Truck accidents are notoriously dangerous and difficult to litigate in West Hollywood, California. It’s common for these cases to result in catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death. Trucking companies and their insurers will fight to prevent you from recovering compensation.
The West Hollywood truck accident lawyers at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers can help you stand up to powerful trucking companies. We know how to negotiate for what’s fair. If the opposing party refuses to settle, we can go to trial and fight for you in court.
We have won over $400 million for our clients since 2013. It’s not unusual for us to recover million-dollar awards on behalf of injured people in the Los Angeles area, including West Hollywood.
It’s normal to want legal advice after getting into a truck accident. Call our law office at (877) 300-4535 to set up a free consultation and time to learn more about our services.
How Can M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Help You After Getting Hurt in a West Hollywood Truck Accident?
If you were hurt in a truck accident in West Hollywood, CA, chances are most of your energy is going toward healing. Whether it’s attending endless doctor’s appointments, paying bills, or struggling to care for your family, you don’t have time to worry about a legal case.
M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers will worry about it for you. We can handle your legal case while you focus on the rest of your needs. Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience. We will dedicate our expertise and resources to getting the settlement, or jury award, that you deserve.
When you hire our West Hollywood personal injury lawyers to handle your truck accident case, we can:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Find out who is responsible
- File an insurance claim and talk with insurers on your behalf
- Negotiate with insurance and the defendant
- Consult with expert witnesses
- Collect evidence
- File a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary
- Go to trial and fight for yourself in court
At M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, our clients are our number one priority. Call us to get started on your case today.
Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in West Hollywood, CA
Sometimes truck drivers are responsible for causing an accident, and sometimes it’s another driver on the road. The most common causes of truck accidents in West Hollywood include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Drunk driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Deferred truck maintenance
- Speeding
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Road rage
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Improperly secured cargo
- Following too closely
Even though the weather is generally nice in California, rainy days and poor visibility can also cause crashes.
When we first start working on your case, we will find out what caused the accident. This is necessary so we can determine who is at fault. This may require us to hire an expert or collect evidence. Our lawyers are prepared to take on this work so that you don’t need to worry about it.
Truck Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries in West Hollywood
Since trucks are much larger than cars, truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries. The type of injury that you have suffered will play a big role in your case. Your lawyer must understand the nature of your injury and your treatment plan.
We have worked with clients who suffered from:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (including paralysis)
- Head injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Severe burns
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Amputation
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
Many of our clients come to us with complex injuries. This might include a rare type of injury or the combination of multiple different injuries. We will work with your doctors to learn about your injury and how it has affected you personally. This deeper understanding puts us in the best position to advocate for your needs.
What Is the Value of My West Hollywood Truck Accident Case?
There is no easy answer to this question. The value of your truck accident case will vary depending on the specifics of your case. Some factors that might affect the value of your case are:
- The type of injury that you experienced
- The permanency of your injury
- Required treatment (past and future)
- Your ability to work and earn income after being hurt (including the ability to excel at work)
- Your quality of life and ability to participate in activities that you enjoyed before getting hurt
- The effect of your injury on your relationships
- The traumatic circumstances of the crash
- Whether or not you contributed to causing the accident
We can help you estimate your case value, at least in a preliminary fashion, during your free initial consultation. This is an important starting point for negotiations with insurance. Without understanding what you deserve, we can’t make sure you get a fair settlement.
What Damages Can I Ask for After a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident in West Hollywood, you have the option to recover a variety of types of damages. In general, damages are divided into three different categories. These categories are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are paid for financial losses that happen because of an accident or injury. This type of damages is pretty straightforward to calculate. All you do is total your expenses thus far and estimate your expenses in the future. A lawyer can help you do this.
In most truck accident cases, economic damages include:
- Emergency room expenses
- Transport to the hospital
- Follow up doctors visits
- Surgery costs
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medication
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage (to the car or the truck)
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Lost future earning capacity
Ultimately, economic damages are any financial loss associated with the crash. Some people collect economic damages for increased childcare costs or home remodels because of a disability. Even if you aren’t sure whether your expense qualifies, you should bring it up with your lawyer out of an abundance of caution.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are different from economic losses. This category is for the non-financial impact of an accident or injury. Usually, it is referred to as pain and suffering.
Non-economic damages are very important for many of our clients. An accident can hurt you in more ways than just physically. You should get compensated for even intangible losses.
We frequently recover non-economic damages for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Mental illness
- Inconvenience
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
We can prove non-economic damages through witness testimony and sometimes mental health records. Keeping a journal after a truck accident is a great way to document the emotional toll of the crash. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to share this type of pain with your lawyer.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are less common than the other types of damages. Under California law, you can request punitive damages in cases where the defendant acted with fraud, oppression, or malice. This is a high bar. It means that the defendant was more than just negligent. It can be difficult to prove.
For example, in a truck accident case, punitive damages may be awarded if the trucking company knew that the truck was defective but failed to fix the problem that caused the accident. Another scenario may be if the truck crash was caused by road rage.
You should talk to your lawyer to see if punitive damages might be appropriate in your case.
Can I Still Get Compensation if I’m Blamed for Causing The Truck Crash in California?
California has very favorable contributory fault laws. That’s the law that governs whether or not you can recover money if you contributed to an accident.
In California, a plaintiff can still get money even if they are partially responsible. The state’s system is called pure comparative negligence. The catch is that the amount of money is reduced by their share of responsibility. For example, if you are 40% at fault for causing the truck accident, you can recover 60% of the damages.
There is no bar to recovery as long as you are not 100% responsible. So, even if you are 75% at fault, for example, you can still recover 25% of your damages.
Even though this law is favorable to plaintiffs, you should still talk to a lawyer if the insurance agency is blaming you for the accident. You want to make sure that you avoid as much blame as possible so that you can maximize recovery. An experienced West Hollywood truck accident lawyer can help you achieve this.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?
In California, you have two years to file a truck accident lawsuit. If you try to file a lawsuit after this deadline, the case will be dismissed.
Truck cases can be complicated, and chances are you will negotiate with insurance companies before filing a lawsuit. You must leave adequate time to do all of this before filing. By hiring a lawyer early on in your case, you can make sure that you don’t miss the deadline.
Call a West Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
There’s no risk in setting up a free consultation with a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless we settle or win your case. This makes legal help affordable for everyone.
During our free consultation, we will learn more about your case and can help you understand your legal options. Call us to learn more.
