Costa Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer

Costa Mesa Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucking is one of the most critical components of the American supply chain, transporting cargo to communities all over the country every day. Many communities around the Costa Mesa, CA area, rely on tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other commercial trucks to receive the goods and supplies residents need each day. In addition, businesses across the country depend on the trucking industry every day, and truck drivers are responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of billions of tons of cargo every year in the US.

The prevalence of commercial trucking in the US means that almost every driver will regularly see large commercial tractor-trailers on the roads every day. These vehicles are crucial to the economy, but they are also inherently dangerous due to their size. An average tractor-trailer with a full load can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and stand nearly 14 feet off the ground, making them significantly larger than even the most oversized passenger vehicles in the country. When truck drivers fail to operate their trucks responsibly, or other drivers operate their vehicles unsafely near large trucks, devastating accidents are possible.

If you or a family member recently experienced a truck accident in the Costa Mesa, CA area, knowing how to secure compensation for your losses is essential. A truck accident can easily cause devastating injuries and substantial economic losses. If you find yourself in this situation, you need legal counsel you can trust to secure the compensation you deserve and hold the party responsible for your truck crash accountable for their actions.

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Why Do I Need a Costa Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer?

An Orange County truck accident lawyer can be the best asset you can have after experiencing a commercial truck accident. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can handle your recovery completely unassisted. Some people believe they can manage this while simultaneously recovering from painful injuries and maintaining order in their households. Unfortunately, it’s common for the aftermath of a trucking accident to quickly snowball into severe financial problems for victims and their families.

Navigating the civil court system without an attorney is extremely challenging for anyone with no professional experience in civil law. However, you face several risks if you attempt to file your own personal injury claim and handle it yourself. Specifically, there is a risk that you could settle for less than you deserve from your claim. There is also a risk that you could make a mistake with your court filings or miss a vital deadline, jeopardizing your case before it even reaches a judge.

Hiring the right Costa Mesa truck accident attorney to represent your claim is the best way to ensure an acceptable recovery from a commercial truck accident. Your attorney can help you determine the best path forward after a truck accident, whether that includes filing an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, or both. When you work with Easton & Easton, you can rest assured our team will extend the full scope of our professional resources and experience in handling your truck accident claim, guiding you to the best possible result and maximizing your recovery.

What Questions Should I Ask an Attorney for a Truck Accident?

Before you accept a Costa Mesa truck accident lawyer’s representation, you should be confident they are the right fit for your case. Take advantage of consultation offers to interview potential attorneys and choose the Costa Mesa personal injury attorney who inspires you with the most confidence about your claim. Consider a few questions you should ask an attorney before agreeing to their representation:

  • “How much experience do you have with truck accident claims?” It’s essential to hire an attorney with a solid track record of successful cases similar to yours.
  • “How likely do you think I am to win my case?” Most personal injury attorneys offer contingency fee billing, meaning they accept legal fees only when they win. If an attorney offers contingency fee billing and agrees to represent you, this is a good indication they believe you can win your case.
  • “Do you notice any unique factors in my case?” No two truck accident claims are exactly alike. A good Costa Mesa truck accident attorney should be able to quickly and accurately identify any challenges or opportunities present in your case.
  • “How long do you expect my case to take before it reaches a conclusion?” The economic impact of a truck accident can escalate quickly when the victim is unable to work. A good attorney should offer a reasonable estimate of the timeline your case is likely to follow.
  • “What kind of compensation can I expect if I win my case?” The attorney should be able to provide you with a reasonable estimate of how much compensation you are likely to secure if you succeed with your truck accident claim.

