Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
Getting into an accident with a large commercial truck can have catastrophic results. Due to the sheer size and weight of 18-wheelers, they can be intimidating to drive around, especially for smaller passenger vehicles. If you were involved in a recent truck accident, give the Orange County personal injury attorneys at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo a call today. An experienced Orange County truck accident attorney is standing by to give you the advice and help you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (714) 783-2205 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
“Anthony Modarelli is an outstanding attorney. He always returned our calls in a timely manner. He always made sure we understood the process of our claim. He always made time during our appointments and never felt rushed. I am so glad we found him and we were pleased with our settlement.” – M.R.
Many truck crash injury victims think that they will be able to handle these cases on their own. After all, it is not uncommon for traditional vehicle crash injury victims to handle claims themselves by working with their insurance company. However, handling an Orange County truck accident case without assistance from an attorney is incredibly risky.
First and foremost, you need to realize that commercial truck drivers and companies likely have extensive resources that they can use to combat any claim made against them. Not only are their insurance companies going to be incredibly aggressive and fight back against any claim, but they will also likely have legal teams used to dispute fault.
When the deck is stacked against you, you have to fight back. The best way to do that is to work with an experienced Orange County truck accident lawyer who has no problem taking on other parties involved in these cases. Our auto accident attorneys will use their resources and legal expertise to:
Truck accidents come in many forms, each posing unique dangers to other drivers on the road. Understanding the types of truck accidents can highlight the risks these massive vehicles bring to highways and city streets.
Common types of truck accidents include:
Each of these accidents can result in serious injuries, and identifying the type of accident is often key in determining fault and pursuing compensation.
From minor injuries to serious injuries, large trucks can cause extensive damage to you and your passengers. Some of the common truck accident injuries in Orange County include:
In addition to these acute traumatic injuries listed, we also know that Orange County truck accident victims are likely to suffer from significant emotional and psychological trauma. This can include feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress that last for quite some time after the incident occurs. In some cases, truck accident victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our goal is to help clients recover compensation for all of their losses. This includes the traumatic injuries they sustain as well as any long-lasting emotional and psychological trauma caused by the incident and the recovery process.
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, often involving negligence. Common causes include mechanical failures, inadequate safety measures, driver error, reckless driving, poor road conditions, and driver fatigue. Sometimes, the other driver is at fault, such as in cases of illegal lane changes or distracted driving. An experienced Orange County truck accident attorney can help determine if negligence played a role in your claim.
According to the NHTSA, trucking accidents are often more severe than other car accidents due to the size and weight of trucks, which increase impact force, braking distance, and limit maneuverability. This leads to 73% of fatal crashes involving deaths of other vehicle occupants, compared to 18% for truckers. Many injuries occur when other vehicles are crushed under the truck.
When a truck driver is in an accident, their dispatcher quickly contacts the trucking company’s lawyers and investigators, who often arrive at the scene within an hour—sometimes before emergency responders. Their goal is to gather evidence that could shift blame onto you.
If trucking companies start building their defense immediately, shouldn’t you? Call an Orange County truck collision lawyer to protect your case, preserve evidence, and ensure you pursue fair compensation in these complex situations.
Trucking companies are required to carry insurance that goes beyond what a typical personal vehicle is required to have. Both state and federal law require that truck driver owner-operators and companies carry significant liability policies. The total amount of liability insurance the truck company is required to carry for their vehicles will vary depending on the weight of the truck as well as the type of cargo being hauled. Typically, insurance policies range anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million in liability coverage.
In many cases, liability may be unclear. In fact, there may even be shared liability amongst those involved. If a truck accident victim is accused of causing the accident, this does not necessarily mean they will receive no compensation at all.
California operates under a “pure comparative negligence” system. This means that individuals can receive compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for their own injury. This is different from how other states operate, where they typically prevent individuals from recovering compensation if they are 50% or more responsible for the incident.
However, under California’s pure comparative negligence system, individuals will receive reduced compensation based on their percentage of fault. For example, if the truck accident victim sustains $100,000 worth of medical bills and property damage expenses, but a jury determines that they were 40% responsible for the Internet because they were distracted while driving, then they would receive $60,000 instead of the full $100,000.
