Chico Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Chico Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

When a commercial vehicle is involved in a crash, the resulting injuries and damages are often worse than those in accidents between passenger vehicles. Incidents involving trucks, delivery vans, and other business vehicles not only pose the risk of severe injury but also present unique legal challenges. These cases often include multiple liable parties, complex insurance policies, and specific state laws. A Chico commercial vehicle accident lawyer can navigate the legal system after a crash.

Why Choose Barr and Mudford for Your Commercial Vehicle Accident Case?

California’s commercial vehicle accident laws are rarely straightforward, especially for people inexperienced in these types of cases. That’s why you want an experienced attorney, like those at Barr and Mudford, for your claim. We have a long history of success in cases like these, and we’ve been representing the people of Northern California for decades.

When you hire us, we can quickly get to work and investigate your accident, identify all liable parties, and collect evidence to support your case. Whether in settlement discussions or arguing in Butte County Superior Court, we don’t back down when pursuing all the compensation our clients deserve.

Proving Negligence in a Commercial Vehicle Accident Case

To recover compensation in a commercial vehicle accident, you need to prove that the driver, the company that owns the vehicle, the business that employs the driver, or any other party acted negligently. This requires that you prove the four elements of negligence, which are:

1. Duty of care. You must show that the other party had a duty to prevent you from suffering harm.
2. Breach of duty. When a driver does not uphold their duty through negligent acts, like speeding, texting while driving, or driving under the influence, they’ve breached that duty. Similarly, a company that doesn’t take steps to prevent its vehicles or drivers from operating unsafely is also in breach.
3. Causation. You must prove that the defendant’s breach of duty caused your accident.
4. Damages. You’ll have to prove that you incurred damages from the accident by using evidence like medical bills, repair estimates, and time sheets to show lost wages.

Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Commercial vehicle crashes occur for a number of reasons, with 153,452 injury-causing accidents involving large trucks in 2023. Fatigue is a major concern for commercial drivers, particularly when they are under pressure to meet tight deadlines or work long hours for multiple days in a row. Other driver-related behaviors, like speeding (which was the most common factor of these crashes) and distracted driving, are also major causes of commercial vehicle accidents.

Driver behaviors aren’t the only causes of these accidents. Improperly or overloading cargo can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle, and poor maintenance can also lead to crashes. Furthermore, road conditions like rain, ice, snow, and infrastructure problems can also contribute to accidents.

Complications in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Commercial vehicle accidents come with unique challenges compared to crashes involving passenger vehicles. First, determining liability can be difficult. Many parties could be liable for the crash, and they could even share liability. Your commercial vehicle accident attorney in Chico, California can investigate your incident to determine who was at fault.

Furthermore, injury victims will be up against the commercial company’s insurance company. These insurance providers are more interested in protecting their bottom line than giving you the compensation you deserve. They have their own legal teams with nearly endless resources, so you want your own attorney to aggressively represent your commercial vehicle accident case.

FAQs

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

While you don’t legally need a lawyer after a commercial vehicle accident, it’s a good idea to consult one. These cases can be complicated, as you’ll be up against large corporate insurance companies and their legal teams. When you don’t know the law or your rights, it’s easy to:

• Overlook details in a policy.
• Fall for bad faith tactics.
• Miss out on all the compensation you truly deserve.

Your attorney can focus on your case while you manage your recovery.

Is It Better to Settle After an Accident With a Company Vehicle?

Whether it’s better to settle after an accident with a company vehicle or take them to court ultimately depends on the strength of your case and what your goals are. When you have strong evidence, you’re likely to command a higher settlement amount, but that evidence isn’t always strong enough to sway a judge or jury. In some cases, it may be wise to accept a settlement to avoid the risk of getting nothing.

What Should You Not Say to an Insurance Company After an Accident?

One thing you should never say to an insurance company is anything to imply that you were at fault in some way. Even saying sorry can be interpreted as an admission of liability, and insurance companies can use that against you. California uses a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies may try to put part of the blame on you to reduce their payout.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Commercial Vehicle Accidents?

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets the statute of limitations for accidents that cause death or injury. This deadline is two years from the date of the accident or when you discover your injuries. The law also acknowledges circumstances that can extend the deadline, such as cases involving minors or those where the defendant flees the state. Regardless, it’s wise to get started on your case as soon as possible so you don’t risk missing the deadline.

Hire a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

An accident involving a commercial vehicle can change your life in an instant, leaving you with long-term injuries and financial hardships. You shouldn’t be left dealing with the consequences of someone else’s actions. Hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer to manage the complicated process of insurance negotiations and court battles.

Contact the team at Barr and Mudford for the dedicated legal support you need. Our attorneys can investigate your accident, collect evidence of your losses, and pursue the full compensation you deserve. Let us handle your case while you manage your health.