These examples should help you start your list of questions to ask a potential attorney before hiring them. Then, take time to create more questions based on your circumstances, so you can get the best impression of every attorney you interview.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

If you intend to take legal action after a commercial truck accident, one of the most important first steps you must complete is determining how your accident occurred. Some of the most commonly cited causes of truck accidents in California include:

  • Driver errors and negligence. Truck drivers have demanding jobs, but this is no reason to engage in reckless driving, neglect required rest breaks, or commit moving violations while operating their vehicles. If a truck driver causes an accident due to their own negligence and fails to uphold their employer’s policies, the driver could absorb liability for an accident caused by their negligence.
  • Trucking company negligence. Trucking companies and organizations that employ truck drivers can sometimes absorb liability for trucking accidents if an investigation shows they failed to properly vet or train drivers. For example, if a trucking company hired a driver and assigned them a route but failed to conduct a background check, they could face liability if the driver causes an accident.
  • Poor vehicle maintenance. Tractor-trailers are larger, more complex machines than standard passenger cars. They also spend more time on the road than most passenger cars, meaning they require more frequent and more extensive maintenance. If a party responsible for commercial truck maintenance fails to conduct appropriate repairs and a mechanical problem causes an accident, that party may absorb liability for the resulting damages.
  • Improperly secured cargo. It’s vital to ensure a truck’s cargo is properly secured. For example, trailer cargo must be loaded in a way that balances the trailer; otherwise, the truck may tip over or roll over around a sharp curve. Special cargo,such as building materials, smaller vehicles, lumber, and concrete pipes, requires specific loading standards.
  • Distracted driving. All drivers, including commercial truck drivers, must refrain from distractions while behind the wheel. Even a few seconds of distraction can equate to driving blind for hundreds of feet and causing a serious accident to drivers, their passengers, even a pedestrian. Distracted driving is the leading cause of all traffic accidents in the US.
  • Driving under the influence (DUI). Some truck drivers cope with the stresses of their jobs by consuming drugs and alcohol before driving. This is illegal and extremely dangerous. Other drivers who operate their vehicles while intoxicated can also cause accidents with nearby commercial trucks. No driver should ever consume alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel. Any driver who does faces civil liability for victims’ damages as well as criminal prosecution for DUI.
  • Reckless third parties. Another driver can cause an accident with a nearby tractor-trailer that in turn causes an accident with your vehicle. If one or more drivers bear fault for a trucking accident, anyone injured in the accident has the right to pursue legal action against every party bearing fault for the incident. Your attorney can help you determine which defendants to name in your truck accident claim.

These are some of the most commonly cited causes of commercial truck accidents throughout the Costa Mesa, CA area. If you believe your recent truck accident occurred due to circumstances such as these, it is vital to contact an attorney as soon as possible to determine your best options for legal recourse.

Claiming Damages in Your Truck Accident Lawsuit

Truck accidents are typically far more damaging than crashes involving smaller passenger vehicles. If you have experienced a truck accident in the Costa Mesa, CA area, you have likely suffered severe injuries along with many different economic losses. An experienced Costa Mesa truck accident attorney will help you thoroughly review your damages and determine the total cost of your truck accident. Some of the most commonly sought damages in truck accident claims filed in the US include:

  • Medical expenses. Any vehicle accident is likely to cause injuries, but injuries from truck accidents are usually more serious than those caused by passenger vehicle accidents. Therefore, a personal injury plaintiff in California has the right to claim compensation for all medical expenses resulting from a defendant’s negligence. This includes medical expenses immediately after the accident, such as hospital bills and long-term treatment costs, such as rehabilitation and physical therapy.
  • Lost income. If your trucking accident causes you to be unable to work for an extended period, you can claim any wages lost during this time in your lawsuit. It’s also possible to secure lost future earning potential if your accident causes a disability that prevents you from returning to the workforce in the future.
  • Property damage. You have the right to claim vehicle repair costs resulting from a truck accident. However, if your car is damaged beyond repair, your attorney can help you maximize insurance coverage and/or secure the total cash value of your vehicle.
  • Pain and suffering. California state law acknowledges that many accidents caused by negligence are traumatic and cause painful injuries. Therefore, a personal injury plaintiff can claim compensation for their physical pain and emotional suffering resulting from a truck accident.

Depending on how your accident occurred, it may also be possible to collect punitive damages. A plaintiff does not directly demand punitive damages. Instead, a judge awards them at their discretion to punish a defendant’s bad behavior, whether that entails egregious negligence beyond the scope of typical negligence or criminal behavior. The amount paid in punitive damages depends on the overall financial status of the defendant; wealthier defendants can expect to pay more in punitive damages than those who have limited assets.