Any accusations of shared fault for a truck accident must be taken seriously. You should work with a trusted truck accident lawyer in Orange County who can examine the facts of the case and push back against the insurance carriers involved. An attorney can work to help you maximize compensation.
Determining fault in a semi-truck crash in Orange County can be challenging but is crucial for securing fair compensation. The process relies heavily on evidence, some of which can be gathered at the scene if it’s safe to do so. Key evidence includes:
While police will conduct a preliminary investigation, victims should not rely solely on the report. A skilled truck accident lawyer can gather additional evidence, such as:
An accident reconstruction expert may also be needed to clarify the events for insurance or court.
Damages are the award granted to the party in order to compensate them for a loss or injury. Doctor’s visits, time lost from work, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering are all examples of expenses for which you can be compensated. Some of these costs, like medical bills, are easy to calculate while others, such as mental anguish, are less concrete. Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer in Orange County can help maximize your claim to help rebuild your life.
Pain and suffering damages aren’t easy to measure, so the court will instead use a “pain multiplier” to come up with a number. The pain multiplier will be used in a formula to calculate an appropriate amount of compensation for your pain and suffering. When you file a personal injury claim with our law firm, we can help you determine a rough estimate of what that compensation may look like prior to litigation.
Truck accident victims in Orange County have a limited time to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. The California statute of limitations allows two years from the accident date to file a claim against the at-fault driver or company. Missing this deadline means losing the right to compensation.
However, this two-year limit doesn’t apply to insurance deadlines. Claims should be filed soon after the accident to avoid delays or denials.
It’s essential to work with an experienced Orange County truck accident lawyer who can handle all deadlines, file insurance claims, and ensure a timely lawsuit if needed. Truck accident cases are complex, and legal support is vital.
The timeline of a truck accident case depends on several factors and is often more complicated than passenger vehicle accidents. Initially, drivers file claims with their insurance companies, which typically contact each other. Most truck accident cases are settled through insurance, with simple cases resolving in a month or two. However, if claims are denied or settlements are inadequate, filing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary.
Once a lawsuit is filed, the case moves to civil court, extending the timeline. Even if settled before trial, the process may take months or longer. If it goes to trial, resolution can take even more time. Working with an experienced truck accident lawyer is crucial to navigating the process and securing full compensation.
The amount awarded in a truck accident settlement or jury verdict depends on the specifics of each case. Minor cases may result in settlements of a few thousand dollars, while severe injuries or significant property damage can lead to much higher amounts. For example, a spinal cord injury with paralysis could lead to hundreds of thousands in medical bills and millions in long-term care costs.
Settlements generally range from $15,000 to $2 million or more. Minor injuries typically result in settlements of $15,000 to $50,000. Moderate injuries, like broken bones or head trauma, may range from $50,000 to $500,000. Catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis, often exceed $1 million.
If negligence caused your injuries, an attorney can help maximize your compensation. Key factors in determining the settlement include:
An experienced attorney will help assess your losses and guide you toward recovery.
This is one of the most common questions we receive, and the good news is that we take Orange County truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket costs for their cases. Our attorneys will not collect any legal fees until after we obtain the compensation our clients deserve. In other words, if we do not win the case, our clients do not pay a dime.
By working with a contingency for you, we recognize that this allows clients to stand up to the negligent parties who caused them harm, regardless of what resources they have and the resources of the opposing side.
DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo has been handling personal injury cases since 1979, securing favorable settlements for truck accident victims across Southern California. We focus on obtaining maximum compensation for medical expenses, property damage, and more through thorough investigations.
Whether your accident was due to safety issues, mechanical failures, or another driver’s actions, our experienced Orange County truck accident attorneys will help gather evidence to support your claim. For a free consultation, contact us at (714) 783-2205 or by sending us an online message.
For more on truck driving laws and regulations, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website.
We serve truck accident victims all throughout Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and San Clemente.