San Bernardino Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents often result in serious or life-altering injuries, in large part because of their enormous size and weight compared to other vehicles. A fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs about 4,400 pounds.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced San Bernardino truck accident attorney to discuss your right to pursue compensation.

Trucking companies and their insurers may aggressively defend against claims or dispute damages. The truck accident lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers are familiar with common insurance defense strategies and how to address them.

Our San Bernardino personal injury attorneys have more than 50 years of experience representing truck accident victims and pursuing compensation based on documented losses.

Call us at (909) 245-8920 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We will listen to you, answer your questions, explain your rights, and discuss potential next steps.

Why Choose Our San Bernardino Truck Accident Attorneys?

• We use a team of highly skilled and aggressive litigators who will present the strengths of your truck accident case in the most effective way possible. Your success and recovery are our main priorities as your attorneys.

• Our law firm pursues high settlements for seriously injured clients in and out of the courtroom. Our truck accident lawyers will seek a full recovery by managing, maintaining and executing all the necessary legal work of your case for you.

We will fight for the justice you deserve at no costs upfront. Our lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay your truck accident attorney anything unless your case ends in financial compensation.

How A San Bernardino Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

Truck accident cases can be much more complex than many car accident cases in San Bernardino. Commercial trucking companies are required to carry substantial insurance coverage, and multiple parties may be involved.

Insurance companies may dispute liability or the value of your claim. Having an experienced San Bernardino truck accident lawyer can help you navigate this process.

At Jacoby & Meyers, we have the experience and resources to investigate accidents, determine possible causes, and identify potentially responsible parties. We work to pursue compensation supported by the evidence in your case.

Some of the actions we may take to build your case include:

• Determine negligence or wrongdoing. Trucking companies may maintain driver logs and other records that require careful review. An experienced truck accident attorney knows how to investigate and evaluate these materials.
• Proving your case.. Many truck accidents involve multiple parties, and proving liability can be complex. Our attorneys may collaborate with experts, such as accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and economists, to support your claim.
• Promptly collect and preserve important evidence. Key evidence can be lost over time, so acting promptly is important. If evidence is improperly destroyed, legal remedies may be available.
• Address insurance defense strategies. Trucking and insurance companies often retain defense counsel. At Jacoby & Meyers, we prepare cases thoroughly and advocate for compensation supported by documented damages.

Trucking accident cases can be challenging. Consulting with an experienced attorney can help you understand your options.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in San Bernardino, CA?

It can be difficult to determine liability, or financial responsibility, for a truck accident in San Bernardino. Unlike an ordinary car accident case, there are often multiple at-fault parties that share fault. 

Trucking companies can typically be held vicariously liable for accidents caused by truck drivers, for example. The circumstances can provide more than one insurance policy to cover victims’ damages. Possibilities include:

• A truck driver
• A truck owner/operator
• A truck or part manufacturer
• The trucking company
• A maintenance or repair shop
• The cargo company
• Cargo loaders
• Government agencies responsible for regulations

Determining the liable party in your truck accident case may take an in-depth investigation by an attorney. Your San Bernardino truck accident lawyer can return to the scene, interview those involved, gather black box information and other key evidence, and hire experts to understand the cause of the crash. An attorney can name all defendants and help you file a claim before the deadline.

Proving Liability in a Riverside Truck Accident Claim

To hold someone responsible for a commercial truck accident in San Bernardino, you or your lawyer must prove fault or negligence. If someone was “negligent,” they did not act with the appropriate degree of care. Negligence has four parts: duty of care, breach of duty, causation and damages.

Proving liability requires compelling evidence, such as:

• A police or investigative report
• The truck’s black box (electronic recording device)
• The truck driver’s commercial qualifications and records
• The driver’s medical history
• Cell phone records
• Inspection, maintenance and repair reports for the fleet
• Photographs and video footage
• In-cab truck footage
• Trucking company federal compliance records
• Eyewitness accounts
• Testimony from relevant experts

There must be enough evidence to demonstrate that the defendant is more likely to be at fault for the truck accident than not. This is known as a “preponderance of the evidence.” As your legal advocates, our lawyers can help you prove and demonstrate fault with pertinent evidence. 

We are seasoned attorneys who can go up against a trucking company’s rapid response team to preserve important data and records for you.

Compensation in San Bernardino Truck Accident Cases

The amount and type of compensation available will depend on the extent of your documented damages.

