Santa Ana Truck Accident Attorney

Santa Ana Truck Accident Lawyer

Santa Ana truck accident attorney

Commercial trucks are crucial elements of the California economy, transporting millions of dollars worth of goods across the state every day. While these large vehicles are essential for economic reasons, they are also inherently dangerous for multiple reasons. They spend more time on the road than most other vehicles and have much more demanding maintenance requirements. Truck drivers have demanding schedules and are often compelled to complete their routes as quickly and efficiently as possible, leading to many potential errors resulting in accidents. Commercial tractor-trailers are also exponentially larger and heavier than most standard passenger vehicles, so the physics in play in a truck accident are typically much more severe than the forces at work in a standard passenger vehicle accident.

Representing Victims of Truck Accidents in Santa Ana, CA

If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in a truck accident in the Santa Ana, CA, area, you could face a challenging road to recovery. Not only have you likely sustained significant damages but determining liability for some truck accidents is very difficult, and more than one party likely bears responsibility for your damages. The best way to approach this type of difficult legal situation is with representation you can trust.

What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?

Hiring an experienced Santa Ana truck accident lawyer can help you navigate your claim with greater confidence. After a typical car accident in California, an injured driver would likely file an insurance claim against the driver responsible for causing the crash and then take further legal action if they required compensation beyond what insurance could provide. This is not precisely the case with truck accidents, as liability often falls to more than one party. In addition, the damages possible from a truck accident are likely to be far more extensive than the damages that might occur from a standard passenger vehicle accident.

Your Santa Ana truck accident attorney can perform several valuable legal services that strengthen your case and increase the likelihood of you maximizing your recovery to the fullest extent possible under California state law. First, they can assist you in gathering the evidence and testimony you will require for establishing fault for your truck accident. Your legal team can also thoroughly explore every channel of compensation that’s available in your claim, helping to ensure you make the fullest recovery possible from your damages. Additionally, many truck accident claims involve complex details that may require input from various experts. An experienced Santa Ana truck accident lawyer will have the professional contacts necessary to secure expert witness testimony when you need it to prove liability or establish the full scope of your damages.

Easton & Easton offers Santa Ana, CA, clients more than 70 combined years of experience handling a vast breadth of personal injury claims in the area. We take time to get to know every client we represent to ensure we provide carefully individualized legal counsel. We know every client has different needs and concerns and do everything we can to address these issues succinctly through every phase of a truck accident case.

Who Is Responsible for an Accident with a Commercial Truck?

If you intend to take legal action for your recent truck accident, the first step in securing the compensation you require is establishing fault for the accident. This means identifying the party or parties responsible for causing the accident and proving they failed to exercise reasonable care in some way that directly resulted in the accident. However, one of the issues that often make truck accident claims very complex is the legal concept of “vicarious liability,” which pertains to situations in which one party bears liability for the actions of another.

Vicarious liability most often comes into play regarding employer-employee relationships. For example, in truck accident claims, this means a truck driver could absorb liability if they cause an accident, but their employer could face vicarious liability depending on exactly how the accident occurred. For example, if a truck driver were driving their truck under the influence of alcohol, this would be illegal and violate their employer’s expectations for how the driver should perform their job duties. However, suppose the employer never conducted appropriate background checks on the driver to reveal their history of drunk driving. In that case, the employer is likely to face vicarious liability for the intoxicated driver’s accident.

It’s also possible for third parties to cause truck accidents. For example, suppose a distracted or otherwise dangerous driver in a standard passenger vehicle causes a nearby tractor-trailer to wreck. In that case, other drivers could be caught in the collision and suffer extreme damages. This is yet another variable that can easily complicate recovery from truck accident damages and another reason it is crucial to have legal counsel as you work toward your recovery from a truck accident.

How Do Truck Accident Claims Work in Santa Ana, CA?

A truck accident claim falls within the purview of personal injury law. Typically, the first step toward recovery from any vehicle accident is to file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. This same rule technically applies to truck accident claims, but instead of filing a claim against a private driver’s auto insurance policy, you would likely be filing a claim against a trucking company’s insurance carrier. Once the trucking company becomes aware of the accident, they will likely start working closely with their insurance carrier to minimize liability as much as possible in the hope of coercing the victim into accepting the lowest possible claim settlement.

If you cannot secure total compensation for your truck accident damages from an insurance claim, you must file a civil claim against the at-fault party. This requires proving how the accident happened and establishing liability for your damages, and then providing a complete and accurate accounting of all the damages you incurred from the accident. Depending on how your truck accident happened,more than one party can bear fault for it. Your Santa Ana truck accident attorney will assist you in identifying the defendants responsible for your damages and guide you through the process of filing your truck accident claim.

