Truck Accident
3 Numbers to Call After a Truck Accident
| January 22nd, 2018
At Berg Injury Lawyers, we know that truck accidents can be distressing and traumatic. Victims often suffer debilitating injuries that require immediate medical attention, and their main concern after an accident is getting the medical care they need. Our California truck accident attorneys have helped many victims who were able to be proactive after their accidents and take steps to protect their rights, but we’ve also helped countless other victims who were too hurt, traumatized, or disabled to take all of the recommended steps after a serious crash. We know that not at all victims are able to follow detailed checklists after accidents, and we’re here to help. However, we know that victims who make the following three phone calls after a truck accident can maximize their chances of getting compensation:- 911 – Calling 911 should be your first move after any type of accident that involves property damage or injuries. In addition to being required by California law, it also creates a police record of the crash and dispatches emergency medical personnel to the scene.
- Your insurance company – You have a short timeframe—often around 48 hours—to report the accident to your insurer. Call them as soon as you’re able to do so, but consider speaking with a lawyer before volunteering information or admitting fault for the accident.
- A truck accident law firm – Proving fault in truck accident cases can be complex, as multiple parties may be involved. But an experienced legal team knows how to collect evidence and determine who was at fault for the accident.
Why Do You Need an Attorney After a Truck Accident?
| November 27th, 2017
There are three calls you should make after being involved in a truck accident: 911, your insurance company to report the accident, and the office of an experienced California truck accident lawyer. Calling 911 means you’ll get prompt medical treatment and a police report of the accident. Calling your insurance company is required by almost all policies. Calling a law firm can help you protect your rights, and the sooner you call, the better. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our legal team acts quickly when we hear from truck accident victims. We know how complex truck accident claims can be, as multiple parties can be held liable. We’re ready to fight for the rights of injured victims by:- Collecting evidence – Evidence can quickly disappear at truck accident scenes. Our legal team can collect evidence such as traffic or surveillance camera footage, crash scene debris, and witness statements to piece together what happened.
- Negotiating with the insurance company – If we determine that you weren’t at fault for the crash, we’ll find out how much the insurance company owes you. After we calculate your medical bills and lost wages, it’s our goal to make sure the insurance company pays you a fair settlement for your accident-related expenses.
What We Look for in Truck Accident Cases
| October 30th, 2017
Tractor trailers can be 50-feet long and weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When they’re involved in accidents with cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs, the drivers and passengers in those vehicles are at high risk of suffering debilitating injuries that can put them out of work for weeks, months, or even years. At Berg Injury Lawyers, it’s our goal to help innocent victims get the compensation they deserve after serious tractor trailer accidents. Our California truck accident lawyers have experience handling semi truck crash cases, and we know what to look for to build strong claims, including evidence such as:- Hours of service logs – Truck drivers are limited in the number of hours they can work within specific time frames without having days off or taking breaks. We check service logs after accidents to verify that truck drivers didn’t violate industry regulations.
- Truck weight limit violations – Trucks are rated for specific maximum cargo weights. Truck drivers and truck companies may exceed those limits to increase profits, but overloaded trucks can be difficult to drive and control. We can determine if the truck involved in an accident was overloaded.
- Driver licensure and training – Driving a big rig is difficult. It requires extensive training along with good vision, quick reflexes, and sound judgment. But some truck companies hire drivers who are inexperienced or unlicensed. We can determine if the driver involved in an accident met the proper training and licensure standards needed to get behind the wheel.
2 Common Causes of Truck Accidents
| September 11th, 2017
Semi trucks and tractor trailers are vital to the nation’s economy. They’re responsible for transporting goods from one end of the country to the other, making it possible for people to buy the things they need regardless of where they live in the U.S. But big trucks’ ubiquity and the increasing demand for consumer goods also mean that there are more trucks than ever on the nation’s roadways, including the streets, highways, and interstates in California. And the more trucks there are, the greater the risk all drivers face when they share the road with those 80,000-pound behemoths. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we know that truck accidents can and do occur under a wide variety of circumstances. However, we also know that two highly common causes often lead to truck crashes:- Driver fatigue – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created driver service hour restrictions to help keep fatigued, sleepy, and exhausted truck drivers off the road. Unfortunately, some drivers and trucking companies exceed the FMCSA’s restrictions to increase profits and shorten trips, putting themselves and others at risk.
- Improper loading – While trucks are designed to carry up to 80,000 pounds, the weight of their loads must be secured and evenly distributed. Even larger, more powerful trucks can struggle or become difficult to drive if their loads shift or become loose during transit. In some cases, trucks with uneven loads can even flip, blocking roadways and causing serious accidents.
