All auto accidents are severe and can potentially result in serious injuries and damage to property. However, truck accidents are typically more severe due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Therefore, there will be significant differences between personal injury cases involving truck and car accidents. For example, damages will vary depending on whether a person was hurt in a vehicle or truck accident. Commercial trucks and cars have distinct insurance requirements. Engaging with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney is beneficial if you are involved in a vehicle or truck accident in Los Angeles. Your lawyer will stand by your side until you obtain the compensation you are due for your damages. Let us see how these auto accidents differ.

Truck Accidents Register More Injuries and Significant Property Damage

The type, extent, and cost of the property damage sustained in an auto collision indicate its severity. Serious accidents generate more injuries and property damage than minor accidents, which cause fewer injuries and damage. Because they result in more injuries and property damage than car accidents, truck accidents are seen as being more severe.

A car is smaller and lighter compared to a truck. The degree of injuries and property damage caused by a collision between two cars depends on the impact. When a truck strikes a car, there will probably be more significant harm and injuries. Therefore, car accidents result in fewer injuries and property damage compared to their larger and heavier counterparts.

Commercial trucks are larger, making them challenging to control in an accident. Truck drivers cannot react quickly when they come across hazards on the road. It is challenging to control a large commercial vehicle. Significant damage is, therefore, unavoidable in a truck accident. Additionally, stopping a commercial vehicle requires more time. Truck drivers are unable to make quick stops to escape dangerous circumstances. That explains why larger, heavier commercial vehicles are involved in collisions more frequently than smaller ones.

You must keep track of all your damages following an auto accident to include them in your claim for compensation. Fewer damages are reported by individuals hurt in car accidents than those hurt in truck accidents. Some truck accident cases have more claimants compared to vehicle accident cases. It is advised to navigate the legal process with the aid of an experienced personal injury lawyer. While putting together and submitting your compensation claim against the at-fault party, your attorney will ensure you do not forget anything.

Commercial Trucks Have More Insurance Requirements than Ordinary Vehicles

All automobiles must have insurance coverage. In an accident, they guarantee that the injured will receive fair compensation. In California, driving a car without insurance is against the law. However, insurance needs vary depending on the type of vehicle. For example, commercial vehicles have more insurance requirements than regular cars. This is because big commercial vehicles present more risks on the road than regular cars.

Commercial trucks are big and weighty. They are difficult to control while driving because they also have huge loads. As a result, they are much more likely to be in an accident than regular automobiles. A collision involving a commercial vehicle has a significant influence as well. Therefore, more considerable insurance coverage is required to ensure that the insurance company will pay for any damage caused in the accident.

There is a minimum amount of coverage that truck owners must buy for their vehicles. Insurance companies consider several additional considerations when determining the minimum amount, including the type of cargo the commercial vehicle transports and how well the vehicle is maintained. Commercial trucks that carry pricey cargo will have to pay a higher insurance premium. Not adequately maintained commercial trucks are more likely to cause accidents, requiring excellent insurance coverage.

The insurance requirement for a truck could range from several hundred thousand to one million dollars, depending on its size and weight. In California, most commercial vehicles are covered by a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy. You will be fully compensated for your losses if a truck accident occurs. But before the judge awards you all of your damages, you must present a strong case in a civil court. To a large extent, receiving the compensation you are entitled to requires the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The Truck Industry is Highly Regulated

Today, most individuals have access to cars and can go whenever and wherever they like. However, there are not many business trucks driving on our roadways. It is because operating a commercial vehicle is subject to stringent regulatory rules. Trucking businesses and drivers must comply with strict federal and state laws to operate on public roadways.

Among the rules that trucking firms and drivers must abide by are the following:

  • While on the road, drivers are required to abide by all traffic signs and speed regulations
  • Drivers are required to adhere to stringent operating hours
  • All truck drivers are subject to stringent rest requirements
  • Trucking businesses are subject to stringent hiring procedures
  • Trucking companies and truck drivers are required to keep logbooks regularly

For example, trucks can only travel at a certain pace on the road because of their weight and size. Commercial vehicles are permitted to go at a higher pace than regular cars. A catastrophic accident could happen if you exceed that speed limit.

