Truck Accident Lawyer in Santa Monica

If you, a family member, or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact Santa Monica truck accident lawyer, Daniel Kim. The reality is that a truck accident can happen at any time. Trust in the best personal injury lawyer in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica is a beautiful coastal city in Los Angeles County and is one of the most popular places to live, work and visit in all of Southern California.

Although Santa Monica is not known as an industrial hub, it does still see its fair share of large trucks and big rigs traveling around the city, especially on nearby freeways such as the I-10 and the 405.

While you may not see many 18 wheelers on city streets, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and moving trucks are all very common. Garbage trucks have been known to hit a car while backing out of their driveway. In addition, tow trucks are notorious for causing an accident while towing other cars.

Why Contact Santa Monica Truck Accident Lawyer?

Dealing with the aftermath of being involved in an accident with a truck is a complex task.

Daniel Kim and his experienced legal team have been helping the residents of Santa Monica for many years. After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, including commercial truck collisions, hiring a lawyer will be your best option.

At the Law Offices of Daniel Kim, we believe in putting our clients first and treating them with the utmost respect and compassion.

We have well over 1,000 positive reviews from satisfied clients on Google, Yelp, and Facebook that felt compelled to share their story.

Many truck accident lawyers in Santa Monica just want to get a fast settlement offer from an insurance company so they can get paid and move on. At The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, we genuinely care about all of our clients. We won’t accept the first lowball offer from an insurance company.

More about The Law Offices of Daniel Kim:

• 99% success rating
• A+ Rating at the BBB
• We will help you get proper medical care
• We use top investigators if necessary to prove your claim
• Available 7 days a week, 24-hours a day

Common Causes of Santa Monica Truck Accidents

Anytime you have trucks mixing with cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians, the roadways get a little more dangerous.

Even small crashes can end up catastrophic because of the size and weight of the truck.

A loaded semi-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds versus a passenger car that may only weigh 2,000 pounds.

Trucks driving at high speeds, especially on major highways or freeways, can cause major injuries and even death when they collide with a smaller vehicle. The most common types of truck accidents include:

• Speeding – This is the number one cause of motor vehicle accidents nationwide, but when it comes to trucks is even more deadly. A heavy truck will find it very difficult to stop quickly when speeding, especially when fully laden.
• Tire blowout – This can cause the truck driver to lose complete control suddenly and without warning.
• Jackknife – Sometimes when the driver loses control, the trailer of the truck skids at a 90-degree angle and can take up the whole road, wiping out everything in its path.
• T-bone – If a truck driver runs through a stop sign or red light it can cause a major accident, especially in a busy city like Santa Monica.
• Rollover – Occasionally when a driver loses control of a truck or it is not loaded correctly, the vehicle can roll over onto its side, crushing everything underneath it.
• Tired drivers – Many truck companies put unrealistic delivery schedules on their drivers. Also, the drivers do not pull over to rest when they should and are legally required to. Even though truckers, especially big rig or long haul drivers, have regulated driving limits and mandated rest periods, some do not follow them in order to get their load delivered on time. And this tired state can cause a trucker to run a stop sign or red light.
• Substance abuse – Driving under the influence or DUI is always dangerous, but that is especially amplified when it comes to trucks.
• Bad weather – Inclement weather such as rain and fog can make it very hard for a truck to stop in time to avoid an accident.

Common Trucks On Santa Monica Roads

Santa Monica has many regulations to help manage the presence of large vehicles on city streets.

These include dedicated truck routes and parking restrictions on trucks and all larger vehicles regarding height and width.

The most common trucks navigating the City of Santa Monica roads would be delivery trucks such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, and Amazon, as well as garbage and recycling trucks.

Smaller trucks like these, as well as box trucks, tow trucks, and U-Haul trucks, are common to see daily throughout the city. They are also found around beaches, parks, and schools.

The rise in popularity of online shopping and on-demand delivery services has seen a significant increase in the number of delivery trucks and vans on the road.

Make sure to keep an eye out and be extra vigilant anytime there are trucks around no matter their size. You can see them, but they may not see you.

Common Injuries From a Truck Accident

Unfortunately, injuries sustained in an accident with a truck can be a lot more serious than those of a smaller car or motor vehicle.

The sheer size and weight difference between a truck and a small car, SUV, or Uber can cause devastating injuries.

Truck accidents are notorious for causing massive injuries. Most of the time, these injuries are suffered by the person driving the other vehicle – not the truck driver.

Getting compensated financially for any injuries you suffer is important, but our biggest concern is making sure you get on the path to recovery. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Broken bones – broken and fractured ribs, noses, ankles, and wrists are most commonly reported
• Cuts and bruises – broken glass can cause lacerations, and bruising across the chest from the seat belt is usual
• Head injuries – concussion, TBI, and headaches may occur after an accident
• Neck and back injuries – neck sprain, bulging discs, and spinal cord injuries are all commonly reported injuries
• Loss of limbs – being trapped in or under a vehicle, or severe and deep cuts could require amputation
• Death – if a loved one was killed in a truck accident, a wrongful death claim could be started

If you were involved in a Santa Monica truck accident that resulted in any kind of injury, contact The Law Offices of Daniel Kim for a free no-obligation consultation.

How to File a Truck Accident Claim

After you’ve been in an accident involving a truck and have sought medical treatment, you will soon be dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, and time off work meaning loss of wages.

Insurance adjusters are trained to get the insurance company out of paying you what you deserve or even getting you to admit fault or things that are not true.

Laws regarding truck accidents are complicated, to say the least. Most commercial trucking companies carry large insurance policies and have an army of adjusters and lawyers to protect them.

Santa Monica Truck Accident Statistics

While truck accidents are less common than smaller car accidents, the number of injuries stemming from truck accidents is higher than other smaller motor vehicle crashes.

There are more than 30,000 drivers licensed to drive in California with Commercial Drivers License (CDL). That is not including all the truckers coming in from out of state.

In 2012, the NHTSA reported that there were 244 truck accident deaths in the State of California.

A report from 2015 showed that there were 97,000 injury accidents and over 3800 fatalities as a result of truck accidents nationally.

Throughout California, there were nearly 28,000 truck accidents in 2017 which resulted in 9.694 injuries and 359 fatalities.

Hours a Truck Driver Drives Per Day

Commercial drivers in California are only allowed to legally operate their vehicles for a maximum of 11 hours per day after a regulated 10 hours off the clock.

Depending on different circumstances and criteria, the maximum amount of time a California CDL driver is allowed to drive is between 60 and 70 hours a week.

Most Dangerous Roads in Santa Monica for Truck Accidents

Santa Monica is a very busy and thriving city with over 93,000 residents and around 4.4 million people visiting each year.

That means a lot of people on the road, and a lot of trucks navigating traffic. Some of the most dangerous streets and intersections in Santa Monica include:

• The I-10 Freeway
• Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
• Ocean Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
• Lincoln Blvd. and Pico Blvd.
• Santa Monica Blvd. and Lincoln Blvd.
• Wilshire Blvd. and 3rd Street
• Montana Ave. and 16th Street
• 4th Street and Santa Monica Blvd.

No matter where in Santa Monica you were injured in an accident with a truck or what the circumstances were, contact The Law Offices of Daniel Kim today and let us help you.