Truck Accident Lawyer in Monterey County, CA

Monterey County, located along the Pacific Coast in Central California, sees its fair share of truck accidents each year. With major highways like US-101, SR 1, and SR 68 crossing the region, and agriculture and tourism driving the local economy, there are a lot of trucks and buses sharing the road with regular passenger vehicles. When these large commercial trucks collide with smaller vehicles, devastating injuries and financial loss often result.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a truck accident in Monterey County, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. The truck accident lawyers of Moseley Collins Law have helped victims nationwide recover millions for catastrophic truck crashes. With deep knowledge of state and federal regulations around commercial vehicles and drivers, we fight to hold negligent truck companies fully liable.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most common causes of collisions involving large trucks include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Distracted or fatigued driving
• Improper turning that cuts corners
• Failing to yield right of way
• Defective parts like faulty brakes or tires
• Overloaded cargo shifting and unbalancing the truck
• Drug or alcohol impairment

When an 80,000-pound big rig gets into an accident with a passenger car, the results are almost always catastrophic for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. Even a collision at slow speeds or a simple sideswipe can push a car into oncoming traffic, roadside hazards, or cause it to flip and roll.

Well-known carriers operating in Monterey County like FedEx, UPS, Loomis and food distributors have been involved in truck crashes locally. When commercial drivers or motor carriers fail to take appropriate caution on the road, lives get turned upside down.

Due to their massive size and weight, trucks can inflict life-altering trauma in accidents. Some of the common injuries suffered in Monterey County truck collisions include:

• Head and brain trauma - concussions, memory loss, skull fractures
• Spinal cord damage - paralysis, loss of sensation
• Broken bones - arms, legs, pelvis, ribs
• Internal organ damage and bleeding
• Amputations
• Severe lacerations and abrasions
• Psychological trauma

Without extensive medical care, rehabilitation services, adaptive equipment, and in-home modifications, the victim may never fully recover their pre-crash quality of life. The emotional trauma of disfigurement, chronic pain, and permanent disability takes a major toll as well.

Some of the most common trucking companies operating big rigs, semi-trucks and fleet vehicles in and around Monterey County include:

• FedEx
• UPS
• Loomis
• US Foods
• McLane
• Parcel pool
• Velocity Express
• California Overnight

When employees or contracted drivers working for these carriers act negligently and cause a crash, their companies can be held liable for victims’ damages.

If you or a loved one gets into a truck accident in Monterey County, call 911 immediately and wait at the scene if possible for the police to arrive. Major police stations serving Monterey County include:

Carmel-by-the-Sea Police Department - Small force handling local traffic enforcement, community relations and assisting visitors to the popular beach town.

Gonzales Police Department - 25 member department responsible for public safety in the Gonzales unincorporated area.

Greenfield Police Department - Force protecting the agricultural town of Greenfield with 29 staff including 19 patrol officers.

King City Police Department - Servicing the heart of Monterey County’s fertile Salinas Valley with 20 total staff.

Marina Police Department - Guarding over 22,500 Marina residents with 31 patrol officers plus administrative and investigative staff.

Monterey Park Ranger Department - Providing law enforcement within Monterey’s historic parks and municipal beach/coastline recreation areas.

Pacific Grove Police Department - This small coastal town relies on 19 dedicated officers to keep citizens safe.

Salinas Police Department - One of the larger forces in the county with 161 officers and 70 civilian support staff covering all of Salinas.

Sand City Police Department - Small agency overseeing the 1-square mile coastal artists town with 8 patrol officers.

Seaside Police Department - 51-member department responsible for policing the Monterey Bay town of Seaside.

Soledad Police Department - 20 officers protecting Soledad plus administrative and investigative personnel.

Filing an official crash report is crucial for documenting important evidence like vehicle positions, road conditions that day, eyewitness statements, and parties responsible. Our lawyers use police reports to help prove liability and get clients fair compensation.

With its fertile Salinas Valley making it the Salad Bowl of America, plus thriving tourism, manufacturing, and the bustling Port of Monterey, heavy trucks are found across the county’s roadways. Truck accidents frequently occur on stretches of:

• US-101
• State Route 68
• State Route 1
• State Route 146
• State Route 156
• State Route 183

The hilly terrain, sharp curves, narrow lanes, dark tunnels and outdated infrastructure along some state routes also increase risks for multi-vehicle collisions.

As an experienced truck accident law firm representing clients across California, Moseley Collins Law helps victims throughout Monterey County and surrounding cities including:

• Salinas
• Monterey
• Seaside
• Marina
• Gonzales
• Soledad
• Greenfield
• King City
• Pacific Grove
• Carmel Valley
• Pebble Beach

No matter which town you live in, or where in the county your serious truck crash occurred, our lawyers offer free case evaluations. We have an impressive track record getting injured victims fair compensation in this region.