Truck drivers also need training and experience to drive a commercial vehicle properly. When hiring, trucking businesses must take into account these qualifications and experience. If a regular motorist without a commercial driver's license is permitted to operate one, they run the risk of causing a severe collision.

Cases involving truck accidents are complicated by stringent restrictions governing the operation of commercial vehicles. For example, they could make it more challenging to identify the accident's cause and the responsible party.

Therefore, you need legal assistance if you were hurt in a truck accident. You can successfully construct a claim for the compensation you are entitled to with the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney who is more familiar with these laws.

Truck Accident Cases Involve Several Possible Liable Parties

Lawsuits involving personal injuries must address liability. Bringing a compensation claim before a civil court is impossible without a guilty party. A judge in a civil case will want to establish who was at fault and how their negligence led to your injuries. Car collisions are less complicated. As a result, it is simple to pinpoint a responsible party against whom you can bring a lawsuit for compensation. But truck accidents can be somewhat complicated. They have multiple potentially liable parties, which must be considered and mentioned in your compensation request.

In most auto accidents, one or more parties can be at fault. The driver is typically at fault. Both parties would be liable for the damages if the victim contributed to the accident somehow. However, determining fault in a truck collision is not an easy task. A truck accident can occur for several reasons, including overloading, inexperienced driving, intoxicated driving, poor road conditions, and poorly maintained vehicles. Usually, there are several parties involved in a truck collision besides the driver. There can be multiple parties involved, including the following:

  • The trucking company
  • The truck driver
  • The driver's employer
  • Truck manufacturer
  • The company responsible for truck maintenance
  • The cargo handler or loader
  • Cargo owner
  • The government agency responsible for road maintenance

You must show negligence in your compensation claim to obtain the compensation you are due after an auto accident. They are called negligent if a party owes you a duty of care yet breaks that responsibility to cause you harm and financial loss. In a personal injury lawsuit with more than one responsible party, it can be challenging to establish the precise liability party and how they are accountable for your injuries. Your attorney must thoroughly investigate the accident to identify the real at-fault party.

Truck Accidents Occur Due to Several Factors

A variety of reasons can cause truck accidents. Thus, the real cause needs to be thoroughly investigated. In California, these are some of the most common reasons for truck accidents in the state:

  • Speeding
  • Driver drowsiness
  • Reckless driving
  • Mechanical problems, like brake failure
  • Unwieldy freight
  • Severe weather and road conditions
  • Poor hiring practices for drivers
  • Unreliable driver
  • Trucks in poor condition

You could have sustained injuries in the accident due to one or more of these causes. To demonstrate liability and submit a successful compensation claim against the at-fault person, you must first determine the cause of the accident.

For example, if negligent driving caused the collision in which you suffered damage, then both the employer and the driver are accountable for your injuries. Before driving a truck on public highways, commercial drivers must adhere to stringent federal and state regulations.

For example, they are required to complete training and obtain a license that will allow them to drive commercial vehicles. Additionally, trucking businesses must guarantee that all state and federal criteria are met by the drivers they hire. As a result, both parties are liable for any harm that results.

The truck manufacturer, the organization in charge of the truck's maintenance, and the trucking firm could all be held accountable if a mechanical breakdown was the reason for the accident. Some trucking businesses fail to keep their trucks in proper working condition as required by law. They could be at fault for the incident and the harm it causes.

However, pinpointing the precise reason for a truck collision is challenging. You need an accident expert to examine the accident and provide a report you can use in court to bolster your claims. An experienced personal injury lawyer can recommend the best candidate for the position. Additionally, your attorney will carry out a separate investigation into the incident to identify any additional potential causes and responsible parties. It would help if you had a strong case against the responsible parties.

