trucking accidents in san luis obispo

Large trucks are an essential part of the national economy, connecting San Luis and Arizona to more distant parts of the nation. Without these trucks, consumers would have fewer goods to purchase in the city and would need to travel longer distances to get what they need.

Nonetheless, large trucks can end up causing massive injuries when they crash into smaller vehicles on the road. Whether you are hit on US-95 or downtown, these collisions can leave many people with blinding pain and large medical bills. Call a truck accident lawyer at Karnas Law Firm if you were injured in a truck accident. Our San Luis truck accident lawyer can help you decide the best step to take next.

When Can You Sue Truck Drivers for a Truck Accident?

commercial truck drivers can suffer from driver fatigue

Truck accidents are covered by personal injury law. In Arizona, these cases are analyzed according to fault. Whoever is at fault for the crash should pay compensation to injured parties to cover their financial losses and pain.

You might imagine the truck driver is always at fault—and sometimes they are. Commercial truck drivers in San Luis can make critical mistakes while driving, including tailgating, speeding, drowsy driving/driver fatigue, make sudden stops, or driving while distracted. Other commercial truck drivers are exhausted or intoxicated and make preventable errors which lead to an accident. However, it’s a mistake to simply assume the semi truck driver is to blame.

In other situations, a different party might be at fault for semi truck accidents and cause a truck accident injury. For example, the brakes might fail on a truck. A mechanic who worked on the vehicle could be at fault for not noticing the brakes were worn or for not fixing them correctly. Or the trucking company that owns the truck could be at fault for not checking to make sure the truck or tractor trailer was safe.

Other at-fault parties can include a truck manufacturer or a loading company. Contact our San Luis Obispo truck accident lawyer to talk about your case.

Truck Accident Compensation: Get What You Deserve From the Truck Driver

two semi trucks driving on the highway

These collisions often leave our truck accident clients with severe injuries, including:

  • Fractures
  • Head injuries (concussion, traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhage)
  • Whiplash and other neck injuries
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Back injuries (herniated disc, spinal contusion)
  • Amputation
  • Crush injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Burns

Catastrophic injuries like these often cost tens of thousands of dollars—if not more—in medical treatment. Our job when negotiating a settlement offer is to increase the amount you take home for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Out-of-pocket expenses, like car repairs
  • Lost wages or income
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional distress or suffering
  • Disfigurement

Critical Evidence for a Truck Accident in San Luis Obispo, AZ

dashcam can provide evidence following a truck accident

To prove fault, our truck accident lawyer ideally wants as much evidence as possible about what happened in your accident involving semi trucks, any tractor trailer accidents, or other accidents with motor vehicles involving serious injuries. You can begin collecting evidence at the scene of the crash if you aren’t in too much pain from your semi truck injury.

We like to use:

  • Statements from eyewitnesses. These could be other motorists on the road or passengers in your car. Talk to anyone who saw the semi truck accident and ask for a method of contacting them later.

  • Video of the accident. Maybe a car had a dashcam, or your accident happened near a San Luis business which has a security camera pointed toward the road. We search for video evidence because it is so helpful.

  • Damage to your vehicle, which can help us identify how it crashed with the truck.

  • Photographs of the vehicles, including the truck that hit you. These photos help us recreate how the accident happened.

Some evidence is probably in the possession of the truck company:

  • Employee records

  • Toxicology reports (if the trucker was suspected of being drunk or high)

  • Maintenance records for the truck

  • Electronic data logged by the truck

Call a truck accident lawyer at Karnas Law Firm right away. We can tell the trucking company to preserve this evidence for our inspection later.

Truck Accident Victims Shouldn’t Negotiate a Claim on Their Own

person filing an injury claim to their insurance provider following a truck accident

Trucking accidents are incredibly complex. No one should try to handle their own claim—especially when they are in considerable pain and going to rehabilitation. There simply isn’t enough time to learn how to negotiate a claim effectively.

Karnas Law Firm has represented hundreds of accident victims. We are the best firm to hire for your case. For more than 30 years, we have negotiated favorable settlements for accident victims, including those injured by large trucks.

If you hire us, you are getting:

  • Knowledgeable investigators who know how to find helpful evidence for your case;
  • Passionate advocates who care deeply about our clients and go the extra mile to help them recover from an accident;
  • Seasoned negotiators who know all the tricks used by insurance companies when handling these claims;
  • Clear communicators who will always keep you in the loop on the status of your case;
  • Powerful litigators who will use the legal process to get compensation for your injuries.

Don’t take a chance on an inexperienced lawyer who has never handled a truck accident case before. These cases are nothing like car accidents. Evidence is harder to find and there are more potential defendants. Call us to find out more about how we’ll help your case.

Important Deadlines for Truck Accidents

truck on its side causing truck accident injuries

The statute of limitations sets out the amount of time a truck accident victim gets for filing a civil lawsuit. Under A.R.S. § 12-542, you have two years to file. The clock will begin on the day of the accident.

Two years can seem like an eternity. But as you rehab and try to get back to work, it’s easy to lose sight of how much time is left on the clock. Many people are shocked to realize two years have passed. Let our law firm handle filing for you. If you miss the deadline, then you will probably lose the right to seek any compensation at all. That’s how critical this deadline is.

Speak with a San Luis Truck Accident Lawyer

truck driving in the desert. Accidents occur with trucks on highways and other roads

After a truck accident, your life might feel as if it’s spinning out of control. Seek medical attention if needed and take charge of the situation and call Karnas Law Firm, PLLC, today. One of our truck accident lawyers can meet with you in a free, no-obligation consultation to go over what you remember of the crash. We have taken on some of the largest trucking companies in Arizona and the West.

Karnas Law Firm, PLLC
565 S. 4th Ave
Yuma, AZ 85364
928.723.0088