Truck Accident Lawyer in National City, CA
Have you or someone you love suffered injuries from a truck collision in the National City area? The seasoned lawyers at Moseley Collins Law bring over 40 years of helping victims recover damages from truck crashes. This guide explains why hiring an accomplished truck accident lawyer benefits you after getting hurt by a negligent trucker in National City.
Common Causes of Truck AccidentsTruck accidents can result from the actions or errors of truck drivers as well as other motorists. Understanding the most frequent causes provides greater insight into assigning fault and liability when these crashes occur. Below are the three leading contributors to truck collisions.
Driver FatigueOne of the most prevalent causes of truck crashes is driver fatigue resulting from lack of sleep or driving too many consecutive hours without adequate rest breaks. Warning signs of fatigued truck operation include drifting between lanes and inconsistent speed. Unfortunately, many commercial drivers feel pressured by employers and delivery timelines, driving over hours of service limits. Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times and impaired information processing critical to safely operating a 40-ton big rig.
Distracted DrivingAnother common cause of truck accidents involves distraction behind the wheel created by activities that divert the driver’s attention away from focusing on the road. Truckers face multiple potential distractions inside truck cabs, including communicating on cell phones or CB radios, programming GPS navigation devices, eating, adjusting vehicle comfort controls or even watching portable televisions. Any task hampering a driver’s ability to concentrate on driving risks a crash. Even brief periods of inattention can prove catastrophic when maneuvering large tractor-trailers.
Speeding & Aggressive DrivingExcessive speeding and aggressive behaviors like unsafe lane changes, tailgating and improper passing also contribute substantially to truck crashes. Truck drivers may speed to meet overly ambitious delivery deadlines set by their companies or simply drive aggressively by nature. Unfortunately, the massive size and weight of these vehicles make them extremely hard to slow or stop when traveling at high velocities. Higher speeds also increase the force of impact when a collision occurs, leading to severe crash energy transfer and greater harm to occupants of smaller passenger vehicles.
By understanding these major causes, truck accident victims gain better grasp of factors resulting in collisions. This knowledge aids injured parties and lawyers in demanding accountability from liable trucking companies and drivers through legal action.
Injuries Caused by Truck AccidentsTraumatic Brain InjuriesDue to their towering height and massive weight, the force of impact from truck collisions often results in traumatic head and brain injuries with life-long effects on cognitive function, including impaired memory, concentration deficits and personality changes. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) incurred during truck crashes require extensive neurologic rehabilitation and therapeutic services to regain basic life activities we take for granted.
Spinal Cord DamageSpinal cord injuries leading to partial or total paralysis of the legs, bowels and bladder frequently occur during truck accidents as well. The vertebrae inside the spinal column have minimal protection, vulnerable to fracture or misalignment damages from extreme crash forces. Spinal cord injuries necessitate major surgery, rehabilitation and accessibility modifications at significant costs over a lifetime.
AmputationsGiven the sheer size and weight mismatches between large trucks and regular passenger vehicles, amputations of arms and legs crushed beyond surgical repair present another common severe injury. Prosthetics, physical therapy and disability equipment carries high expenses through amputees’ lifetime.
Internal Organ DamageThe intense blunt forces sustained when a semi-truck crushes or rolls over a vehicle also commonly lead to lacerations and internal bleeding of organs within the rib cage and abdomen, like the liver, kidneys and spleen. This internal trauma has caused truck accident deaths when prompt emergency surgery gets delayed.
Why Retain a Truck Accident Lawyer?Sustaining even minor injuries from a large truck can cause financial and emotional struggles for years through:
- Expensive medical treatments - surgery, therapy
- Lost income if unable to work
- Permanent impairment impacting the quality of life
- Psychological trauma
However, the trucking company and insurance carriers will employ dishonest tactics to deny reasonable compensation for your losses. A top truck accident lawyer levels the playing field and battles for maximum damages.
Benefits of Hiring a Truck Accident LawyerRetaining an experienced truck accident lawyer provides injured victims key advantages, including:
Maximum Financial RecoveryWe fight for full coverage of wide-ranging expenses:
- Medical bills – past and future costs
- Lost earnings
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Results and settlements maximizing client compensation make us one of most successful truck accident firms.
Settlement or Court AwardInsurers know our readiness to take cases to trial if fair settlements get denied, backed by our proven record of 7-figure+ results.
Less Burdens Dealing With Legal ProcessWe handle everything for you - gathering police reports, communicating with insurers and defense lawyers, filing court documents so you avoid added stress.
Investigation ExpertiseWe use forensic investigation procedures similar to the CHP - retaining collision reconstruction experts, private investigators and medical doctors to build an ironclad claim attributing fault and proving full damages suffered.