Victims of Truck Accidents Require More Compensation

Car accidents are less deadly than truck accidents. They leave a path of devastation in their wake when they take place. More people suffer more severe and catastrophic injuries, and more property is damaged. Consequently, more considerable financial compensation is required following a truck collision.

The amount a truck accident victim seeks depends on the specifics of their case. What you lose due to the accident is covered by compensation in personal injury claims. If you suffer serious bodily injuries, you will need more cash to pay for your medical needs. Severe and catastrophic wounds require more time and money to recover. Some victims do not fully recover, so they must rely on compensation to cover their daily expenses.

Traumatic injuries alter people's lives. They affect a victim's capacity to live their everyday life after an injury. Some individuals experience physical and mental problems after a severe accident. To lead a life reminiscent of the one they had before the injury, they will need extensive rehabilitation.

Additionally, the victim will need reimbursement for missed wages. After a truck collision, recovery takes longer. It implies that you will miss multiple opportunities to make a living because you will not be working during the recovery phase. To cover your daily expenses, you must receive compensation for lost wages.

A great deal of pain, suffering, and mental agony is involved in severe auto accidents. These non-monetary damages should be covered by insurance for truck accident victims. You could be entitled to compensation depending on how bad the accident was. Loss of earning potential and loss of enjoyment in life are additional non-monetary damages that you must include in your claim.

Most truck accidents result in fatalities, necessitating the payment of damages for wrongful death. A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the immediate relatives of an accident victim to recover damages against the party at fault. Although the funds will not replace their loved one, they can use them to cover some of their other financial obligations, like burial and funeral costs.

After a truck accident, you need adequate legal assistance to ensure that you include all of your damages in your claim.

You Need Enough Information to Make a Claim Following a Truck Accident

Typically, you need more information to launch a truck accident claim than you do for a car accident lawsuit. Truck accident cases are less complicated than car accident lawsuits. It takes less time to examine an accident's cause and the at-fault party. However, further details are required to determine the cause of a vehicle collision.

For example, you must know why and how fast they were driving to prove that a truck driver was speeding when they caused the crash. You should also be aware of the speed restrictions for commercial vehicles and what happens when a truck driver goes over the limit. You must persuade the jury that the accident would not have happened if the driver had been moving at the required speed.

If reckless driving contributed to the accident, you would be required to provide evidence to back up your claim. It would help if you determined the cause of the driver's irresponsible driving. If they were fatigued, you need details on the driver's work schedule before the accident. Such information would require excellent talent and legal knowledge to obtain. For example, you need a court order to collect a driver's work schedule directly from their employer.

You would need details about the technical problem if a truck developed it to prove guilt. Truck accidents typically involve additional investigation, which can entail time and money before you can make a successful claim against the responsible party.

It is Challenging To Work With Insurance Companies After a Truck Accident

Compared to regular automobiles, commercial vehicles have more expensive insurance coverage. Thus, when a truck accident occurs, insurance firms must make more payments. Insurance companies will use any means necessary to avoid paying the entire amount or anything because they are in the business of making money. The corporation could even hire the top insurance adjuster to contest your claim.

You will probably encounter countless obstacles when requesting compensation following a truck accident. When working alone, a cunning adjuster can employ strategies to avoid paying or provide you with less compensation than you are due. When working with an insurance provider, you must exercise extreme caution. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will know these methods and how to prevent them in protecting your interests. Your lawyer will advise you on the best course of action if the insurer provides less compensation.

Find an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

Knowing what to do to obtain compensation for your damages if you or a loved one suffers injuries in an auto accident is helpful. Personal injury situations involving cars and trucks are significantly dissimilar. Therefore, if you were hurt in a truck accident, you should seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer with experience with similar situations. At Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney, our team has handled numerous instances involving vehicle and truck accidents. We possess the expertise and knowledge required to bring a successful legal action against the responsible party. Call us at 424-231-2013 for more details, help, and legal counsel.