Irvine Truck Accident Attorney
Irvine Truck Accident Lawyer
Large commercial trucks are a crucial part of our nation’s economy, from delivering raw product materials for manufacturers to shipping finished products to wholesalers and retailers across the country and around the world. The trucking industry supports nearly 800,000 workers and generates an annual revenue of approximately $650 billion, accounting for 84% of all revenue from commercial transportation.
By necessity, these vehicles are often extremely large, standing about thirteen feet high and weighing upwards of 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo. Their sheer size makes large trucks difficult to maneuver and significantly dangerous to other motorists. In fact, one person is seriously injured or killed every fifteen minutes in a trucking accident in the US, while around 500,000 truck accidents occur every year.
Whether due to driver inattention, inexperience, fatigue, mechanical issues, simple negligence, or a combination thereof, an oversized truck that collides with other vehicles or objects in the roadway is likely to cause devastating injuries to multiple victims. In fact, the potential for catastrophic damage in truck accidents, along with the size and importance of this industry, have led federal, state, and local governments to impose strict regulations for safe operation. Any commercial freight company, delivery van, or other business that employs drivers who travel California’s roadways is required to adhere to regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state regulatory agencies. Unfortunately, there are drivers and companies who fail to meet these regulations, and hundreds of thousands of victims are impacted by this negligence.
Irvine Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You Obtain Compensation
If you were seriously injured in a collision involving a tractor-trailer, tanker truck, flatbed truck, tow truck, delivery truck, moving truck, or any other heavy truck used in commercial operations, you are entitled to pursue legal action against the responsible parties to recover compensation for your injuries. However, because there are often multiple defendants in a truck accident case, liability is a tricky issue, and it can be difficult to determine which party or parties are at fault for the accident. The only way to ensure you can identify all the liable parties, prove negligence, and receive fair compensation is by hiring legal representation from an Irvine truck accident lawyer. Learn more about truck accidents below, then contact the Easton Law Group today.
Why Do I Need an Attorney for My Truck Accident Case?
Compared to typical passenger car accidents, truck accidents in Orange County are far more likely to result in serious injuries, high medical bills, expensive vehicle repair and replacement costs, and fatalities. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles require specialized training and experience to ensure safe operation. However, even the most skilled driver can have trouble stopping or turning in poor weather and road conditions. Many variables can come into play that may cause even the most expert drivers to make fatal errors, and the force of impact from a truck collision can be over 2,000% greater than the force of impact from a car collision.
The laws surrounding truck accidents are complex, typically involving multiple defendants. What’s more, dealing with insurance companies is no easy task. Attempting to navigate a claim on your own leaves you vulnerable to making costly mistakes that reduce the efficacy of your claim and affect the potential outcome of your case. An Irvine truck accident attorney has the legal knowledge, resources, and litigation skills necessary to understand the law, explain how it applies to your case, and help you determine the best option for financial recovery. Your attorney can also ensure that you do not make any procedural or administrative errors that could impact your claim or cause your case to be thrown out before ever reaching court.
What Do Injury Lawyers Look for in a Truck Accident in Orange County?
For your personal injury claim to be considered valid, your attorney must determine liability for your injuries and identify which parties are responsible for the accident. This involves the legal doctrine of negligence and requires proving the following four elements:
The defendant owed you a duty of care.
Duty of care refers to the basic legal requirement for all drivers on Irvine roadways to use reasonable care and caution when operating their vehicles to protect themselves and other motorists. Truck drivers are held to an even higher duty of care than the average passenger car driver and are expected to exercise “extreme” caution, particularly while driving in inclement weather. Rather than simply behaving in a manner that would be expected from a reasonable person under similar circumstances, such as avoiding clear hazards, truck drivers must take many practical steps necessary for ensuring the safety of those around them.
Duty of care for truck drivers includes:
- Appropriately controlling the speed, position, and movement of the truck
- Staying alert for other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles in the roadway
- Following all traffic codes, signs, and signals
- Adapting their driving to accommodate poor weather conditions, such as maintaining a lower rate of speed or stopping altogether if it is impossible to ensure safe travel
- Adhering to licensing requirements and other industry regulations
- Monitoring loaded cargo to confirm it is not overloaded or shifting
The defendant breached their duty of care.
Proving a truck driver breached their duty of care involves showing they deliberately demonstrated careless, wrongful, or negligent conduct and knew this conduct could cause a “foreseeable” injury to others. Most instances of truck drivers breaching duty of care consist of:
- Distracted driving, such as talking, eating, adjusting the radio or GPS, or performing any other tasks that take their full attention away from the road
- Driving while fatigued, usually after driving more consecutive hours than allowed by law
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances
- Failure to adhere to traffic laws, signs, and signals
- Failure to follow industry rules and regulations
- Neglecting to regularly inspect and maintain the vehicle and its cargo
- Failing to adjust for poor weather or road conditions
- Other forms of unsafe behavior, including speeding, tailgating, abrupt lane changes, or failure to yield right of way to other motorists.
