San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyers

According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, about 140,215,987,089 fatal and non-fatal truck accidents occur every year. These accidents are responsible for approximately 89,000 injuries and 5,000 fatalities throughout the country.

Tractor-trailer and semi-truck accidents present more complex scenarios than traditional car accidents. They often involve multiple parties and cause infinitely more damage due to the tremendous size and weight of trucks. Additionally, other variables are at play when various types of cargo are involved. For example, toxic and/or flammable chemicals can leak, or heavy objects can fall out of the rig onto roadways or other vehicles.

• Overloaded Trucks
• Truck Accident FAQs

Causes of Truck Accidents

• Driver fatigue
• Driving intoxicated, which can include drivers being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, including prescription and illicit drugs  (DUI)
• Failure to obey traffic laws, such as running red lights or failing to use signals
• Improper loading of cargo or driving with an unsecured load
• Lack of driver training
• Reckless driving, such as unsafely passing, speeding or cutting off other drivers
• Vehicle equipment failures, including tire blowouts and/or malfunctions due to a lack of adequate maintenance
• Weather conditions and/or poor road conditions.

The Anna Dubrovsky Law Group possesses the specialized knowledge that is critical in successfully pursuing tractor-trailer and truck accident cases.  Our depth and breadth of experience is vast, and we have been highly successful in winning favorable jury verdicts and obtaining sizable settlements for our clients in these complex matters.

Contact San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyers at the Anna Dubrovsky Law Group, Inc.

Have you been injured in a truck accident? If so, you can count on the experienced San Francisco truck accident lawyers at the Anna Dubrovsky Law Group, Inc. for aggressive legal advocacy and effective help pursuing justice and compensation.

To find out more about how we can help you, contact us today by calling (415) 746-1477 or (800) 440-6313 or by emailing us using the contact form.

While our San Francisco truck accident lawyers will compassionately guide you through the complexities of the legal process, they will also vigorously defend your rights and interests against insurance companies, defense attorneys and other daunting opponents. Our goal is to maximize your financial recovery and bring your case to a successful resolution so that you can focus on your future.

Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Accident Cases

At the Anna Dubrovsky Law Group, Inc., our esteemed San Francisco truck accident attorneys have been dedicated to aggressively defending the rights of truck accident survivors for well over a decade. Below are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about truck accident cases.

While the answers provided below can give you with some insight regarding your rights and options for moving forward after being hurt in a truck accident, you can also get answers specific to your situation by contacting us today.

The first step to take after truck accidents is to seek medical attention for any serious injuries. Following that, it’s important to:

• Report the collision to your insurance provider – Provide the details of what occurred, specifically where the truck accident happened (location), when it occurred (time/date) and who was involved. Do not admit or try to assign fault in the accident.
• Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer – If another party’s negligence caused the truck accident that injured you, you will likely be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. An experienced lawyer – like the San Francisco truck accident attorneys at the Anna Dubrovsky Law Group, Inc. – can help determine when negligence may have been involved in truck accidents and can help injured people get on the path to compensation and justice.

Various parties, depending on the situation. In fact, just some of the parties who may be liable for truck accidents include:

• Truck drivers when they are impaired, fail to comply with traffic laws or are otherwise negligent
• Trucking companies when they fail to ensure that their drivers are qualified/trained, they fail to properly maintain their trucks, they fail to comply with federal/state trucking regulations, etc.
• Other motorists when their negligence behind the wheel leads to truck accidents
• Manufacturers when their faulty or defective vehicle equipment causes truck accidents
• Municipalities when their failure to keep roads safe and well maintained results in collisions
• Other parties, such as third-party vehicle maintenance companies, when their failure to properly maintain/repair trucks results in accidents.

Injured people (i.e., plaintiffs) can seek compensation for their:

• Medical bills and future treatment costs
• Lost wages and lost future earnings
• Mental suffering and loss of quality of life.

Families who have lost loved ones in fatal truck accidents can seek damages that, in addition to the above, include funeral and burial expenses and loss of companionship. For a more precise estimate regarding the value of a particular truck accident claim, contact our San Francisco truck accident attorneys.
Within two years of the date of the accident. Although this may seem like a lot of time, it can go by very quickly, and waiting too long to proceed with your case has the potential result in:

• Evidence getting lost or otherwise becoming no longer available (such as in the case of witness testimony)
• Your claim being weakened and, therefore, worth less
• You losing your opportunity to seek compensation (in the event that the two-year statute of limitations runs out).

It depends on the complexity and details of the case. In general, however, truck accident cases are not resolved within days or sometimes even weeks. It can take months or longer in some cases to resolve these cases, with the more complex cases usually taking longer.
Yes. If you are serious about the strength and success of your truck accident case, having an experienced lawyer on your side can be crucial to:

• Understanding your rights
• Crafting the strongest possible claim
• Effectively standing up to insurance companies and other daunting opponents
• Obtaining the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.

To find out more about how we can help you, contact us today by calling (415) 746-1477 or (800) 440-6313.

Dangers of Overloaded & Overweight Trucks

Federal trucking regulations set the maximum weight limit for commercial trucks in the U.S. at 80,000 pounds (or 20,000 pounds per axle). While this is certainly substantial (and while it may vary according to state regulations), some truckers and/or trucking companies will choose to load their trucks heavier, usually in an effort to save money and increase profits.

When this type of violation and negligence occurs, it puts other motorists on the road at risk, as it increases the chances that a truck accident will take place.

Why Overloaded Trucks Are Dangerous

When trucks are overloaded:

• Steering trucks becomes more difficult, as the weight of the trucks typically shifts to the rear of the truck, removing weight from the front tires.
• Stopping trucks becomes more difficult, particularly when going downhill.
• Brake failure, tire blowouts and other vehicle equipment failures are more likely to occur, as these components may not be able to bear the excessive weight and still function properly.
• It’s more likely that roads, bridges and/or overpasses will collapse, especially if overloaded trucks are travelling on roadways that have specific weight restrictions.
• Rollover truck accidents are more likely to occur, as the center of gravity for the truck will be higher.
• The impacts of truck accidents can be far more devastating, as the extra weight increases the momentum of the truck prior to the collision (and this will likely exact more damage on smaller passenger vehicles, which weigh, on average, around 3,500 pounds).

Overloaded Trucks: Who’s Responsible?

Ultimately, trucking companies are the parties that are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles comply with federal weight limits before sending them out on the roads. While other parties may also be liable for compensating accident victims, in general, the compensation available can include damages for:

• Medical bills and ongoing treatment costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Funeral and burial expenses (in cases when overloaded trucks cause fatal accidents).

Overloaded Truck Accidents: More Important Information

• Overloaded truck accidents are entirely preventable. Holding trucking companies accountable for causing these preventable accidents is as just as it is admirable.
• There are strict time limits for filing truck accident claims in California, and waiting could impact the strength of your case (as well as your options for financial recovery).
• Punitive damages may be available in some cases (such as when a trucking company has a history of overloading its trucks and/or operating negligently).
• Going up against trucking companies and their insurance providers can be challenging, so it’s crucial for people to have an experienced lawyer on their side who will fight for their rights and help them favorably resolve their case.