Were you or a family member injured in a car accident involving a large truck in Escondido, California? Truck accident victims often experience extensive losses. Our team at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers is here to hold the at-fault party accountable.
An experienced Escondido truck accident lawyer can help you fight for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact us today at (858) 551-2090 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Choose Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Truck Accident in Escondido, CA?
Recovering full compensation after a serious accident can be one of the most important things you ever do, and you deserve the best possible legal representation. At Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers have over 80 years of experience handling complex personal injury claims, and we’ve proven our skills by recovering over $100 million in settlements and verdicts.
Our team is led by a former insurance defense attorney who knows every insurance trick in the book. Our Escondido personal injury attorneys are prepared to use that unique experience to your advantage. We won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you.
To learn how we can put our experience to work for you, call us for a free case evaluation today.
How Common Are Large Truck Accidents in California?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 12,258 car accidents involving large trucks were reported in California in 2024. 5,137 people were injured, and 360 people were killed in those traffic accidents.
What is My Escondido Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of a personal injury claim can vary significantly.
Several factors will influence the value of your case, including:
- How severe your injuries were
- Your financial expenses, including costs for medical care, rehab, assistance, etc.
- Your lost wages during the recovery phase
- The expected cost of ongoing medical care and rehab
- Your projected future out-of-pocket expenses
- How any long-term disability will impact your earning capacity
- The quality of the evidence to prove liability
- Whether you share any responsibility for the crash
Experienced attorneys can bring in respected experts who the insurance company will take seriously when evaluating your case value. They can also use their resources to strengthen your claim.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Commercial Truck Accident Victims in Escondido?
Under California personal injury laws, injury victims can pursue compensation for their economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for tangible financial losses, including:
- Medical costs, both for current medical bills and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Future medical expenses
- Nursing care
- Personal care and assistance
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Lost future earning potential if your injury has long-term impacts on your earnings
- Property damage and vehicle repairs
These damages are designed to restore your financial stability and ensure you’re not left bearing the cost of someone else’s negligence.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for personal losses and suffering, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental trauma and distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Depression
- PTSD
- Chronic pain
- Reduced quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium and damage to relationships, particularly in wrongful death cases
Punitive damages are only available if the defendant’s acts were intentional or displayed a shockingly reckless disregard for your safety. Punitive damages are meant to punish and deter, rather than compensate a victim.
For example, if your accident occurred because the commercial truck driver was intoxicated, punitive damages may be appropriate.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in California?
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee arrangement means there aren’t upfront fees. Your attorneys’ fees are deducted from the compensation your attorney recovers.
Typically, attorneys’ fees range from 33% to 40%, but your fees can depend on many factors–such as the complexity of your case and whether a trial is necessary.
What Happens to the Value of My Truck Accident Claim if I Share Some Blame for a Crash in California?
Your damages will be reduced to the extent you share any blame for the truck wreck.
California follows a pure comparative negligence law. When multiple parties share fault, liability is divided between them. Each party is assigned a percentage of fault. Even the victim can be held financially accountable for their own percentage of fault.
Is the other side blaming you? Make them prove it by hiring an experienced attorney. Insurance adjusters sometimes blame victims without strong evidence to support those claims. Our lawyers will be prepared to defend you.
Our Attorneys in Escondido Are Ready to Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
When a large commercial vehicle crashes into a smaller passenger vehicle, occupants in the car can suffer devastating injuries.
Our Escondido truck accident attorneys often represent clients struggling with:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord damage
- Leg and knee injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Head and neck injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death and loss of a family member
We’re here to help you seek full compensation for any injury you suffered in the truck wreck. Contact us today to learn more about how our attorneys can help.
Who is Liable for My Truck Accident Injuries in Escondido?
Liability can extend to anyone who contributed to your truck accident. In cases involving commercial trucks, someone who wasn’t even at the crash scene will probably be responsible for paying your damages.
Parties who may be responsible for the accident include:
- A negligent truck driver
- The trucking company
- Companies responsible for the truck’s cargo
- Maintenance companies hired to inspect and maintain vehicles
- Truck leasing companies
- Manufacturers of defective truck features
- Government agencies responsible for road maintenance and trucking industry oversight
Even if the truck driver was responsible for your crash, the trucking company will likely be liable for your damages.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Escondido?
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Speeding, typically to meet tight deadlines
- Distracted truck drivers
- Texting while driving
- Fatigued truck drivers and hours-of-service violations
- Violation of federal laws governing trucking
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Weaving between lanes
- Failing to check blind spots
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Ignoring pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection requirements
- Wide and dangerous turns
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Negligent hiring practices on the part of trucking companies
- Improperly maintained trucks
Like any car accident, accidents involving large trucks are more likely to occur when people are careless. The difference is that accidents involving semi-trucks and tractor-trailers can cause much more serious damage.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in California?
Most victims must prove negligence to recover compensation for truck accident injuries..
The elements of negligence are:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- Causation, meaning that the breach caused the accident
- You sustained damages, which are your accident-related losses
The strength of the evidence to prove these elements can be critical to the success of your case. Trucking companies carefully investigate accidents involving their truck drivers. They’ll be looking for any evidence that can be used to avoid paying your damages.
What Types of Evidence Will My Lawyers Use to Prove My Case?
Our accident lawyers in Escondido will be searching for evidence to prove you deserve compensation.
Evidence that can be particularly important in truck accident cases includes:
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- The truck’s black box recording device, or electronic recording equipment
- The driver’s qualifications and CDL
- Dash cam recordings or video from traffic lights
- The driver’s hours-of-service logs
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
- Eyewitness statements
- Accident reports
- Medical records
In the most complicated cases, we’ll call in experts in accident reconstruction to evaluate evidence from the accident scene and testify about what happened.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in California?
In most California personal injury cases, including truck accidents, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. This means you have a strict two-year window to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries and related losses.
If you fail to take legal action within that time frame, you permanently lose your right to recover damages, regardless of how strong your case may be.
However, there are some exceptions that could either shorten or extend this deadline:
- Claims against government entities (e.g., a city-owned truck) often require you to file a notice of claim within just six months.
- If the victim is a minor or incapacitated, the clock may be paused (“tolled”) until they are legally able to act.
- In cases involving delayed discovery of an injury, the statute of limitations may begin when the injury was—or reasonably should have been—discovered.
Because missing the deadline can be devastating to your case, it’s critical to speak with a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure all deadlines are met.
Contact an Experienced Escondido Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a truck accident in Escondido? Our legal team at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to stand by your side at every turn. Contact us today to learn more about how an experienced Escondido truck accident attorney can help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