The vast majority of civil claims filed in the US are settled outside the courtroom. Swift settlement typically offers the best path to recovery for an injured victim. It allows the defendant to put the situation behind them more quickly, potentially sparing themselves from public exposure over the accident. You can rely on Easton & Easton to guide you through settlement negotiations with the defendant or defendants responsible for causing your truck accident. If a settlement is not possible, we are not afraid to take your case to trial if necessary to ensure your recovery.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California

Suppose you can successfully prove the defendant in your truck accident claim was negligent in some way that directly caused your claimed damages. In that case, you are likely to succeed with the claim and obtain the compensation you need to recover with peace of mind. The core of every personal injury claim filed in California is “negligence,” or a failure to exercise reasonable care in a given situation. Your attorney can help you determine precisely how your truck accident occurred and whether it could have been avoided with appropriate care from the defendant. Truck accidents can happen for many different reasons, including:

  • Distracted driving. The most commonly cited cause of all traffic accidents in the US is distracted driving. Both truck drivers and third-party individual drivers are capable of causing devastating truck accidents when they are not paying close attention to the road.
  • Driving under the influence (DUI). Any driver is capable of causing a catastrophic accident when they operate their vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The driver responsible will face criminal charges in addition to civil liability for victims’ damages.
  • Truck driver errors. When truck drivers fail to operate their vehicles responsibly or make negligent errors in handling their trucks, they can easily cause serious accidents. As a result, drivers may absorb full liability for some accidents and share liability with their employers in others.
  • Faulty maintenance. Commercial trucks have demanding maintenance needs. Failure to conduct maintenance appropriately on a large truck can easily have devastating consequences. In addition, the party responsible for the truck’s maintenance will absorb liability if this type of accident occurs.
  • Improperly loaded cargo. If a trucking company or distributor fails to properly load a truck or overloads a trailer, the vehicle becomes imbalanced and vulnerable to tip-over and rollover accidents.

These are only a few examples of the ways truck accidents can occur. Therefore, whenever a truck accident happens, injured victims need to secure legal counsel as soon as possible for the best chance of securing compensation for their losses. Whether the truck driver, their employer, or a combination of defendants bears liability for your recent truck accident, working with the right Santa Ana personal injury lawyer is the best way to ensure your recovery.

truck accident attorney santa ana ca

Compensation for Truck Accident Damages

Truck accidents can easily cause a wide range of life-threatening injuries, including:

  • Broken bones, some of which may heal entirely within a few months, while others can require multiple surgeries and result in lasting medical complications and chronic pain for the victim.
  • Spinal cord injuries, many of which result in permanent mobility problems for the victim. They may lose sensation in parts of their body or even suffer from paralysis.
  • Traumatic brain injuries, which are unpredictable and capable of resulting in permanent disabilities.
  • Burns, which may require painful skin grafting treatment and result in permanent disfigurement.
  • Severe cuts can result in critical bleeding.

In a truck accident lawsuit in California, the plaintiff has the right to claim all medical expenses they incurred from their accident as economic damages. This includes immediate medical expenses like their ambulance fee, hospital bills, and prescription costs. However, California law also allows a plaintiff to recover their anticipated future medical expenses when their injuries are likely to require ongoing treatment and extensive rehabilitation.

Plaintiffs can also secure compensation for their lost income when a truck accident causes injuries that prevent them from working. They may obtain compensation for lost wages during their recovery period but may also claim lost future earning capacity if they have a permanent disability from the accident that prohibits them from returning to work.

Pain and suffering are also likely to come into play in a Santa Ana truck accident claim. California law allows a plaintiff to hold a defendant accountable for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life they suffered due to the defendant’s negligence. The amount the plaintiff receives in pain and suffering compensation depends on the severity of their injuries and whether they are likely to experience permanent complications. For example, a plaintiff who suffered injuries that are likely to heal completely with appropriate care will receive much less pain and suffering compensation than a plaintiff who developed a permanent disability from their truck accident injuries.

What to Expect From Your Santa Ana Truck Accident Attorney

Easton & Easton can provide the compassionate and meticulous legal representation you need when faced with a complex civil case like a truck accident claim. These cases are very different than injury claims pertaining to typical passenger vehicles. Plaintiffs are likely to have vastly more substantial damages on the line, and determining fault for a truck accident is very different than the process of determining liability in a typical car accident.

When you choose Easton & Easton as your Santa Ana truck accident attorneys, we will rigorously review every detail of your recent truck accident, carefully analyzing all available evidence and securing copies of the police report from the accident and your medical report from your medical care team to help form the foundation of your case. In addition, suppose you need to file an insurance claim as a preliminary step toward recovery. In that case, you can rely on us to draft your demand letter to the insurance company and correspond with the insurer on your behalf. Finally, when further legal action is necessary for ensuring your recovery, we will guide you through every stage of your proceedings until we obtain the compensation you deserve for your damages.

We are ready to assist you if you are ready to determine your best options for legal recourse after experiencing a truck accident in Santa Ana, CA. Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a consultation with an experienced and trustworthy Santa Ana truck accident lawyer.

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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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