Truck Accident Lawyer in Citrus Heights, CA
Citrus Heights, California is located just northeast of Sacramento in Sacramento County. With major highways like Interstate 80 and Sunrise Boulevard intersecting the city, truck accidents unfortunately occur far too often on Citrus Heights roads. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash in or around Citrus Heights, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side.
The truck accident lawyers at Moseley Collins Law have over 40 years of experience representing injury victims in truck accidents. We have secured record-breaking settlements for past clients, including results and settlements in the millions of dollars. When the negligence of a truck driver causes devastating injuries, we fight to get injured victims maximum compensation.
Below, we cover everything you need to know about truck accident claims and lawsuits in the Citrus Heights area. We also provide key information on what to do if you or someone you love has been hurt by a semi, big rig, dump truck, tanker truck, commercial delivery truck, or other commercial vehicle.
Common Causes of Truck Crashes in Citrus HeightsDue to their large size and decreased maneuverability, trucks can wreak havoc when they collide with smaller passenger vehicles. Here are some of the most common causes of trucking accidents we see in the Citrus Heights area:
- Speeding or Aggressive Driving - Truck drivers are often under intense pressure to meet tight delivery windows. Speeding allows them to shave precious minutes off their route time. But with 40+ tons of metal hurtling down the road, higher speeds increase stopping distances and reduce reaction times to prevent collisions. Aggressive driving behaviors like unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failure to signal, and improper passing also frequently cause wrecks.
- Distracted Driving - Distractions like cell phone use take the driver's attention off the road. Reaching for an object, looking away, rubbernecking, fiddling with music or navigation tools, and other distractions have been cited in numerous commercial trucking accidents.
- Fatigued Driving - Truckers can be on the road for long hours and have demanding delivery quotas and shifts. Drivers attempting to meet targets or make up time on the road often sacrifice sleep. Drowsy driving leads to slower reaction times, reduced awareness, and compromised judgment.
- Impaired Driving - Although far less common than the other causes, drug or alcohol use on the job sometimes contributes to catastrophic semitruck crashes. Trucking companies have zero tolerance policies, but lapses in enforcement can enable impaired driving.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo - Improperly balanced, sized, or secured cargo loads increase the chances of rollovers or jackknife incidents. Unsecured loads can also spill across roadways and collide with other vehicles. These accidents are fully preventable with adherence to safe loading practices.
- Vehicle Defects or Failed Parts - When trucking companies fail to properly inspect and maintain their vehicles, the risk of catastrophic brake, engine, axle, and steering component failure go up. Lack of quality parts or inadequate repairs can put innocent road users in harm's way.
Due to the massive size and weight discrepancies between passenger and commercial vehicles, truck accident victims suffer some of the most serious injuries imaginable. Here are some of the most common truck wreck injuries we see:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Spinal Cord Injury (Paralysis)
- Severed Limbs and Amputated Body Parts
- Crush Injuries to the Bones, Muscles, and Ligaments
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
- Joint Dislocations, Fractures, and Missing Bone
- Severe Lacerations and Abrasions
- Facial Fractures and Reconstructive Surgery Needs
- Burn Injuries
Depending on the individual case factors, survivors can face lifelong disability, loss of future earnings, steep medical bills, and severe physical and emotional distress from commercial truck collision trauma. We use our extensive resources and a top medical expert team to fully assess short and long-term prognosis and treatment requirements for injury victims and families.
Key Steps to Take Following a Truck Wreck in Citrus HeightsIn the chaotic aftermath of truck crashes, know these steps to protect yourself or your loved one’s rights:
- Seek emergency medical help - Call 911 or get to the nearest hospital right away even if you don’t exhibit external injuries. Symptoms of internal bleeding, organ damage, spinal injuries, and head trauma sometimes show up long after the crash. Don’t decline treatment or transport even if you “feel fine.” Your recorded treatment forms key evidence.
- Document and report the crash– Contact Citrus Heights Police Department or California Highway Patrol to officially report for-the-record details while fresh in your mind. Snapping photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, debris fields, and injuries also provides invaluable visual evidence.
- Collect contact and insurance information – Recording the truck driver’s name, license, contact, carrier company, commercial vehicle license plate, and insurance policy details protects your future claim. You have the right to this info even for minor collisions.
- Speak carefully with insurers – What you say can be used against you later by liability and worker’s compensation insurance personnel. Avoid recorded statements until you consult with a truck accident law firm guiding your best interests.
- Contact a truck accident lawyer ASAP – Do not delay retaining specialized legal help. Preserving evidence, compiling witness testimony, building injury compensation case value requires strategic expert legal guidance from day 1.
Investigating truck accident liability involves assembling a wide range of evidence sources in preparation for settlement talks or court proceedings. Moseley Collins Law leaves no stone unturned with case investigations that include:
- Black Box Data - We subpoena each involved commercial vehicle’s black box or ECM unit to download recordings of speeds, braking, swerving, and acceleration in the seconds preceding impact. This electronic information debunks dishonest driver and witness statements.
- Accident Reconstruction - Our engineers scientifically model crash dynamics based on damage analysis, road evidence, eyewitness views plus commercial vehicle and black box records. These reliable expert reconstructions defeat defense arguments minimizing client injuries or disputing fault apportionment.
- Business Records Investigation - We dig into the trucking firm’s files using subpoenas to expose systemic safety deficiencies, inadequate driver training/supervision and employment negligence connected with causing wrecks.