Trying to handle a truck accident claim on your own is extremely difficult, especially against the truck company’s insurance carrier looking to minimize payouts. Having an assertive lawyer on your side levels the playing field. As an injured victim or grieving family, you need strong legal advocates fighting for your rights.

An experienced truck accident lawyer will handle every aspect of building a claim in your best interests, including:

• Gathering crash reports, medical records, employment documents and other evidence
• Hiring accident investigators and reconstructionists
• Working with doctors and vocational experts to prove damages
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Filing a lawsuit in court if fair settlement offers don’t materialize

At Moseley Collins Law, we have specialties that review all medical documentation to ensure no injuries or mistreatment is overlooked when determining a case value.

We also understand the complex state and federal regulations around commercial trucks and drivers. We use violations of these rules, like falsified logbooks, overloaded cargo, or employing someone without the proper licensing, to bolster injury claims. Holding negligent truckers and irresponsible motor carriers accountable is what our firm does best.

If you lost a loved one or suffered catastrophic harm in a truck crash in Monterey County, the truck accident lawyers at Moseley Collins Law offer:

• 40+ years handling truck and car accident cases - Our firm has an impeccable track record recovering millions for clients involved in commercial truck collisions.
• Millions won for past clients - Thanks to our lawyers’ court success and relentless negotiation skills, many of our clients have recovered 7-figure and higher settlements.
• Free consultations - We provide free case evaluations so you can discuss your situation and legal options at no cost or commitment. Our lawyers will point you in the right direction, even if we cannot officially represent you.
• We strictly adhere to State Bar of California standards - As ethical, professional lawyers licensed in CA, we cannot provide official legal advice over the phone or in initial consultations unless you become a client. But we listen compassionately and use our decades of truck crash experience to offer helpful guidance.
• Hundreds of 5 star online reviews - Past clients praise us highly for our compassionate yet aggressive representation and life-changing results. We have hundreds of 5-star Google reviews speaking to our law firm’s outstanding service and dedication.

If you want committed advocates by your side obtaining the maximum recovery possible, contact the truck accident team at Moseley Collins Law today at 800-426-5546 for a free consultation.

Yes, retaining an experienced lawyer is highly advisable after any collision with a commercial truck or company vehicle that caused injuries in Monterey County or other parts of California. Truck crash cases involve complex state and federal regulations, as well as legal negotiations with high-stakes insurance carriers eager to protect their bottom line, not your best interests. Having a lawyer handle your claim takes the burden off victims so they can focus on healing. Because lawyers collect no fees until you recover damages, it costs nothing to have them advocating for your rights.

Every truck crash victim’s situation is unique based on the severity of injuries, insurance coverage available, and factors that led to the collision. In general, compensation can be recovered for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and wrongful death losses. If negligent driving or company policies caused the wreck, then additional punitive damages may be warranted as well. An experienced lawyer will seek full and fair compensation tailored to your specific claim. Most serious truck accident cases settle for well over one million dollars before trial.

In California, the statute of limitations allows two years from the date of injury for truck accident victims to take legal action. It is best not to wait until the deadline approaches however, because early investigation and building a strong claim against multiple liable parties takes significant time in major truck crash cases. Ideally, contacting our lawyers within days or weeks ensures important evidence gets preserved and the best likelihood of maximum compensation.

Some ways commercial truckers and their motor carrier companies cut corners or act negligently in Monterey County include:

• Failing to properly maintain vehicles leading to defective brakes, bald tires, etc.
• Overloading trucks beyond legal weight limits
• Requiring or allowing exhaustion through demanding delivery quotas
• Hiring inexperienced, unqualified or poorly trained drivers
• Failing to screen drivers for substance abuse issues
• Allowing trucks to operate overweight/oversized without permits
• Prioritizing profits over driver and public safety

When drivers break safety laws or trucking companies fail to ensure compliance, crash risks increase substantially. Victims can use these violations to help prove negligence.

While we prepare every case for trial, less than 5% of truck injury claims end up needing a courtroom trial. Our lawyers have decades of legal experience negotiating fair out-of-court settlements with even the most challenging insurance carriers. Because we are also litigation experts with past multi-million dollar jury verdicts, companies know we won’t hesitate to take a case to trial if that becomes needed to secure a client’s best interests. Our goal is always maximizing your compensation efficiently.

Don’t take chances trying to handle a truck injury case alone. The lawyers at Moseley Collins Law offer fierce advocacy to help victims recover. Contact us today for a free consultation.