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San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyer

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When it comes to a collision involving a car and a commercial vehicle, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Unfortunately, the occupants in the smaller vehicle are more likely to suffer the worst of the fallout. In fact, 97 percent of the deaths resulting from truck-auto collisions in 2017 were car passengers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you have been hurt or a loved one has been killed in a truck-caused accident, contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Types of Trucks and Big Rigs

San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucks range in size from light-duty, half-ton pickups to heavy-duty tractor-trailer rigs. Trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds are in the large truck category while heavy-duty trucks are those that weigh up to 33,000 pounds and are almost exclusively in commercial use. Examples of heavy-duty trucks include:

  • Dump trucks
  • Garbage collectors
  • Logging rigs
  • Cargo carriers
  • Auto haulers
  • Tankers
  • Cement mixers

Because commercial companies typically employ these kinds of trucks in business and commerce, the liability in an accident may rest not only with the driver but also with the transport company, a parent company or even the commercial service provider that maintains the fleet.

Stats and Facts on Trucking Accidents

Nearly 12 percent of all U.S. fatal traffic accidents in 2015 involved large trucks or carriers. The number of non-fatal injury accidents involving at least one heavy vehicle neared 100,000 in that same year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The following truck driver errors are among the top causes for such incidents:

  • Non-performance, such as falling asleep at the wheel
  • Inattention to the road or distracted driving
  • Performance, such as overcompensating or panicking in the face of danger
  • Unfamiliarity with the roads

Intentional decisions the driver makes can also be the catalyst for an injury or fatal accident. For example, the trucker may choose to:

  • Drive too fast for road and/or weather conditions
  • Exceed the speed limit
  • Drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Drive while ill

Mechanical failure also causes accidents, and the owners of the truck or those who
maintain or load the truck may also share liability for an injurious or fatal collision. Examples of equipment failure leading to collisions include:

  • Faulty or failing brakes
  • Tire blow-outs
  • Shifting or overloaded cargo

Accidents may also be due to dangerous or improperly maintained roadways. If you are injured or someone is killed in the Bay Area due to any of the above negligent or intentional causes, speak to a truck accident attorney in San Francisco to pursue compensation for your damages.

Types of Truck Accidents and Injuries

The size, weight and purpose of large trucks predispose them to some specific types of accidents that are not as common in auto crashes. For example, if heavy cargo shifts while the truck is in motion, it could cause the driver to lose control and hit other vehicles or pedestrians. If a driver makes an abrupt stop, a car that is following could become lodged beneath the truck’s trailer, resulting in severe injuries or death to the occupants. Also, tractor-trailer rigs can jackknife on slick roads, impacting other vehicles.

Injuries you could suffer in a truck accident include strained muscles, broken bones or traumatic brain injuries. The risk of serious injury is higher in a truck accident due in large part to the size and weight of the rig, which multiply the force of impact. A truck accident lawyer will advocate for you to secure full compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result of a truck collision.

Who Should Pay?

As an injury victim in a truck accident, you face potentially crippling financial losses. Your ambulance and emergency room bills could be only the start. You may lose income due to an extended recovery period. You may be unable to return to work due to disability. Physical and/or behavioral therapy may be in your future as well as ongoing medical care. Unless your truck accident lawyer procures compensation appropriate to your individual situation, you and your family may suffer the consequences for years to come.

Liability in a commercial truck accident is rarely straightforward due to the number of people involved, from the driver on down to the vehicle manufacturer. Your lawyer can help unravel the often complicated chain of responsibility to ensure that you receive full compensation from all liable parties for your current and future injury-related expense.

How Rizio Lipinsky Heiting of San Francisco Can Help

An experienced San Francisco truck accident attorney can navigate the complexities of California personal injury law while you are recovering from your accident or grieving a loss. If you have been hurt in a truck accident in the Bay Area where the trucker was at fault, Rizio Lipinsky Heiting can help. You can rely on our knowledge and experience in truck accident injuries to secure the maximum financial compensation allowed by the law. Please fill out our contact form to get started, or call 1-888-292-8888 today to schedule your free initial consultation.

  • This article should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney in your community.
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A Review of Rizio Lipinsky Heiting
San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyer
I'm so happy I found Rizio Lipinsky Heiting, we just settled my case and I'm very happy about it.

I was involved in a very bad car accident 2 years ago and I had a different lawyer at the beginning, but he wasn't able to do much with my case, he was slow and not really invested in it, he didn't even pay my medical bills with the first settlement, so I was having credit problems, a very bad situation!

Then I was introduced to Rizio Lipinsky Heiting, they managed not only to clean my credit in record time and pay off all my bills but also he also settled the case very fast.

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My lawyer was very knowledgeable, kind and always ready to listen and help you out in any way he can! I'm so glad I found Rizio Lipinsky Heiting.

- 2017-06-13 - Yelp
Five Star Rating  5/5

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