You sustained specific injuries because of this breach.
After showing that the driver owed a duty of care to the victim and breached this duty, the next component an Irvine truck accident attorney must prove is the connection between the breach of duty and your injuries. This requires proving that you sustained specific injuries as a direct result of this breach, that you would not have experienced these injuries without the driver’s negligence, and that these injuries resulted from the accident and not other causes. To establish causation, your Irvine truck accident attorney will thoroughly examine the details of the truck accident crash and gather evidence that shows the full extent of the injuries you experienced from the crash. Often, evidence takes the form of medical records, police reports, and other documentation associated with the incident and injuries.
You incurred specific damages due to your injuries.
The final component of proving negligence in a truck accident case is showing that you experienced the specific damages you listed in your claim due to the injuries you sustained in the accident. These damages can include economic damages, such as hospital bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages in the form of pain and suffering.
Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident in Irvine, CA?
Proving negligence is a more complicated matter in truck accidents than regular automobile accidents because there are typically multiple defendants involved beyond the driver of the truck. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, any of the following parties may be liable for your injuries along with the truck driver:
- The trucking company or carrier. The trucking company is responsible for the trucks it uses to deliver goods and the drivers it hires to operate these vehicles. A trucking company’s negligence can consist of:
- Inadequate vetting of candidates during the hiring process, such as hiring drivers with records of FMCSA rule infractions in the past
- Failing to provide sufficient training and support for new hires
- Neglecting to perform regular performance reviews or periodic drug tests
- Failing to ensure proper maintenance of the trucks and their parts
- Allowing drivers to violate the FMCSA’s limits on hours of service, which state that drivers should be on the road no more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period
- The cargo shipping and loading company. Some trucking companies serve as contractors that ship cargo for other companies. All parties in this type of arrangement must adhere to federal and state regulations, including the owner of the cargo and anyone responsible for shipping, loading, and transporting the cargo.
- Other vendors who provide service to the trucking company. Large trucking companies may hire other vendors for outsourced work, such as administrative workers to recruit drivers and perform background checks, or workers who maintain, repair, and dispatch trucks in the fleet.
- The manufacturer of the truck and its parts. While research shows that driver error is the leading contributing factor of truck accidents, accidents can also be caused by faulty or defective components. Common causes of mechanical failure consist of brake failure, tire blowouts, transmission failure, broken headlights, broken windshield wipers, and issues with steering systems or coupling. Sometimes, failure is the result of improper maintenance. However, in cases where the part or system was already defective when it was installed, you may be able to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer and distributor of the parts.
- Government agencies and contractors – When roadway hazards like broken pavement or crumbling shoulders contribute to truck accidents, the local or state government agencies responsible for that section of highway can be liable for the accident. These agencies often hire maintenance contractors to prevent such issues. If so, these contractors can also be held liable if their work caused a hazard or if they failed to set up proper cautionary measures for work zones and contributed to the crash.
What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
An truck accident attorney can be incredibly valuable for your claim by:
- Investigating the accident to gather evidence in support of your claim, such as reviewing photo or video footage, analyzing driver logs, and securing witness statements
- Examining trucking regulations to determine if the carrier was also at fault
- Identifying all liable parties and proving negligence
- Establishing the full extent of your injuries
- Calculating damages that you incurred due to these injuries
- Filing forms on your behalf completely, accurately, and on time
- Negotiating with insurance providers who cover the truck, the driver, or the carrier
- Litigating your case if these providers fail to offer a fair compensation award
Is It Worth Hiring a Lawyer for Truck Accident Injuries?
While it may be possible to represent yourself in a car accident claim, this approach is not recommended. The defendant’s insurance providers offer multi-million-dollar policies and employ in-house teams of expert attorneys to defend their interests. These providers and their attorneys are notorious for taking advantage of clients without legal experience and engaging in manipulative tactics to refute claims, minimize damages, or offer inadequate settlement awards. The only way to protect your rights and avoid losing your case on a simple technicality or being pressured into accepting less money than you deserve is by hiring an truck accident attorney in Irvine to advocate for you. Having an attorney on your side means the defendant’s insurance provider is more likely to offer a fair settlement and do so in a timely manner.
Get Help From Irvine Truck Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you are likely facing medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and significant pain and suffering. Securing legal representation is essential to ensure you can recover compensation for your injuries. You need a truck accident law firm with the legal knowledge and skills to beat large insurance companies and obtain the best results in your case. The Irvine truck accident attorneys at Easton Law Group have over 100 years of combined experience representing clients injured in truck accidents.
Contact the Easton Law Group today to put our experience to work for you. Widely regarded as one of the premier law firms in Southern California, we are dedicated to aggressively advocating for our clients and helping them achieve the optimal outcome in their cases. With our help, you and your family can focus on healing and recovery while we fight to get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.
The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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…
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…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!