San Jose Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one were injured in a crash with a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, then the best thing to do is contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in San Jose. Trucking accidents are not the same as car crashes involving only personal vehicles. Truck wrecks typically lead to more serious bodily injuries and property damage. There are also a greater number of things that could have gone wrong and parties who may be liable. Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the aftermath of a truck accident. We will help you get the medical care you need, while also working with your medical providers to put your bills on hold while you pursue a financial recovery. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the trucking accident and determine who is liable for compensating you for your injuries. Then, we will aggressively pursue an insurance claim or court ruling in your favor. Our San Jose truck accident lawyers are highly experienced and have a track record of success. We have helped more than 5,000 clients obtain over $300 million in settlements and verdicts. To talk with us about your situation and how we can help, call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to schedule your free consultation. We are here to take your call 24/7.

Commercial Trucks and Vehicles

You may not be sure of whether you were in a crash with a personal or commercial vehicle, in which case, it is important to speak with an experienced San Jose personal injury lawyer about the difference. Commercial vehicles are those that transport goods or passengers in exchange for compensation. Commercial vehicles include but are not limited to:

• Semi-trucks/18-wheelers
• Truck-trailer combinations
• Flatbeds
• Garbage trucks
• Livestock carriers
• Tankers
• Cement mixers
• Utility vehicles
• Box trucks
• Moving trucks
• Dump trucks
• Hazardous materials (Hazmat) vehicles
• Passenger buses

Typically, commercial vehicles are owned by a business or municipality. However, a truck can also be owned by an individual. For example, a truck driver may own their own cab. An attorney at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can determine whether the other vehicle(s) involved in the crash was a commercial vehicle and who owned it.

How Commercial Vehicles Differ From Personal Vehicles

Commercial vehicles differ from personal cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs in several ways. One of the most important ways is through federal regulations. These vehicles and their owners and operators must comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. These regulations cover a wide range of issues, including the maximum size and weight of trucks, routine inspections, maintenance, driver qualifications, hours of service, and impaired driving standards. If you were injured in a crash, one of our San Jose truck accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate the cause of the crash, as well as the truck driver’s history, hours of service logs, truck inspection and maintenance records, and other business records. We will look for any evidence that the trucking company or truck driver failed to comply with a FMCSA regulation and any evidence that this violation was related to the accident.

Common Causes of Truck Wrecks in San Jose

Truck accidents arise from all types of negligent conduct by a truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or manufacturer. An independent and in-depth investigation by Harris Personal Injury Lawyers will uncover what happened and why. Common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Alcohol or drug impairment
• Distracted driving
• Fatigued/drowsy driving
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Blind spots
• Failure to keep a lookout
• Wide turns
• U-turns
• Truck defects
• Unsecured/improperly secured cargo

Who You Can Sue for Truck Accident Injuries

One of the most common questions our San Jose truck accident lawyers are asked is “Who can I sue for a truck accident?” The answer is that it depends. We need to determine what caused the accident to identify the liable party. In many truck accident cases, the party directly responsible for the crash is the truck driver. When a truck driver’s negligence is to blame, you may have the right to sue the truck driver, their employer, or both. It will depend on whether the truck driver is an independent contractor or classified as an employee. If the crash was caused by a truck defect arising from improper maintenance, the truck driver, trucking company, or a maintenance provider may be to blame. It depends on whether the defect went unnoticed because the truck driver failed to properly inspect the vehicle, or if the trucking company ignored necessary repairs. The defect also may be due to the maintenance provider’s shoddy work. Truck defects also can arise due to a design or manufacturing defect, in which case we may pursue a lawsuit against the manufacturer or retailer. Another possibility is that we will file a lawsuit against the cargo owner or whichever business was responsible for loading the truck. If the business failed to secure the cargo properly and fully and this caused the crash, then we will hold that business liable in court.

Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS today to schedule a free consultation.