North Hollywood Truck Accident Attorney

Were you injured in a truck accident in North Hollywood? Carelessness or recklessness by a truck driver or trucking company can lead to a devastating semi-truck accident that leaves victims with severe, life-altering injuries. If you were hurt in a crash with an 18-wheeler, turn to The Shamsi Law Firm, APC for experienced, effective legal representation.

Attorney Sean Shamsi will stand up to the trucking companies and insurers and seek maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses. Sean has dedicated his career to helping injury victims in North Hollywood recover after catastrophic accidents. He knows clients need a strong advocate who will fight for their rights and interests, giving them the time to focus on healing.

Contact The Shamsi Law Firm, APC today for a free initial case review with a North Hollywood truck accident lawyer.

What Is Considered a Truck in California?

California law defines a motor truck as a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. The law defines a truck tractor as a motor vehicle designed and used primarily to draw other vehicles. Some examples of vehicles that are often considered commercial trucks include:

What Are Common Commercial Truck Accidents in North Hollywood?

Commercial trucks are often involved in various accidents due to their size, weight, and the fact that they usually haul heavy cargo. Some examples of common types of commercial truck accidents include:

• Head-On collisions – These accidents can occur when a truck drifts over the center line or median into the path of oncoming traffic, travels the wrong way down a one-way street or access ramp, or fails to yield for oncoming traffic when turning left.
• Rear-End collisions – Trucks often rear-end other vehicles when they tailgate or follow too closely. A truck’s larger size means it needs a longer distance than passenger vehicles to slow down and stop.
• Sideswipe Collisions – The side of a truck may collide with the side of another vehicle when a truck driver changes lanes without signaling or checking their mirrors and blind spots.
• Side-Impact/T-Bone Collisions – A truck may “T-bone” another vehicle if the truck driver runs a red light or stop sign.
• Underride Accidents – An underride accident occurs when a passenger car becomes wedged underneath an 18-wheeler trailer.
• Wide Turn accidents – Trucks often need to turn wide through tight intersections. However, using an improper method to make a wide turn can result in a truck colliding with nearby traffic.
• Jackknife Accidents – A truck trailer jackknifes when the trailer swings toward the truck cab, causing the trailer and cab to fold like a pocketknife. Jackknifing can occur due to improper braking, unsafe cargo loads, or adverse road conditions.
• Runaway/Road Departure Accidents – A truck with a brake failure or transmission/engine problem may suffer a “runaway” accident where the truck driver cannot stop the truck before it collides with other vehicles or objects or runs off the road.
• Rollover Accidents – A truck can roll over onto its side or roof due to tire or brake failure, an unbalanced cargo load, or jackknifing.
• Cargo Accidents – A truck’s cargo load can cause or contribute to an accident if the truck has excessive cargo weight, an unbalanced load, or unsecured cargo that can shift during travel.

What Causes Most Truck Accidents?

• Driver fatigue
• Speeding
• Distracted driving (e.g., texting, eating)
• Poor weather conditions
• Mechanical failures
• Improper loading or cargo securement
• Inadequate driver training
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Tailgating or aggressive driving
• Failure to obey traffic signs or signals.

What Injuries Can Someone Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents tend to cause more severe injuries than other auto accidents. Because of its higher weight, a commercial truck can hit other vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians with more significant force than smaller passenger vehicles. Some of the injuries that someone can sustain in a truck accident include:

In the event that a truck accident is fatal, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Who Could Be Held Responsible in a Truck Crash?

The trucking industry comprises multiple individuals and companies, any one of whom may bear some share of responsibility for a big rig crash. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the truck accident, the following parties might be liable for injuries and other losses:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company, either as an employer of an at-fault driver or due to the company’s negligent hiring/training/supervision of the driver
• The truck’s owner if not the truck driver or trucking company
• The shipping company responsible for the cargo
• The truck’s manufacturer if there was a defect in the truck
• Third-party truck parts manufacturers, such as tire, brake, and transmission manufacturers, if the parts were defective
• Third-party mechanics who serviced or repaired the truck or trailer

What Compensation Can I Expect to Recover in a North Hollywood Truck Accident Claim?

In a truck accident claim, you can recover compensation for financial and personal losses that you incur due to injuries and damage from the crash. With a successful claim, you could obtain money for the following:

• Car repair expenses or reimbursement of the value of your vehicle if totaled by the accident
• Medical care and rehabilitation expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations, prescriptions, pain management care, or physical/occupational therapy
• Costs of home health care, housekeeping assistance, or medical/mobility equipment you need if you suffer long-term or permanent disabilities
• Lost wages/income if you cannot work due to your injuries or need to transfer to a part-time or light-duty position that reduces your earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Loss of enjoyment and quality of life because of disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement that interferes with activities of daily living

What If I Am Partly at Fault in a Truck Accident?

Even if you may bear some share of fault for a truck accident, you could still have the right to pursue financial relief for your injuries and losses. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule regarding truck accidents. Under this rule, a plaintiff can seek compensation even if they bear some responsibility for the crash, even if their share is 99 percent.

Remember that this rule also limits the compensation that a plaintiff can recover. For example, if a jury or judge finds the plaintiff 25 percent at fault for a truck accident, the plaintiff’s compensation will be reduced by 25 percent. In that case, a plaintiff seeking $100,000 would be eligible for only $75,000.

Because the comparative negligence rule can impact the financial relief you obtain, you should consult an experienced North Hollywood truck accident attorney to learn more about what you could recover.

How a North Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, you may face severe, painful injuries and a long road to recovery. You deserve to focus your time and attention on healing and moving forward with your life. Let a North Hollywood truck accident lawyer from The Shamsi Law Firm, APC handle every detail of your case to relieve your stress and give you peace of mind. Sean Shamsi can help by:

• Thoroughly investigating the big rig accident to obtain crucial evidence, such as the truck driver’s hours-of-service logs, the truck’s event data recorder (“black box”) logs, the truck’s cargo manifest, the truck’s inspection and maintenance records, surveillance/traffic camera footage, and police accident reports
• Reviewing the facts and evidence in your case, in conjunction with accident reconstruction or engineering experts, to determine the cause of the crash and identify the party or parties you might hold responsible for your injuries and losses
• Documenting your accident injuries and calculating your ongoing and future losses or expenses to help you pursue the compensation you need now and in the future
• Keeping you updated at each stage of your case and advising you of your rights and options so you can make informed decisions
• Filing insurance or legal claims and handling discussions with insurance adjusters, trucking company representatives, and defense attorneys for you
• Aggressively negotiating for a maximum settlement or filing a truck accident lawsuit if litigation becomes necessary to give you the best chance of securing the financial resources you need

The Shamsi Law Firm, APC will not charge any fees unless and until your case is resolved. You pay nothing upfront or out of pocket; instead, attorney’s fees come as an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation Sean recovers for you.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in North Hollywood Today

If you’ve suffered an injury in a semi-truck accident in North Hollywood, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. The Shamsi Law Firm, APC has the knowledge, resources, and skills to seek the financial relief and justice you deserve after a truck accident.

Attorney Sean Shamsi will take the time to listen to your story and build a solid case in your favor to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable. Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a truck accident lawyer in North Hollywood.