18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer.

What Happens if I’m in a Collision?

If you’re in a collision while driving a big rig truck, follow these steps:

• Get to Safety: The very first thing you should do is get to safety. If possible, move your vehicle to the nearest safe place on the side of the road and stop it there. If you can’t move your vehicle, place flares or other indicators to alert other vehicles. If you are hurt, stay in place and let others do most of the following steps.

• Call 911 If There Are Injuries: Call 911 if anyone is hurt by the collision, regardless of how minor the injuries seem. Collisions often result in the release of adrenaline, and you could be more hurt than you realize. Check yourself for injuries first, then any passengers in your truck, then anyone from other vehicles.

• Check For Hazards: Big rig trucks often carry dangerous materials. A vehicle may be leaking gas, on fire, or spilling hazardous cargo. Tell the 911 operator if you see anything like that. If you can safely take care of such issues yourself, do so.

• Call The Police: If you didn’t call 911 about injuries or hazards, call the police instead. If you did call 911, they'll probably transfer you to the police at some point.

• Take Notes And Photographs: Take pictures of the scene as soon as possible after making the scene safe. If you are injured, ask someone else to take photographs for you. Photographs will help present a clearer, unbiased explanation of the collision.

• Exchange Contact Information: Exchange contact information with anyone else involved in the collision. Collect their name, contact (usually phone number), insurer, address, any relevant company names, and vehicle numbers. Do not apologize or admit fault, and be careful what you say.

• Get Witness Contact Information: If there are additional witnesses, try to get their contact information as well. Ask them to write down notes and describe the scene as best they can while the situation is still fresh in their mind.

• Get Medical Treatment: By this point, ambulances should be well on their way. Get any medical treatment you need. You don’t know how hurt you may be, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.

• Call Your Attorney: Once medical personnel clear you to make a call, contact your 18-wheeler accident lawyers.

• Contact Your Insurance Company: Finally, you can contact your insurance company to start the claims process. Your lawyers can give you advice for the conversation or, in some cases, contact the insurer on your behalf and handle the discussions for you.

What Should I Do After a Collision?

You can do a few things in the days after a collision to make things easier for yourself.

• Contact the police and get a copy of the accident report.

• Contact the insurance company and get a copy of the property damage valuation. Both of these will help your attorneys get a better idea of the value of your claim.

• Record all interactions you have with healthcare providers. Make sure to write down any symptoms you experience, any diagnoses they give you, and any pain. Get records of test results, any medicine used, and treatment provided.

• Keep track of all out-of-pocket costs.

• Keep track of any missed work or activities.

What Should I Avoid Doing After a Collision?

Here are the things to avoid doing:

• Do not speak to the attorneys of any other parties involved until you talk to your lawyer. The only people you need to talk to after a collision are your lawyer, the police, and your insurance company.

• Do not accept any settlement offers yet. Insurance companies often give a low offer at this stage, and you may be entitled to far more compensation.

• Do not leave the scene until paramedics or the police clear you to go. It’s one thing if the paramedics take you away, but if you leave without clearance, the police could charge you with a hit-and-run felony or misdemeanor.

• Do not remove any protective gear you’re wearing. Let a medical professional decide when to remove such things.

• Do not let your emotions control you. The moments after an accident can be terrifying, and the adrenaline doesn’t help your responses. Do not try to lay blame on others.

• Minimize the things you say to others. You could accidentally admit to liability.

• Don’t try to do everything yourself.

Understanding Deaths and Injuries

As the National Safety Council explains, most deaths and injuries in collisions involving large vehicles occur to people in other vehicles. Depending on the year, about 16%-18% of deaths and 25%-30% of injuries go to truck drivers. Most of this is because of vehicle design, as large and heavy vehicles are much more stable than small cars.

You should always check yourself for injuries before checking anyone else if you’re in a collision. However, there’s a good chance that someone in any vehicle that hits you will be hurt, so you should be ready to call 911 and summon help for them. In some collisions, it may be too late to help them. Call 911 anyway.

Large vehicles are responsible for about 10% of all fatal crashes. Fortunately, deaths are considerably rarer than injuries, partially thanks to constantly-improving safety technology in vehicles of all sizes. About 97% of deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving big rigs come from passenger vehicles, not trucks.

Where Do Collisions Usually Occur?