Choosing the Best Lawyer for Your CaseIt’s key to pick a lawyer with relevant qualifications:
Veteran ExperienceThe trucking sector has unique rules on maintenance, loading, inspections per FMCSA and state agencies. Choose a lawyer well-versed in those nuances. Our firm has been litigating truck cases since the 1980s.
Record of 7 & 8-Figure Case ResultsInsurers weigh lawyers’ trial prospects when valuing cases. A proven record of multi-million dollar results and settlements helps maximize payouts during negotiations. We have recovered millions for injured clients and grieving families.
Resources to Take on Billion-Dollar CorporationsTruck crash claims often involve battling billionaire insurance carriers and trucking companies with extensive legal staff. Choose a lawyer with substantial resources and access to top experts.
When weighing counsel for a truck injury case, evaluate those markers of specialty experience.
Police Stations in National CityKey police stations to contact after a truck crash include:
National City Police Department:
- 650 E. 8th Street National City, CA 91950
- Primary law enforcement agency for National City
California Highway Patrol (CHP) - El Cajon:
- 573 N. Marshall Ave El Cajon, California 92020
- Patrols highways and interstates in National City
These agencies file detailed collision reports used to prove liability.
Trucking Companies in San Diego RegionMajor firms with fleets operating in the metro area:
- UPS
- FedEx
- U.S. Postal Service
- Western Express
- California Overnight
Rigorous delivery quotas can encourage risky driving behaviors.
Key Highways & Roads in National City AreaWith proximity to the Mexico border and inland region, National City sees heavy truck volumes on major transportation arteries:
- I-5 Highway
- I-805
- State Route 54
- State Route 125
- State Route 905
High truck concentration raises risks for multi-vehicle collisions.
Cities Served by Our TeamBeyond National City itself, Moseley Collins Law assists injury victims throughout greater San Diego County, including:
- San Diego
- Chula Vista
- Oceanside
- Escondido
- El Cajon
- San Marcos
- Carlsbad
- Vista
- Santee
No matter your specific town, our lawyers provide fierce representation to recover maximum damages if hurt by a negligent truck driver.
Truck Accident StatisticsPer California Highway Patrol (CHP), annually:
- 450+ traffic deaths involve large trucks
- 12.8% of all traffic fatalities caused by trucks
- Over 4,000 truck collisions resulting in severe injuries
Most crashes caused by speeding, distracted driving, mechanical defects.
Damages Available in Truck Accident CasesTruck accident victims may have legal grounds to pursue financial compensation for a range of losses and hardships resulting from their crash injuries. Understanding what potential damages can be recovered empowers injured parties to demand accountability to the fullest extent allowable under the law. Below are key categories of damages victims can fight for in truck crash injury claims and lawsuits.
Medical CostsPerhaps the most apparent financial impact from truck collision injuries stems from immediate and ongoing medical expenses to treat crash trauma. Reimbursable costs include ambulance transport, hospitalization fees, surgical procedures, prescription medications, outpatient therapy and rehabilitation, and in-home nursing care. The cumulative costs of this short and long-term medical care easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars in severe truck accidents.
Property DamageIn truck crash cases resulting in vehicle damage or destruction, accident victims have valid grounds for demanding truckers or their motor carriers also pay for corresponding auto repair bills or total value if the vehicle gets totaled. Loss of other personal property inside damaged vehicles like laptops, tablets, clothing and shoes may also qualify for reimbursement depending on circumstances.
Pain and SufferingHarder to quantify, but nonetheless real and traumatic, is the physical pain and emotional suffering accompanying serious crash injuries. The memories and trauma of surgeries, scarring, grueling therapy and rehabilitation all warrant financial compensation under personal injury laws. Jurisdictions place no fixed dollar amounts on general pain and suffering damages given their subjective nature, leaving this determination to judge and jury discretion based on facts presented in each case.
While money can never fully restore pre-injury vitality, holding negligent truck drivers and companies financially accountable promotes safer roadways and brings a sense of justified closure. Experienced truck accident lawyers prepare robust documentation substantiating all applicable damages to pursue fair restitution.
Seek justice with California’s premier truck accident lawyers - call Moseley Collins Law 24/7 at (800) 426-5546 for a free consultation if you or someone close to suffered harm from a truck collision. Let us fight for maximum compensation as you focus on healing.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can demand compensation for:
- All medical bills
- Lost income
- Long-term care costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
We pursue damages from multiple liable parties - specific truck drivers, trucking companies, parts manufacturers if defective components contributed to the crash.
Moseley Collins Law works on contingency - no upfront fees ever for truck accident cases. We only collect from the settlement or court award.
Every truck collision has unique circumstances impacting length. However, our extensive expertise helps streamline matters toward resolution efficiently through settlement or result. Many cases resolve in months, more complex ones within 18-24 months.
Inclement conditions like rain or snow can create hazardous driving environments requiring extra precautions from truckers. However, legal liability remains with the truck driver and motor carrier if they fail to operate safely for prevailing weather circumstances.