Costa Mesa Truck Accident Lawyers
Get Legal Help After a Truck Accident
Southern California has some of the most congested highways in the nation. For example, Interstate 405 is busy at all times of the day and night. This major highway, which serves the Los Angeles International Airport and many coastal cities, including Costa Mesa, links the northern and southern parts of the greater Los Angeles area between Orange County and the San Fernando Valley. With the heavy, congested traffic on highways such as the 405, I-5, and the California 91 Express Lanes, it is no surprise that truck accidents are a common occurrence.
A collision between an 80,000 pound 18-wheeler and a 3,000-pound car can cause serious or fatal injuries for passenger vehicle occupants. If you or your loved one has been a victim of a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have a right to seek justice and compensation in a truck accident claim.
Causes of Truck Accidents
In the Large Truck Crash Causation Study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), researchers found that, of the large trucks involved in accidents, 55% were assigned the critical reason for the crash, as reported by FMCSA. Of those critical reasons, 87% involved truck driver error.
The top ten factors associated with crashes coded for large trucks and their drivers, in descending order, were:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (congested traffic, previous wreck)
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Driver unfamiliar with the roadway
- Roadway problems
- Driver required to stop before a crash (crosswalk, traffic light)
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Inadequate surveillance
- Driver fatigue
Truck drivers can cause accidents when they are:
- Fatigued from long hours on the road
- Driving under the influence of prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal drugs
- Distracted by cell phones, GPS systems, or dispatchers
- Speeding and do not have time to stop to avoid a crash
- Inexperienced and lose control of the truck.
Truck Accidents Can Be Deadly for Other Motorists
Regardless of what causes a collision between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle, it is the passenger vehicle occupants, not the truck driver, who are more likely to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. A total of 4,136 people were killed in large truck crashes in the U.S. in 2018, as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of those fatalities, 67% were occupants of passenger vehicles and 15% were motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Only 16% were occupants of large trucks.
Why You Need an Attorney for a Truck Accident Claim
Truck accidents are complex cases involving federal regulations and multiple potentially liable parties. They are typically high-stakes cases that can turn into contentious battles with trucking companies and their insurers. Our experienced Costa Mesa injury lawyers can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability, and collect and preserve evidence, including truck black box data, to support your claim. We have the knowledge, skills, and resources to go up against large trucking companies and insurance companies in pursuit of the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Us?
- Our Orange County personal injury lawyers at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie have more than 40 years of experience. Our firm was founded in 1974.
- We have a successful track record handling a range of personal injury matters, including truck accident cases. Our attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
- We treat people with dignity and respect. You can expect us to keep you fully informed about your case, in real-time.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you. We offer a free consultation with no time limits and no restrictions. If you or your loved one has been hurt in a truck or car accident that was someone else’s fault, call Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie at (949) 752-7474 to find out how we can help.
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