TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER
We will fight for you
One of the main reasons why Ray Padilla is considered a top truck accident lawyer is because of the following:
In the past, we had the pleasure of helping thousands of truck and semi-truck drivers fight big corporations to attain wages that they should have received but didn’t. Time and time again, we saw that companies cared only about their profits and were willing to disregard the safety and well being of their drivers, and the general public sharing the roadways with their drivers and trucks, as long as the money kept rolling in.
We routinely saw that drivers were made to drive more than 13, 14 and up to 18 hours a day in trucks making deliveries. Offering them too little time for how many stops they had to make. This of course, was against the law. Believe it or not, those long hours were accompanied by refusals to allow the drivers to take meal and rest breaks. This all boils down to a very sad and dangerous reality – there are tens of thousands of drivers on our roads each day driving trucks that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds who are very tired, overworked and in a hurry.
It is not hard to understand why when these trucks collide with a car that normally weighs about 2,500 to 4,000 pounds, the results can be devastating. Trucking accidents are usually avoidable and unfortunately, are an almost every day occurrence. Not every truck accident lawyer has that type of experience and knowledge of the trucking industry.
Generally speaking, when two cars get into an accident, fault can be placed on one of the two drivers. The person not at fault can then attempt to recover for his or her injuries from the insurance of the at-fault driver. It is not that simply with trucking accidents. Blame can certainly be attributed to the driver of the truck let’s say for being distracted by eating their burger on the road.
Usually, the company will be responsible for the damage and injuries that their drivers cause but they may also be liable for the reasons mentioned above such as not providing their drivers with sufficient breaks or making them drive more than legally allowed. Or maybe the driver did nothing wrong, but the brakes didn’t work properly and it was the company who was responsible for periodic brake checks. The possibilities are plenty. A good truck accident lawyer can help determine who is responsible.
Assuming that the company is not self insured, they will usually turn over the case to their insurance company whose number one priority will be to pay you zero or as close to zero dollars as possible. There was a nationwide class-action case, for example, wherein former Allstate employees testified that they were “trained to build rapport with customers and discourage them from hiring layers.” (Bartelme, Tony. STORM OF MONEY: Insider tells how some insurance companies rig the system.
In an article written by Patrick Gunning titled if you love them, let them go, he explains that “insurance whistle blower Robert Dietz, adjusters at Farmers Insurance were ‘taught how to dissuade people from hiring a lawyer in the first place,’ ‘were evaluated annually for this talent,’ and ‘whenever adjusters allowed claimants to retain an attorney, they had to fill out a form to explain to supervisors how they let it happen.’” (Heckman, Candace; Low-ball offers nothing new in insurance industry.Seattle Post-Intelligencer. May 14, 2003.) Put simply, insurance companies are not there to help you.
People can injure any and all parts of the body during truck accidents – even those truck accidents that may seem minor or that occur at low speeds (which insurance companies are notorious for denying coverage for or making low-ball offers for.) The typical Injuries that our truck accident lawyers see are:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are generally those injuries that occur to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. One example of a soft tissue injury is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when muscles and ligaments in the neck are stretched too far due to the sudden impact of a car accident. People can suffer from pain to their neck, head, and upper back for years following the accident.
Head Injuries
Head injuries all too often result in some form of a concussion, traumatic brain injury, as well as skull fractures. Such injuries can often lead to serious life altering conditions for life. These tend to occur when people hit their heads on the steering wheel, window or dash boards.
Back Injuries
Back Injuries come in all different types and severity. They can range from soft tissue injuries to severe spinal chord damage which can result in non-stop excruciating pain or even paralysis.
If you have suffered injuries as a result of a truck accident caused by another driver, contact Ray Padilla Law, APC today to discuss your case with attorney Ray Padilla. Our office will work and fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your loses.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Ray Padilla Law, APC harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information.