If you’ve been injured or lost a family member in a truck accident, determining the cause of the crash and who’s responsible will likely require an extensive investigation. Motor carriers and their insurance companies have the resources to challenge any claim that comes their way, so you’ll need strong evidence and a tactful strategy to prevail. Our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys can level the playing field and help you fight for the highest settlement possible. We’ve won more than $300,000,000 for clients throughout California, and some of our most substantial victories were in truck accident cases. One of our lawyers can come to you if you cannot come to us. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to set up a free initial consultation.

Types of Claims Our Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers Handle

Although there are countless factors that contribute to 18-wheeler wrecks, nearly all of these collisions involve some form of negligence. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the experience to tailor our legal strategies to the specific facts of your particular claim. We know what it takes to win substantial settlements and verdicts in truck accident cases involving:

• Spilled Cargo
• Overloaded or Imbalanced Loads
• Truck Rollovers
• Tire Blowouts
• Fatigue
• Failure to Check Blind Spots
• Wrongful Death
• Other Accident Scenarios

We Can Help You Gather All Available Evidence of Negligence

Even if you played no role in causing the accident, there are all sorts of reasons why the insurance company might dispute your claim. For example, the insurance adjuster might say that your injuries are less severe than you’re claiming or that you’ve failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate your damages. At the end of the day, strong evidence is the key to avoiding and overcoming these disputes. Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers will hit the ground running by launching an immediate investigation. It’s not uncommon for valuable evidence to be altered or otherwise to become unavailable over time. The moment you decide to hire our law firm (we accept cases on a contingency fee basis), our team will get to work and start building your claim. Below are a few kinds of evidence we might use to strengthen your case:

• The Police Report: This document should contain details about when and where the accident happened, the apparent cause, and perhaps the officer’s opinions regarding liability. Insurance companies tend to give a lot of credence to police reports, so these documents often play a critical role in determining whether a truck accident claim is approved or denied.
• Black Box Data: Most commercial trucks have event data recorders (EDRs) that monitor vehicle speed, acceleration, brake usage, and other variables. Depending on the cause of the accident, this data might help your attorney prove negligence. For instance, if other evidence indicates that the truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel, your attorney might review the black box data to find out whether the brakes were applied just before impact.
• Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Records: Equipment failure is a common cause of truck accidents in California. Brake malfunctions and tire blowouts may both be attributed to negligent vehicle maintenance or inspection. There are several parties who might be liable for such accidents including the truck driver, the truck driver’s employer, the party that owned the truck, or a contractor who was hired to maintain the vehicle.
• Electronic Data Logs (EDL): The truck driver’s EDL might show an Hours of Service violation, meaning that the driver violated federal regulations by spending too many hours behind the wheel within a specific time-frame.
• Bills of Lading: These documents provide details about the type and amount of goods being shipped. The bills of landing may show a violation regarding how the cargo was loaded. And if the driver violated the Hours of Service regulations, the timestamp on this document might serve as evidence of negligence.
• Dash-cam Footage: More trucking companies install dash-cams on their fleet. Our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys can find out if there was a dash-cam on the truck or another vehicle at the scene and try to access its footage.
• Photos: If there’s a dispute regarding liability, we may bring in an accident reconstruction expert to help us discern the cause of the crash. Photographs of the scene can help us piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
• Other Evidence: There are many other kinds of evidence that might contribute to your claim. GPS data, chemical test results, eyewitness testimony, and cell phone records may all play a role in your case. Our lawyers will make sure your claim is as strong as possible before entering settlement negotiations by compiling all available evidence of negligence, causation, and damages.

Contact Us Today to Speak with a Truck Accident Attorney in Los Angeles

Our phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For a free consultation, dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS. You can also reach us online using our contact form.