Collisions can occur anywhere, especially in a densely-populated area like Los Angeles. Statistically, most collisions occur in rural areas, during the daytime, and on non-interstate roads. Collisions are also more common in Summer and Autumn, with fewer occurring in Winter and Spring.

What Are Some Causes Of Big Truck Collisions?

The reasons for collisions vary but can include:

• Careless driving

• Distractions

• Driver impairment

• Equipment failure

• Fatigue

• Improper cargo management

• Poor maintenance

• Speeding

Fatigue and equipment failure, especially with the vehicle’s brakes, are notable contributors to collisions – this is one of the many reasons you should always follow hours of service regulations. Employers may want you to work more, but you should always obey the laws for how much you can drive.

Similarly, keep all equipment on your truck in good order. Replace components as the manufacturer advises or when they’re worn down, whichever comes first. Failing to perform maintenance on the correct schedule can increase your liability in a collision case, possibly to the point that you’re paying out instead of getting paid.

Why Do I Need a Truck Crash Lawyer?

There are many reasons to hire an accident lawyer to help you with a case.

First, trucking companies frequently deny any responsibility for the incident, even if they’re likely at fault. They may have representatives show up within hours, or minutes in busy areas, and try to reduce any evidence of your claims against them. However, the same companies often push drivers to take unnecessary risks.

Second, big rig collisions are often complicated. There may be aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, legal regulations, driving standards, economics, and medicine for the case. If you go to trial, someone has to explain these to a jury.

Finally, and most importantly, getting you the compensation you deserve for a case frequently requires more resources than drivers have. Big companies often try pressuring others to walk away or accept settlements far lower than what you need to pay medical bills and make up for lost work time.

Big rig collision lawyers can help with all of these.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire an 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer?

In most cases, you have no upfront cost for hiring Chen & Nowzari to represent you.

For collision cases, we typically work on a contingency basis. This means you don’t pay any money unless and until we win a settlement for you, and our fee comes out of the settlement. If we can’t win a settlement for you, then you don’t owe anything.

What Is the Likelihood I’ll Win My Case?

That depends on the facts of the case. We cannot promise that you will get any settlement after a collision, and it’s irresponsible to claim otherwise. However, we will do our best to represent you in your case.

California is a pure comparative negligence state. As seen in documents like these sample jury instructions, pure comparative negligence means that you can potentially recover damages depending on how at fault you are for a collision.

The less fault you have in a situation, the better. For example, if an analysis of the crash determines that you are only 20% at fault, you’re only responsible for 20% of the liability payments. In contrast, the other party may be 80% responsible.

In many cases, the court will subtract what you owe from what the other party owes, so they could end up paying 60% to you in this scenario.

California’s law means there are rarely pure winners or losers in a case unless it is 100% the fault of a single party. Proving you have less liability can either increase the amount you receive or decrease the amount you owe. Either way, Chen & Nowzari can help you.

What Happens When I Hire a Lawyer for a Big Truck Accident?

When you hire a lawyer, we’ll start by gathering information about the case, including your evidence and information about it. Once we have that information, we’ll often talk to your insurance company and any other parties involved in the case, possibly including your trucking company and any lawyers on the other teams.

Once we have all the information, we’ll try to reach a settlement based on the facts of the case. We never accept settlements without your approval, regardless of how favorable we think the terms are. However, we can give you advice on whether we think the offer is good or not.

Most personal injury cases get settled before trial. We could reach a deal in anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you’re severely injured, that usually delays things, but could also strengthen your case. If the case goes to trial, it usually takes anywhere from months to years to settle.

How Big Are Settlements in 18 Wheeler Cases?

Settlement sizes always depend on the facts of the case. If it’s just minor cosmetic damage to one vehicle, payouts are likely going to be low. If the collision results in serious injuries, deaths, or significant contractual losses, settlements tend to be higher.

Get In Touch With An 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Today

If you’re driving a big rig and you’re often in the Los Angeles area, contact Chen & Nowzari today to serve as your big rig truck injury lawyers. Remember, trying to pick a lawyer after you’re in a collision means you may be rushed and not give it as much thought as you should. Selecting a lawyer ahead of time makes things easier when you need it most.

Here at Chen & Nowzari, we have a team of experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyers ready to represent you. We will provide you with the information and necessary guidance required to successfully fight for your case. Contact us today to see how we can help.