Lake Elsinore Truck Accident Attorney With 26+ Years Experience
Lake Elsinore has the busiest freeway which connects Riverside County to San Bernardino & San Diego Counties. Anyone who’s driven on the 15 fwy through Lake Elsinore in rush hour can tell you that there’s no shortage of commercial trucks traveling through this area. As a consequence, this area has a large number of heavy duty trucks navigating the local freeways and Ortega Highway which connects to San Juan Capistrano. In fact, recently a motorhome collided with a truck on Ortega Highway near the Orange County line. Due to the immense size and weight of a commercial truck, accidents involving big rigs, semi trailers and 18-wheelers can result in significant personal injuries and complex legal claims. When a semi or other large commercial truck has an accident with an average car, those in the smaller vehicle often suffer catastrophic injuries, if they survive.
The Paris Firm is experienced in handling the challenges posed by complex truck accident cases in Lake Elsinore and the greater Southern California area. Attorney Eric Paris has been representing people injured in truck accidents for over two decades. Although Lake Elsinore is about 45 minutes away from The Paris Firm in Chino Hills, our attorneys have handled numerous cases throughout Southern Riverside County and California. Like all law firms, after our initial consultation at our office or your home or hospital, most of our communication can be done via phone and Email – but we never really leave your side.
When a Truck is Involved in an Accident, Who is Liable?
Every truck accident claim is unique and must be studied carefully to determine all possible sources of liability. In order to better answer your question, we ask that you call us now at (909) 551-4040 to discuss your incident. However, responsible parties may include:
- The owner of the truck
- The truck driver
- The owner of the trailer
- The trucking company
- The warehouse that loaded the truck
- The shop that maintained the truck
- The maker of defective tires, brakes, or other parts
- The company that designed the road
- The city that maintained the road
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
Truck accidents can happen for numerous reasons. Causes often include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inexperience
- Distracted driving – texting, mobile phones, in cab televisions, Etc.
- Improper driver training
- Defective tires
- Lack of reflective materials
- Lack of underride guards
- Improperly designed, constructed, or maintained roads
- Lack of roadway hardware, such as guardrails
- Improper signage
- Speeding, failure to yield, tailgating
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Violation of hours of service regulations
- Improper loading
- Improper maintenance
Sometimes truck drivers are not violating safety rules for the first time. Sometimes they have a record of irresponsibility which may be known to the trucking company, which may choose to ignore the driver’s record, or, in some cases, may encourage dangerous behaviors to ensure timely deliveries. Since trucking companies and drivers are sometimes incentivized with bonuses for early or on-time delivery, they have been known to engage in dangerous tactics to meet a deadline.
Collisions involving Commercial Trucks and Recreational Vehicles
Our lawyers represents clients injured in truck accidents involving all types of commercial vehicles, including:
- Semitrailer trucks (big rigs)
- Tanker trucks
- Delivery vans, such as UPS and Fed Ex vans
- City & municipal trucks
- Public Utility vehicles
- Recreational vehicles (RVs and Motorhomes)
- Garbage trucks
- Dump trucks
- Cement trucks
- Emergency vehicles
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a truck accident in Southern California, you understand how serious truck accidents can be. You also understand how hard it can be to get a fair claim for your injuries out of the trucking company’s insurance company, which may try to blame you (or your lost loved one) for the accident.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Pursue My Truck Accident Claim?
Probably. If there were no injuries and very little vehicle damage you may be able to negotiate a fair settlement on your own quickly. However, if you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to the negligence or carelessness of a commercial truck driver, you have the right to obtain financial compensation for the damages you have suffered and expenses you may incur in the future. This is something you don;t want to tackle on your own. Call The Paris Firm today at (909) 551-4040, serving car accident victims in Lake Elsinore, California, and schedule a no obligation consultation. If there is no recovery there is no fee and there are no up-front out of pocket fees. Our firm advances costs on behalf of our clients.