Tustin Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial trucks are a crucial element of California’s economy, transporting vital goods and materials across the state and throughout the country every day. Most drivers in the Tustin area are used to seeing large trucks, and most drivers find their way to their destinations without issue. However, truck accidents can happen unexpectedly, and these are some of the most damaging vehicle accidents anyone can experience.

The aftermath of a truck accident in Tustin is not only challenging to confront due to the severity of the damage these incidents often cause but also the difficulty of proving liability. Therefore, the average person struggling with injuries and economic losses from a truck accident will need experienced legal representation to navigate this difficult case efficiently and reach an acceptable result. The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of experience representing personal injury claims in Tustin, including those pertaining to commercial truck accidents. As a result, we can provide the responsive legal guidance you need to recover from this type of incident with confidence.

California upholds a fault-based system for resolving vehicle accident claims and settling the resulting damages from these incidents. This means that whatever party directly caused the accident in question is liable for all of the resulting damage. In most vehicle accident cases, proving fault is a relatively straightforward process that involves physical evidence, eyewitness accounts of the accident, and sometimes professional insights from expert witnesses. However, in truck accidents, proving liability for these incidents is made more complex by the legal concept of “vicarious liability,” which applies whenever one party bears liability for the actions of another party.

Trucking companies and businesses that employ commercial truck drivers have many legal responsibilities for handling their drivers. For example, they must perform extensive background checks to verify that their drivers do not pose extraordinary hazards to others on the road. They must also verify drivers’ commercial driving records, training, and other credentials to ensure they meet the requirements of their job duties. Trucking companies must also abide by the regulations enforced for the commercial trucking sector. Any failure to meet these obligations could contribute to a serious trucking accident.

Your Tustin truck accident attorney can assist you in determining the exact cause of your recent accident and help you identify the parties responsible for causing it. It’s possible for a truck driver to face sole liability for your damages if they caused the accident through a failure to use appropriate professional care in handling their job duties, but it is also possible for their employer to face liability. Therefore, when you choose Easton & Easton to represent you, we will extend the full scope of our professional resources in helping you accurately identify the appropriate targets of your civil claim.

Any commercial truck accident in Tustin, CA can easily result in devastating losses for those involved. Under California law, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, but their insurance may not offer sufficient coverage to compensate the full scope of losses you experienced. Insurance companies also tend to look for any reasons they can find to deny claims or justify the lowest settlement offers possible. However, having an experienced Tustin truck accident attorney handling your case dramatically reduces the chance of encountering any bad faith handling of your auto insurance claim.

Once you have exhausted your recovery options through the defendant’s insurance coverage, the next step in securing the compensation you need is filing a personal injury case against the driver who caused your injuries. State law allows you to seek compensation for all of the economic losses the defendant caused. This applies to immediately noticeable losses like the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, the cost of the medical care you required for your injuries, and any lost income you suffered from the time you were unable to work.

The average person may be able to calculate these immediate damages, but they are likely to struggle when proving the full scope of their long-term damages. Along with your medical bills, you can also claim compensation for the cost of any necessary ongoing treatment you must undergo to reach maximum medical improvement. Beyond your immediate lost wages during your initial recovery period, you would also have the right to claim compensation for lost future earning potential if you cannot return to your job due to the severity of your injuries.

State law also allows the plaintiff in a personal injury case to seek pain and suffering compensation, and there is no limit on this aspect of your recovery in a truck accident case. Your Tustin truck accident attorney will help you reach an appropriate figure by assessing the scope and severity of any long-term or permanent harm you have suffered. If your truck accident resulted in permanent disability, this could form the bulk of your total case award.

One important detail to bear in mind in your truck accident claim is the state’s pure comparative negligence law. In the event you are found partially liable for causing your truck accident, you will lose a percentage of your case award equal to your percentage of liability for causing the accident. For example, if you are found 25% at fault, you lose 25% of your case award to reflect this, but you would still recover 75% of the total damages sought in your claim. Therefore, if you have any concerns about bearing partial liability for a personal injury, it is essential to have legal representation you can trust to guide you through your case proceedings.

Q: Who Is Responsible for a Commercial Truck Accident in Tustin?

A: One of the most challenging aspects of truck accident cases compared to most other vehicle accident claims is determining liability. When a trucking company or other employer bears fault for the actions of their employee, vicarious liability comes into play, and both parties will share fault for the plaintiff’s damages. Therefore, if you are unsure who exactly is responsible for your recent truck accident, it is crucial that you consult a Tustin truck accident attorney as soon as possible.

Q: Will a Tustin Truck Accident Attorney Help Me Secure a Larger Case Award?

A: Reliable legal counsel on your side is the best asset for maximizing your recovery. The average plaintiff may be able to identify easily recognizable losses like their hospital bills and the cost of repairing their vehicle, but they are likely to struggle to assess the full scope of the future damages their injury entails. Therefore, when you choose Easton & Easton to handle your truck accident case, our goal is to help you secure the most compensation possible in the most efficient manner.

Q: How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Truck Accident Claim?

A: If liability for your recent truck accident is clear and the defendant accepts responsibility for their actions, a swift settlement behooves both parties. Settlement may only take a few weeks if you have the right attorney handling your case. However, litigation will be necessary if a defendant refuses to accept liability, contests the amount of compensation you seek, or asserts comparative fault. Litigation can potentially take several months to more than a year to resolve.

Q: What Does a Tustin Truck Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?

A: If you are concerned about the cost of legal representation when you are already struggling with the economic impact of the defendant’s actions, know that the attorneys at Easton & Easton accept personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront or ongoing legal fees for the duration of your case, and we only take a fee once we win compensation for your claim. In addition, our contingency fee is a predetermined percentage of your case award, so you keep the remainder, and there are no surprises about the cost of our representation.

Q: Is It Worth Filing a Civil Claim for a Trucking Accident?

A: Many people with grounds for legal recourse against the parties who injured them make the mistake of assuming legal counsel would cost more than their claims are worth. With a contingency fee there is no risk to hiring Easton & Easton to represent you, and your legal team is likely to reveal more avenues of recovery than you would have identified on your own. Regardless of what your truck accident case entails, our firm has the resources and skills necessary to meet the greatest legal challenges in your pursuit of fair compensation for your damages.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton provide compassionate and client-focused legal representation for a wide range of civil claims, including complex truck accident cases for Tustin area clients. Whether you have suffered extreme losses and/or face the difficult task of accurately assessing liability for your damages, it is crucial to seek legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after any commercial truck accident. Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a case review with our team, and we will explain the legal services we can offer in this difficult situation.