There were 436 fatalities in large-truck accidents in California in 2022, and many more people were injured. With trucks allowed to have a maximum total weight of up to 80,000 pounds in California, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that accidents involving these very large vehicles can have dire consequences.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a collision with a truck, you have rights. A Vista truck accident attorney at Miller & Steele Law Firm will work with you to enforce them. For decades, our firm has fought for the rights of victims, recovering millions in out-of-court settlements and in more than 100 jury trials.
We have the compassion and knowledge you need to fight for you, so give us a call at (760) 439-2210 today to learn more.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Vista Truck Accident?
Truck drivers typically must have a commercial license and are expected to follow the rules of the road and exhibit reasonable care while driving.
When they don’t exercise the care they should and someone is harmed as a result, California Civil Code Section 1714 makes clear that they are responsible “not only for the result of their willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property ”
If you can prove a truck driver’s negligence was the direct cause of harm, you should be able to make a claim against the driver. There are also others you could pursue a case against too, though, and doing so might give you a better chance of full recovery.
A truck driver may have limited assets and limited insurance, which together won’t cover the extent of your losses. If the driver worked for any company, then a legal doctrine called respondeat superior could make the company responsible for losses.
Lathrop v. HealthCare Partners Medical Group (2004) 114 Cal.App.4th 1412 states that “under the common law doctrine of respondeat superior, a principal or employer is vicariously liable for the acts of an agent or employee committed in the course of employment.”
This means that regardless of whether the company employing the driver was negligent or directly did anything wrong, they can and must pay for the negligence of their employee who caused harm while on the job. This is important because if the company has more financial resources to pay your claim, you have a better chance of fully recovering for:
- Medical expenses and future care costs arising from truck injuries
- Lost wages if you missed any work or must work for reduced pay in the future due to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
You don’t want to leave money on the table that you should receive after enduring a truck crash and the injuries that resulted.
Call Miller & Steele Law Firm To Speak With A Vista Truck Accident Lawyer
Miller & Steele Law Firm is passionate about helping crash victims to get justice. Give our Vista truck accident lawyer a call at (760) 439-2210 or contact us to learn more about the assistance our Vista personal injury attorneys can offer as you navigate your case and fight for the right to be “made whole” from the loss you endured.