributed to the crash.
How Much Does an El Cajon Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means clients do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, the attorney’s fee is an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered in the case.
This allows injured people to pursue a claim without paying hourly attorney’s fees while the case is pending. Our team can explain the contingency fee agreement and answer your questions during your free consultation.
Contact an El Cajon Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A serious truck accident can leave you facing extensive medical treatment, lost income, pain, uncertainty about your future, and a legal claim involving large trucking and insurance companies.
You do not have to handle that process alone.
Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers has more than 80 years of combined legal experience and has recovered over $100 million for injured clients. Our San Diego truck accident injury attorneys can investigate the collision, determine whether the truck driver or other companies were negligent, preserve important evidence, and pursue compensation for the full extent of your losses.
Whether your collision happened on I-8, SR-67, SR-125, Main Street, North Second Street, Jamacha Road, Fletcher Parkway, or another roadway in or around El Cajon, we are prepared to help.
Contact Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced El Cajon truck accident lawyer.