Hiring the right Costa Mesa truck accident attorney will significantly impact the outcome of your case. A good attorney will not only assist you in proving negligence and accounting for all your claimable damages, but they can also coordinate testimony from expert witnesses to help you prove fault in your case and establish the full scope of your claimable damages. For example, a medical expert witness can help the court understand the full effects of your injuries and the pain they caused you. In addition, an accident reconstruction expert can help prove how an accident occurred to assist you in establishing liability for the accident. The average person with no legal counsel would be unable to secure the expert witness testimony they may need to succeed with a truck accident claim.

Negligence and Vicarious Liability in Truck Accident Claims

A truck accident claim is a personal injury claim, so that negligence will be a central legal concept in any truck accident case. Proving negligence is essential for any plaintiff who wishes to succeed with their personal injury claim. If you file a truck accident lawsuit against a negligent driver, a trucking company, or a combination of multiple defendants, your attorney must help you prove that the defendant or defendants were negligent in some way that directly caused your claimed damages.

First, your attorney must establish the defendant’s duty of care in the situation in question and then prove how the defendant breached this duty of care. For example, if your trucking accident occurred due to drunk driving, your Costa Mesa truck accident attorney must prove the defendant failed in their duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and was under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. Next, your attorney must help you establish the full range of your damages and provide evidence that shows these damages were the direct results of the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.

Truck accidents are often more complex than standard passenger vehicle accident claims due to the legal concept of vicarious liability. This term applies in any situation in which one party bears liability for the actions of another. For example, a negligent truck driver causes an accident due to drinking and driving. They had a recorded history of drinking and driving, but the trucking company that hired the driver failed to conduct an appropriate background check before assigning them work. In this situation, the trucking company bears some responsibility for the resulting accident.

truck accident attorney costa mesa ca

What to Expect From Your Costa Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer

Filing a truck accident claim may be your best option for recovering from your losses. If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries and incurred expensive medical bills, these losses may just be the start of the financial impact your accident can have on your life. Most truck accident plaintiffs also sustain additional economic losses in the form of lost income, unpaid household bills, and vehicle repair costs. Some damages may be immediate, while others affect them far into the future. Ultimately, filing a truck accident claim offers the best chance of maximizing your recovery after a truck accident.

Typically, the first step toward recovery after any motor vehicle accident is filing an insurance claim against the at-fault driver. California state law requires all licensed drivers to carry auto insurance. Therefore, if another driver causes an accident, you can file an insurance claim against their policy to secure compensation for your losses. However, there is no guarantee that their insurance coverage will fully compensate your losses, and dealing with insurance agents is rarely easy. Hiring an attorney will make this initial phase of your recovery much more manageable. Your attorney can draft your demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier and deal with claim adjusters on your behalf. If insurance is not enough to cover your losses, your Costa Mesa truck accident attorney can then assist you in filing a personal injury claim to ensure maximum recovery from your damages.

Find Your Legal Team Now

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of experience representing clients in a wide range of motor vehicle accident claims in Costa Mesa, CA, and surrounding areas. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a truck accident that you believe occurred due to the negligence of a driver or another party, we could help you recover. Our firm strives to provide client-focused, responsive, and comprehensive legal counsel. We will thoroughly review the details of your claim and help you approach your case with greater confidence.

Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule your consultation with our team. Once we have the details of your situation, we can let you know how our firm can assist in your recovery.

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Firm Awards
Accredited Business Bbb Rating A+

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Best Law Firms Orange County 2020

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Reader's Choice 2019 Best Law Firm

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

The Best Lawyers in America

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.

Super Lawyers

Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.

People Love Us On Yelp

Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.

Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for 2015

Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent

Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.

10 Best 2015 Client Satisfaction

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.

American Board of Trial Advocate

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Avvo Rating Top Attorney Personal Injury

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.

Nation's Top One Percent

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!

-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.

They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.

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