The Difficulties of a Trucking Accident Claim
| May 29th, 2017
Big trucks are the lions of the road. Considering the damage they can inflict, no other vehicle on the road even comes close. Tractor-trailer rigs can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. In comparison, the average car is only 4,000 lbs. Given that discrepancy, it’s pretty easy to figure out who would win in a crash. Many times, the driver of the tractor-trailer comes out unharmed while the folks in the car aren’t so lucky. If you or someone you love has been injured in a big truck accident, the first thing you need to focus on is getting better. You can’t do that without extensive medical treatment. That medical treatment is going to cost money. Unless you have tens of thousands of dollars in savings to pay for it, you need the insurance company to step up to the plate and fulfill their responsibilities. Unfortunately, getting the insurance company to play fair can be difficult, especially in a trucking accident. In a regular car accident claim, you only have to deal with the insurance company of the at-fault driver. But in a trucking accident, you have to deal with the trucking company and their teams of lawyers. Getting what you deserve can be an uphill battle if you don’t have sound legal counsel on your side to even the playing field. That’s why you should give us a call before signing anything from the insurance company. Our experienced San Francisco truck accident attorneys will stand up for your rights by going after the maximum compensation for your injuries. You deserve to be treated fairly, and we’ll do everything within our power to make sure you are.Fatigued Truck Driving in San Francisco
| March 27th, 2017
Take a look around the room. We’d wager that 90% of everything you see was at one time transported on a tractor-trailer, and that might be a conservative estimate. The reality is without the trucking industry, our society would look much different. The products, materials, and equipment that keep us all rolling along without a hiccup are most often made available by the daily contributions of U.S. truck drivers. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we respect and appreciate the efforts of truck drivers. What we don’t respect are trucking companies that put fatigued or overworked drivers on the road in the name of profits. Tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. (20 times the weight of the average car). Controlling that amount of weight safely requires focus and precision—two attributes that can be impaired from driving fatigued. Over the years, we’ve seen the devastation a distracted truck driver can cause, which is why we continue to fight for victims and their families. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, call our San Francisco truck accident attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll investigate your accident and fight to get you the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact us today.The Difference Lies With the Opponent
| November 28th, 2016
No accident is without its challenges. From fender benders to serious wrecks on the highway, you can expect to be inconvenienced at best and incapacitated at worst. However, trucking accidents are in a frustration class all to their own. The difference lies with the opponent. In most car accidents that result in injuries, the injury victim has only one opponent—the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Not to dismiss the hassle of getting the insurance company to pay what is fair in a car accident, most injury lawyers can successfully negotiate a settlement on your behalf. In a truck accident, you’re not only facing the insurance company of the at-fault driver, but the trucking company and their insurance company as well. Combined, they have dozens of lawyers working to minimize your claim. That’s more than any one person can handle on their own. That’s why if you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, you should call us immediately. Our San Francisco truck accident attorneys have the experience and resolve to ensure you get the money you deserve from your injuries. That’s money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. This is not the time to go it alone. Contact us now.San Francisco Attorneys Defend Truck Accident Victims
| July 11th, 2016
San Francisco traffic is legendary. If you’re going into the city and are on a timeframe, you better build in some extra drive time just in case you hit an unexpected slowdown. Pushing that many vehicles through narrow roads and crowded streets can be treacherous, especially for oversized vehicles like tractor-trailers. One lapse in judgment by a truck driver can cause a catastrophic accident that can change a family forever. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we know the important role our trucking industry plays in our society. Tractor-trailers get the necessities of life for Californians into our state, as well as get our world-class produce and other goods out to the country. However, that importance doesn’t exempt them from maintaining a safe operation. When a truck driver’s negligence causes serious injuries, we hold them accountable, knowing full well we’re in for a fight. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you may face an uphill battle to get the compensation you deserve. The trucking company has teams of lawyers on their side and will try to minimize your claim. Even the playing field. Call our experienced San Francisco truck accident attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll protect your rights and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.Fatigued Truck Drivers Endanger California Lives
| May 31st, 2016
Northern California depends on the trucking industry to bring everyday necessities into our state and send the goods we produce out. It’s a vital component to keeping our country strong, and without it, life in the U.S. would look much different. Trucking companies have a responsibility to keep that industry operating efficiently, which can put a great deal of pressure on their truck drivers. Big trucks can carry up to 80,000 lbs. Transporting that amount of weight safely on California highways and interstates takes a great deal of skill and concentration. If that concentration wavers even for a moment, the consequences can be extreme. Truck drivers who feel pressured to get on the road, even though they are fatigued, is one of the leading causes of major accidents. In fact, studies have shown that driving fatigued is equally as dangerous as driving intoxicated. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we hold the trucking companies to a higher standard. When they allow fatigued drivers to get behind the wheel, they not only put the driver in danger, but every other car on the road in danger. If you’ve been injured in a big truck accident, give us a call immediately. Our San Francisco truck accident attorneys will fully investigate the cause of your accident and fight to get you maximum compensation for your injuries. Don’t wait to get the help you need. Call us today.