- Cell Phone Forensics - We can extract a driver’s call, texting, emailing and smartphone app activity leading up to crashes. This cell data holds drivers and fleets accountable for deadly distracted driving in the face of weak logs and denial statements.
- FMCSA Safety Rating Audits - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tracks comprehensive carrier profiles from inspection to accident history and performance metrics. We uncover poor fleet/operator compliance red flags tied to specific collisions.
- Maintenance & Repair Documentation - When truck wrecks stem from failed parts or delayed service, we investigate mechanic work orders and parts invoices pointing to safety oversight and upkeep lapses.
- Medical Expert Reviews - We coordinate physician panels from associated surgical fields to evaluate treatment effectiveness and complication risks plus project lifelong care needs stemming from crash trauma.
- Work Hour & Log Auditing - Drivers falsify duty logs and violate on/off-duty limits to stay on schedule. We forensically chart work periods using tachometer, toll, fueling and GPS data to substantiate overtime safety regulation breaches instigating accidents.
By filing a truck accident lawsuit with our law offices, we shoulder 100% of investigative and legal burdens while clients focus energy on healing and family.
Do Truck Accidents Always Result in Big Settlement Payouts?We consistently secure 8 and 7 figure truck accident settlements for clients. But results vary case-by-case based on elements like:
- Lawsuit Deadline - The statute of limitations for each individual case will vary and may be enlarged depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case. Thus, you are encouraged to contact one of our attorneys as soon as possible.
- Insurance Policy Limits - Interstate fleets carry higher liability coverage up to $10 million, but local delivery trucks may have minimal policies.
- Shared Fault - Jurisdictions recognizing comparative negligence assign partial monetary blame for victims’ actions. Damages lower accordingly.
- Catastrophic Injury Proof - Spinal damage, brain trauma, organ failure, paralysis, amputation and extensive 3rd degree burns substantiate highest values. Soft tissue and orthopedic damages alone often resolve below full worth.
- Defendant Financial Resources - Collecting jury awards or settlement checks is easier said than done. If the motor carrier lacks sufficient assets, underinsured losses often result.
- Witnesses & Evidence - You need irrefutable liability facts. Eyewitnesses, accident reconstructions, videos and data recordings clinch victories – not just client perspectives.
- Legal Team’s Reputation - Insurance adjusters calculate settlement offers based partly on the opposing lawyer’s skill level and case win likelihoods. Top tier lawyers earn far more trust and bigger valuations.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in or around Citrus Heights, call the police immediately to report the incident. Here is contact information for police stations near Citrus Heights:
Citrus Heights Police Department
6315 Fountain Square Drive
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
(916) 727-5500
California Highway Patrol - North Sacramento Office
PO Box 33000Stop 25
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 861-1300
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
711 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 874-5115
Due to the major highways and busy roads surrounding Citrus Heights, truck accidents are an unfortunate risk for motorists. Here are some of the main transportation routes in the Citrus Heights area:
- Interstate 80
- Sunrise Boulevard
- Greenback Lane
- Auburn Boulevard
- Antelope Road
- Madison Avenue
- San Juan Avenue
- Fair Oaks Boulevard
Staying alert to hazards and practicing safe driving habits while on these highways can help reduce crash risks. But when a negligent trucker causes devastating injuries, our Citrus Heights truck accident legal team fights to win injury victims’ maximum case compensation.
Cities and Towns We Serve in the Greater Sacramento AreaIn addition to truck accident injury cases in Citrus Heights itself, Moseley Collins Law represents clients throughout the greater Sacramento metro region. We routinely help residents of these nearby communities win their rightful compensation after truck crashes cause harm:
- Roseville
- Rocklin
- Folsom
- Rancho Cordova
- Carmichael
- Orangevale
- Fair Oaks
- El Dorado Hills
- Gold River
- Granite Bay
No matter which Sacramento suburb you reside in, our lawyers offer dedicated one-on-one representation helping truck accident injury victims recover damages from their collisions. Call today for a free case evaluation from our truck accident team dedicated to protecting your best interests.
Why Moseley Collins Law Is the Right ChoiceDon’t delay in seeking respected legal representation from a proven Sacramento truck accident law firm. The insurance carriers surely have experts and lawyers already mounting a defense to minimize your claim’s value. With a combined 40+ years litigating truck injury cases, Moseley Collins Law delivers exceptional record results decade over decade. Pick up the phone to connect with a top-rated Northern California truck accident team ready to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Absolutely not before consulting with a lawyer! Insurers quickly request recorded interviews to gain “evidence” diluting their payout duties. What crash victims say can be manipulated against them later. Decline requests (politely) until your legal team greenlights best moves.
Yes! Multiple defendants often share blame for big rig crashes - like the motor carrier employer, shipper, loader, repair shop or parts maker. Skilled lawyers explore every avenue identifying additional negligent parties to include as lawsuit defendants when warranted.
Compensation varies case-by-case but often includes current and future medical bills, post-accident lost income & reduced earning capacity, vehicle replacement/repair costs, home accessibility modifications, utility expenses during recovery, funeral & burial costs (wrongful death), loss of companionship dollars (wrongful death), and amounts for physical & mental pain and suffering incurred.
Politely decline providing any statements until your lawyer advises the best approach. Insurers are not your friends – they want minimizing payout details. Give no recorded commentary nor sign any forms before seasoned lawyers protect your interests!
Their insurer will claim you share some fault no matter what! In comparative negligence states like California, damages slash by your allocated percentage of causing the crash. Skilled truck lawyers defeat these arguments. We prove full driver negligence despite slick insurance denials.