Truck accident victims face an uphill battle trying to recover from catastrophic injuries, mental health challenges, and financial losses that threaten to cause them to lose their homes. As a Fresno truck accident lawyer, we have years of experience helping accident victims secure the compensation they deserve.
Founded in 2011, The Ryan Law Group has a reputation for strong trial lawyers that get results. Our Fresno personal injury lawyer provides injury victims with the answers and solutions they need to file a successful claim. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help.
Determining Fault in Your Truck Accident
At The Ryan Law Group, we use the evidence from the accident to determine who is at fault. You may believe you know that the truck driver is responsible, but in many situations, additional parties may also be responsible.
Consider the following as they apply to your truck accident.
- Truck drivers: Typically hold responsibility for reckless driving, intoxication, and distraction
- Truck companies: May be responsible if federal or state laws on driver, vehicle, or certification regulations are not met, or they knew a driver was a risk and still put them on the roadways
- Truck manufacturing companies: If numerous people have suffered serious injuries due to the same defect or breakdown, it could be related to a manufacturing defect
- Truck loading companies: Cargo loaders could be at risk if drivers lose control of the vehicle due to cargo shifting or cargo loss.
- Maintenance crews: Maintenance crews that fail to ensure safety when reassembling or repairing vehicles could be held responsible.
Understanding the underlying cause of truck accidents enables you to file a claim against all parties that hold that responsibility. This may increase your ability to recover all of your losses because there is more liability protection for you.
You can expect our Fresno car accident lawyer to work tirelessly to build your case to demonstrate fault.
For a Free Legal Consultation With a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Fresno, Call 310-321-4800
Reasons Truck Accidents Happen in Fresno
Fresno is a large community, and trucks navigate Route 180, Highway 99, and the Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway on a frequent basis.
The presence of trucks makes it harder to navigate roadways, but many of the most common causes of accidents, like those listed below, are preventable.
Some of the most common reasons nearly 5,300 people suffered injuries in truck-related crashes in 2023, according to Annual Crash Data on California State Highways include:
- Fatigue: Drivers on the road for hours suffer fatigue. This contributes to a large number of accidents each year because a driver is unable to react fast enough to changing road conditions.
- Intoxication: While there are some truck drivers who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the use of some prescription medications can also alter perception or create fatigue that contributes to accidents.
- Mechanical failures: Trucks are on the road for many more miles than other vehicles, taxing mechanical systems. Routine inspections of brakes, engines, transmissions, and suspension systems are crucial to maintaining stability on the road.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Cargo shifts can create an off-balance vehicle, increasing the risk of accidents if the truck becomes impossible to control.
- Road conditions: Poor road conditions, including weather conditions, can put drivers and others at risk.
We will work to better understand what caused your accident by investigating all aspects of your case, including police reports, witness statements, and debris patterns.
We can also obtain additional evidence that you may not have access to, such as commercial vehicle logs and driver medical records. Our legal team at The Ryan Law Group includes accident reconstruction professionals who may contribute to understanding the cause of your accident.
Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 310-321-4800
What to Do After a Truck Accident and Why it Matters
The following are some of the most important steps you can take after a truck accident to protect your right to compensation. By following this process, you minimize the risk that you will be held accountable for the accident and demonstrate more accurately what your losses are.
When it is safe, follow these steps:
- Call 911 and move yourself out of the way of further harm.
- Check on others at the scene and offer help if it is safe to do so.
- Follow the dispatcher’s directions until medical and law enforcement help arrives.
- Obtain the identification of the other driver and witnesses, including their name, contact information, and insurance information.
- Take photos of the accident damage and the surrounding area, including conditions of the roadways and positioning of debris.
- Get medical care. Even if you are feeling okay, document your injuries by going to the hospital right after your accident.
- Follow all recommendations for your recovery, including taking time off work, resting, and caring for your injuries.
- Contact your attorney for immediate help and guidance. Hire an attorney early on to protect your rights.
Avoid speaking to the insurance company after your accident to do more than just report the incident to them. Instead, enable your truck accident attorney in Fresno to work on building your case and claim thoroughly before approaching the insurance provider. Doing this could protect your rights.
Avoid Common Mistakes That Could Cost You Your Case
After a truck accident, you may wish to post to social media to get your friends and family to support you or update you on your condition, but doing so could jeopardize your case, especially if the insurance company uses that information against you.
You also need to document your losses and keep a careful record of what types of care you received, the costs, and the recommendations for future therapy provided to you.
Over time, your truck accident lawyer in Fresno may also request that you avoid speaking to the insurance company in any way so that they can handle the negotiation process more effectively on your behalf, as evidenced by our personal injury lawyer testimonials.
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Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer Today
At The Ryan Law Group, our decades of experience serving the Fresno area allows us to provide you with fair and comprehensive legal insight into your rights after a truck accident occurs.
Set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case with our Fresno truck accident attorney today and learn what your rights are. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing
Call or Text 310-321-4800, or Complete a Free Case Evaluation Form