Encino Truck Accident Attorney

Are you in need of an Encino truck accident attorney?

When other motorists are involved in accidents with commercial trucks, they may be killed or left facing lifetimes of disability. Truck accidents are among the most devastating of all of the different kinds of accidents that happen in Encino. Because of the serious risks to others, truck companies are heavily regulated. Many accidents still happen despite the safety rules and shatter the victims’ lives. It is important for the victims and their families to get help from Encino truck accident attorneys who have the requisite experience and legal knowledge to handle their claims. Our firm has extensive experience helping the victims of truck accidents in Encino and throughout the surrounding region.

How often do truck accidents happen?

In 2015, 415,000 accidents involving large trucks were reported to law enforcement officers. Of these reported accidents, 3,598 were fatal crashes and 83,000 were injury accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck driver factors accounted for 33 percent of the fatal truck accidents that happened.

What causes truck accidents in Encino?

Truck crashes are caused by driver-related factors, environmental factors, motorist factors and others. Some of the most common causes of accidents involving large trucks include:

• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Driver inattention
• Driver distraction
• Improper lane changes
• Improper or unsafe passing
• Speeding
• Driving too fast for the conditions
• Driving under the influence
• Aggressive driving
• Defective trucks or components
• Improperly secured loads
• Negligent maintenance

What happens when the truck driver is at fault?

When truck drivers cause accidents because of their own negligent actions, their employers are often the parties who will be ultimately responsible for paying the damages. Trucking companies may be liable to pay damages because of a legal principle that is called vicarious liability. Under this principle, the trucking companies are liable for the negligent acts of their employees when they are acting in the normal course of their jobs. Personal injury and wrongful death claims that are filed when the truck drivers are at fault normally name both the drivers and their trucking company employers.

Third parties who also may be at fault

Some truck accidents may be caused by a combination of factors, and several parties may be at fault. Some of the third parties who may share liability in truck accidents include the following:

• Companies who negligently repaired or maintained the trucks
• Brokers and shippers who negligently contracted with trucking companies despite their poor safety records
• Loaders and distributors who improperly loaded the trucks or who improperly secured the cargo
• Manufacturers of defective components or trucks
• Leasing companies who own the trucks and who leased defective trucks to the trucking companies

Determining liability

Determining who is at fault in a truck accident may be complex. There may be multiple parties who share liability. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer understands how to conduct a thorough investigation of a truck accident and may work with a team that includes experts, accident reconstructionists and investigators to help to build a case that clearly shows the liability of every party that is named as a defendant.

Contact our experienced Encino truck accident attorney

It is important for you to get experienced legal help if you have been injured in a truck accident or your loved one has been killed. Contact our Encino truck accident law firm today to learn about your potential claim.

We Help Victims of  Commercial Vehicle Accidents in these Areas