Sacramento Truck Accident Attorneys

Fighting Back After a Big Rig Accident

While large semi-trucks, commercial trucks, and tractor-trailers comprise just 3% of the vehicles on American roads, they account for more than 25% of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths. Reckless driving, driver fatigue, improper maintenance, and mechanical failures are just a few of the causes of these accidents.

There may be many responsible parties in a truck accident case, from the driver to the trucking company to the owner of the trailer. If you have been injured or a loved one was killed in a big rig accident, it is important to select a truck accident attorney in Sacramento with experience handling these complex cases. Piering Law Firm has the experience to assist you.

Rules and Regulations for Truck Drivers

Because trucks can cause such catastrophic damage in the event of an accident, truck drivers and the companies they work for are required to follow more regulations than other motor vehicles both on and even off the road. In fact, these drivers must follow stricter rules than many other employees in general. One of these such rules is called the hours of service regulation, which was created to prevent fatigued driving. Because of this, most of the laws are aimed at ensuring that truck drivers get an adequate amount of sleep and are not overworked. According to this law:

  • Truck drivers can work a maximum of14 hours in one workday, still nearly double that of most other workdays. Of these 14 hours, however, truckers can only drive for 11 hours, with the remaining time spent on rest or meal breaks
  • Truck drivers must rest for at least 10 consecutive hours before beginning a new workday
  • Truck drivers are required to take days off work at regular intervals

Unfortunately, truck drivers don’t always follow these rules. Whether due to truck driver negligence or pressure from the trucking companies’, failing to follow the hours of service regulations rules can raise the chances of an accident. If you have been injured by a negligent truck driver, it often requires an investigation into your accident to discover if these rules were violated. The attorneys at our firm are experienced in such investigations and are ready to help you today. Call us today to learn more!

Establishing Liability After a Truck Accident

Because so many parties are involved in commercial trucking, determining liability after an accident can be difficult. This is because an accident with a truck can be caused by many factors.

Some of these include:

  • Poor road conditions
  • Driver negligence
  • Improper loading
  • Lack of truck maintenance

For example, if your accident with a truck was caused by a tire blowout, liability could fall with the tire manufacturer (if the tire was defective) or the trucking company (if a tire that should have been replaced during routine maintenance wasn’t). If treacherous or unmaintained roads are to blame, liability may lie with the city or state where the accident occurred because it was their fault for not maintaining safe infrastructure. These are some of the many scenarios that can come up and why it’s always good to have a lawyer to help you establish liability through investigations.

Why You Need Piering Law Firm on Your Site

  • Award-winning representation
  • Millions of dollars recovered
  • Consultations are free
  • You don't pay unless we win

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

U.S. Truck Accident Statistics

Collisions involving large trucks occur more often than many people realize. Below, we have compiled some of the most shocking statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

  • In 2019 alone, 5,005 people died and 159,000 were injured in collisions involving large trucks. Of these deaths, roughly 18% were truck occupants while the remaining 82% were occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians.
  • Truck accidents accounted for roughly 14% of all motor vehicle deaths in 2019.
  • In 2019, 98 drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes were alcohol-impaired at the time of the crash.

Types of Truck Accident Injuries

Due to their size, accidents with semi-trucks and big rigs usually result in catastrophic injuries such as:

  • Brain injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Burns and disfigurement
  • Wrongful death

While there is no amount of financial compensation that can make up for your loss, our lawyers will do our best to understand how the tragedy of a truck accident has affected your quality of life. We will identify all the responsible parties and make them pay the maximum compensation for your injuries or loss. From the negotiation table to the courtroom, we have the skill and experience needed to prevail in your case.

We Thoroughly Investigate Your Accident

An immediate investigation is especially important in truck accident cases. Trucking companies have been known to destroy critical evidence such as driving records, driver logs, and maintenance records in an effort to sidestep liability.

At Piering Law Firm, our Sacramento truck accident attorneys have an accident investigator on staff who will immediately start working to obtain the evidence that is needed to build a strong case for you. We also work with accident reconstructionists who will identify the cause of your accident.

Don't wait to get help! Contact our firm today to schedule a free consult.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

Your actions in the immediate aftermath of a truck accident can be critical to both your health and your ability to recover compensation for your injuries. Following these steps can help you protect yourself against liability and maximize your chances of having a successful truck accident claim.

1. Stay at the Scene

The first step for anyone involved in a crash with a commercial vehicle is to stay at the scene. Fleeing the scene of an accident is illegal and can carry serious criminal penalties such as fines, a suspension of you license, and possible jail time. Never leave an accident scene until you are cleared by law enforcement to do so.