Common categories of compensation may include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are generally easier to calculate and may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning potential
• Cost to make necessary modifications to your home or vehicle due to your injuries.
• Damages to your vehicle

Non-economic damages are more complex to quantify, subjective, and harder to value. Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Permanent disabilities and impairments

Punitive damages are rarely awarded in California personal injury cases. They may apply only when clear and convincing evidence shows that a defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. Punitive damages are intended to punish certain conduct and deter similar behavior, rather than compensate for losses.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in San Bernardino, CA?

In California, a law known as the statute of limitations places a time limit on the right to file a truck accident lawsuit in San Bernardino. Under CA Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, the time limit is two years from the date of the commercial truck accident.

If you don’t file on time, your right to seek a financial recovery will be barred. There are a few exceptions to the rule that may lengthen or shorten your filing deadline. If you have a claim against a government entity, for example, you will have just six months to file a notice of intent to sue with the correct agency. 

If you don’t discover your injuries immediately, you will have two years from the date of reasonable discovery. It is in your best interest to initiate a truck accident case in San Bernardino as soon as possible. 

Delaying the filing of a claim could put you at risk of losing the opportunity to seek financial compensation, as well as losing important evidence that may go missing or get destroyed over time. Contact Jacoby & Meyers right away about a potential case.

How Much Does a San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

At Jacoby & Meyers, hiring a truck accident lawyer in San Bernardino will cost you $0 upfront and $0 out of pocket. With contingency fees, we don’t charge anything unless we win. If your case leads to an insurance settlement or positive jury verdict, we will take our fee as a percentage of the overall amount secured on your behalf.

The percentage we charge will depend on your case, such as whether or not it has to go to court. If we do not win your case, we won’t charge you a cent in attorney’s fees. You won’t be billed at all if the insurance company refuses to pay your claim. With this arrangement, we take on the full financial risks involved in your case to give you total peace of mind.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Bernardino?

Truck accidents that take lives and inflict serious injuries in San Bernardino are almost all preventable. Commercial vehicle accidents take place when one or more parties are negligent. Errors made by truck drivers, owners and companies can all contribute to life-changing big rig accidents.

Examples include:

• Driver fatigue. Truck drivers work long hours and may unlawfully exceed their hours-of-service regulations, increasing the risk of drowsy driving accidents.

• Distracted driving. To pass the time, a truck driver may use a cell phone, eat behind the wheel, read or engage in other distractions that can ultimately lead to collisions.

• Unsafe lane changes. Large trucks have large blind spots that require truckers to use extreme caution when changing lanes, merging and making wide turns.

• Violated traffic laws. Truck drivers are prone to the same mistakes as ordinary drivers, such as speeding, running red lights, following too closely, failing to yield the right-of-way, unsafe passing and making illegal turns. 

• Impairment. A truck driver who breaks the law in California by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts everyone on the roadway at risk.

• Unqualified driver. Trucking companies must ensure the drivers they hire are fully qualified, with valid commercial driver’s licenses and adequate training.

• Dangerous truck. A commercial truck must be properly maintained and roadworthy. Otherwise, a tire blowout, brake failure or another part breakdown could cause a wreck.

Negligence by a truck driver or trucking company is often behind commercial truck accidents in San Bernardino, California. A qualified attorney from Jacoby & Meyers can uncover the information and evidence needed to establish the cause of your wreck and hold one or more parties accountable.

Common Types of San Bernardino Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accidents can cause numerous types of injuries, some of which may require long-term medical care. Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), ranging from concussions to severe brain trauma
• Spinal cord injuries, including herniated discs or spinal fractures that may lead to long-term impairment
• Broken and crushed bones requiring surgery or rehabilitation
• Organ damage and internal bleeding, which may not be immediately apparent
• Whiplash injuries causing neck pain, headaches, and stiffness
• Soft tissue injuries such as strains and sprains affecting mobility
• Psychology injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression

These are examples of injuries that may result from truck accidents. Some individuals may require extended medical treatment or experience lasting impairments.

Consulting with an experienced San Bernardino truck accident attorney can help you understand your legal options.

Jacoby & Meyers has represented injured Californians for more than 50 years and has experience handling truck accident cases.

Contact a San Bernardino Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a San Bernardino truck accident, you may wish to discuss your situation with an attorney.

Trucking companies and their insurers may dispute liability or the value of claims. Our attorneys are familiar with common defense strategies and how to respond to them.

Jacoby & Meyers’ San Bernardino truck accident attorneys have experience investigating accidents, determining liability, and gathering evidence to support claims.

Our attorneys have represented California truck accident victims for more than 50 years.

Call us at (909) 245-8920 or visit our contact page now to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We look forward to meeting you.

Address: 473 E Carnegie Dr #200, San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: (909) 245-8920
Hours: Open 24 hours