2. Call 9-1-1 for Help

If someone has been injured or has died in the crash, call 9-1-1 immediately. Otherwise, call the police or highway patrol and wait for an officer to arrive. The police will assess the situation, create an accident report, and inform you of your next steps. Tell the police exactly what happened and avoid making any sort of speculative statements. Most importantly, do not admit fault when speaking to the police. Be sure to request a copy of their report for your records.

3. Seek Medical Treatment

Always get a full medical evaluation after an accident, whether you are obviously injured or not. The adrenaline rush of the collision could be preventing you from feeling pain or noticing an injury. If you were lucky enough to "walk away" from the crash and were not rushed to the hospital, see a doctor as soon as possible after the crash. Tell your doctor you were involved in a crash and let them determine if you need any care. If you do not see a doctor in a reasonable time or follow through with treatment recommendations, you could encounter difficulty when seeking compensation for your injuries.

4. Exchange Information

If the police arrive at the scene, they will take care of gathering the identifying information of all parties involved when filling out their report. However, in the event that the police are unable to respond, you will need to collect this information yourself. Be sure to get the names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, driver's license numbers, and license plate numbers of all drivers and vehicles involved. If there were any witnesses to the crash, ask for their information as well.

5. Take Photos and/or Videos

If you have access to a smartphone, use it to capture get detailed photo or video evidence of the accident scene. Include images of physical damage, the positioning of the involved vehicles relative to one another, skid marks or tire tracks, damaged property, traffic patterns, weather conditions, and any other details that help paint a picture of what happened.

6. Inform Your Insurance Company

You will need to inform your auto insurance company that you were involved in a collision as soon as possible after the wreck. Give them enough details to open up a claim, but be very careful with your words. Anything you say to an insurance adjuster can potentially be used against you. If the adjuster asks for a recorded or written statement, decline until you have spoken to your attorney.

Get Help with Your Case Today

At Piering Law Firm, our attorneys Robert Allen Piering and John Beals have the knowledge and skills to identify all of the responsible parties and go up against their insurance companies to get you the compensation you need after an accident. We take truck accident cases on a contingency basis, so you don't pay us until we win your case.

Don't wait to get started on your case! To schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced truck accident attorneys in Sacramento, call (916) 476-2399 or contact us online. If your needs require it, our attorneys can meet with you in your home or on the weekend. Se habla español.

Settlements & Verdicts

Piering Law Firm Has Achieved Notable Results in a Wide Range of Cases
  • $5,000,000 Wrongful Death

    A wrongful death judgment secured for a child who lost his mother as a result of domestic violence.

  • $4,893,830 Wrongful Death

    Complex wrongful death motorcycle accident involving product liability claims against both helmet and motorcycle luggage manufacturers.

  • $3,609,600 Knee Amputation

    Motorcycle vs. automobile collision resulting in below knee amputation. Client was riding motorcycle and defendant pulled out in front of him, resulting in a severe injury to client's leg, which ultimately led to the amputation of his leg, just below the knee.

  • $2,500,000 Serious Injuires

    Case involving serious injuries to a motorcycle rider who was involved in an accident with a shuttle bus on the freeway in San Francisco.

  • $2,000,000 Against Bar/Security Company

    34-year-old software sales associate out with friends drinking at a bar in San Francisco. After a few hours, he leaves the bar to go home and gets in an argument outside of the club with a security guard.

  • $2,000,000 Wrongful Death

    A settlement in a wrongful death action as a result of a crash that took the life of a motorcyclist.

  • $2,000,000 Trucking Accident

    Recovery for the victim of a rear-end traffic collision with a big rig that resulted in a neck injury.

  • $1,700,000 Trucking Accident

    Verdict received after trial for the victim of a rear-end traffic collision involving a commercial trucking company.

  • $1,300,000 Head-On Collision

    A policy limit settlement involving a head-on collision on a notoriously dangerous stretch of highway between State Highway 99 in Sacramento and Marysville, commonly known as "blood alley".

  • $1,250,000 Pedestrian Wrongful Death

    The defendant's primary limits of $250,000 were tendered in response to a conditional limit demand that required disclosure of all other coverages. The defendant had an excess policy of $1,000,000.00 which was tendered along with the primary limits.

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Hear It From Our Clients

    “I would highly recommend John Beal and Piering Law Firm to anyone needing legal advice and representation.”

    - Eric C.

    “I am very much pleased with our results and it was worth working with this amazing group of individuals.”

    - Angelique Y.

    “

    John listened to me, gave great advice, put together a plan then followed through.

    ”

    - Joey S.

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