Orange County Truck Accident Lawyer

More than $500 Million Obtained Since 2004 - Serving Clients From Our Office in Irvine, CA

It comes as no surprise that trucks are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities on the road. Their size and weight, which can reach up to 80,000 pounds (or more if the truck is overloaded) can cause catastrophic damage if the truck becomes involved in an accident with a smaller vehicle.

While most truck drivers do their duty to drive safely and follow all commercial trucking regulations, there are unfortunately some that put profits before the safety of people and ignore the rules. When negligence is a factor in a preventable truck accident, victims have a legal right to pursue compensation for their losses.

To learn more about your legal options, call (949) 565-4281! We operate on a contingency fee basis and offer complimentary case consultations.

Why Hire Our Truck Accident Lawyers?

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident and are now facing steep medical bills and other damages, you need an experienced advocate on your side to fight for you. The Law Office of Marshall Silberberg can provide proven legal help to those who have suffered injuries in a truck accident.

With decades of combined experience, we know how to investigate serious truck crashes and determine who may be liable for causing our clients harm. 

Since the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg was founded in 2004, our firm has obtained more than $500 million on behalf of our personal injury clients! As former defense lawyers, our previous experience gives us an edge in court because we are familiar with the defense strategies other firms routinely use.

Marshall did a great job for me! He was always there for me, if I called he would be right there! He and the whole team at The Law Office of Marshall Silberberg were awesome, 5 stars! Don't know of anybody better.   
- Charles T. (Actual client)

Common Types of Truck Accidents

A truck is a motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of goods or materials. They come in various shapes, sizes, and configurations to accommodate different purposes and industries.

Here are some common types of trucks:

• Semi-trucks (tractor-trailers or articulated lorries)
• Dump trucks
• Delivery trucks (vans)
• Pickup trucks
• Box trucks (straight trucks)
• Flatbed trucks
• Refrigerated trucks (reefer trucks)
• Tanker trucks
• Tow trucks

A truck accident refers to any collision or incident involving a truck, which can lead to property damage, injuries, or fatalities. Truck accidents can occur due to various factors such as driver error, mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions, road hazards, or other external factors.

Some common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions – These occur when a truck crashes into the vehicle in front of it. Rear-end collisions can happen due to factors like following too closely, distracted driving, sudden stops, or inadequate braking distance.
• Jackknife accidents – A jackknife accident happens when a truck's trailer swings out to the side, forming an angle with the cab of the truck, resembling the shape of a folding jackknife. This typically occurs when the trailer loses traction with the road surface, often due to slippery conditions, excessive speed, or sudden maneuvers.
• Roll-over accidents – Roll-over accidents involve a truck tipping over onto its side or roof. These accidents can happen due to factors such as taking a curve too quickly, overloading, uneven weight distribution, or sudden evasive maneuvers.
• Underride accidents – Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle collides with the rear or side of a truck and slides underneath the truck's trailer. These accidents can result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle due to the lack of protection from the truck's rear or side underride guards.
• Head-on collisions – Head-on collisions involve a truck colliding with another vehicle or object head-on. These accidents often occur on narrow roads, during overtaking maneuvers, or due to vehicles crossing into oncoming traffic lanes.
• Blind spot accidents – Trucks have large blind spots, also known as "no-zones," where smaller vehicles are not visible to the truck driver. Blind spot accidents occur when a vehicle enters or travels within these blind spots, leading to collisions during lane changes, merging, or turning maneuvers.
• Tire blowouts – Truck tire blowouts can cause loss of control, leading to accidents. Tire blowouts may result from factors such as worn-out tires, overloading, underinflation, or hitting road debris.
• Brake failure accidents – Brake failure can occur due to mechanical issues, brake system malfunctions, or overheating. Brake failure accidents can result in rear-end collisions, jackknife accidents, or other types of collisions when the truck cannot stop or slow down effectively.
• Hazardous material spills – Trucks carrying hazardous materials can be involved in accidents leading to spills or leaks of dangerous substances. These accidents can pose significant risks to public safety, health, and the environment.
• Drowsy driving accidents – Truck drivers often face long hours on the road, leading to fatigue and drowsiness. Accidents caused by drowsy driving can result in serious consequences due to impaired reaction times and decision-making abilities.

Determining Who Was At Fault for Your Injuries

Depending on the circumstances, there are a number of parties that may be liable for a truck accident, including careless drivers, their employers, maintenance companies, and other third parties.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include those related to:

• Driver Error – Driver error is a leading cause of auto accidents, and truck wrecks are no different. Truckers have a legal duty to take reasonable measures in order to operate their rigs safely, and must also comply with various safety regulations designed to protect the public. When they are negligent and fail to uphold this duty, they (or the trucking company for whom they work) can be held liable for victims’ damages. Common examples of driver-related causes include drunk or drugged driving, fatigue caused by working too many hours, inadequate vehicle inspections, speeding or traffic violations, and distracted driving, among others.
• Trucking Company Negligence – Trucking companies can also play a role in causing or contributing to preventable wrecks, and they can be held accountable when their negligence harms others (as well as the negligence of their employees). Trucking companies can cause crashes in a number of ways, including safety violations, improper cargo securement, inadequate vehicle maintenance, negligent hiring or retention of dangerous drivers, violations of hours-of-service rules, and more.
• Defective Products – While the negligence of truckers and trucking companies leads to a majority of truck accidents, some wrecks are caused by auto parts and products that malfunction and fail to work as they should. These can include things like defective brakes, faulty tires, broken headlights, and more. When defective products are to blame for a crash, injured victims can seek a recovery of their damages by pursuing a product liability claim.
• Maintenance Company Negligence – Trucking operators may contract vehicle maintenance responsibilities to third-party companies. These maintenance companies, which must be properly licensed and certified, are responsible for regularly inspecting the fleet and making repairs when any potential hazards are present. Failures to fix hazards they knew or should have known about can lead to preventable crashes and civil liability.

When you retain our firm, we will launch a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident to determine exactly what happened, who was at fault, and how much you are owed for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Why Do Fatigued Truck Driver Accidents Happen?

Truck drivers feel extreme pressure to cover as much ground as possible, no matter what it takes. This is because their pay is almost always directly linked to the more they travel, which incentivizes many drivers to overexert themselves and consequently risk the lives of all others on the road.

Long hours spent in traffic are extremely monotonous and exhausting for even the most experienced and alert truck driver. Driver fatigue is responsible for a significant percentage of trucking accidents and has become an intrinsic part of the industry. This frightening reality increases the chances of a devastating and fatal accident.

Because drivers feel obligated to meet a nearly impossible schedule, they may partake in unsafe behaviors such as speeding, pushing through rush-hour traffic, illegal maneuvers, failing to take breaks, etc. Sometimes, drivers attempt to combat drowsiness by taking drugs or stimulants to stay awake.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident due to a fatigued or negligent driver, we at the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg will go above and beyond to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Our aggressive legal team will fight to ensure the responsible parties are held accountable for what they have put you through. Do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of by failing to properly protect your best interests.

Rest assured that our priority is to help you obtain justice – as well as every dollar you are owed for what you have endured.

Choose Representation from Skilled Orange County Truck Accident Lawyers!

Innocent people should not have to suffer the financial consequences of someone else’s negligence. Whatever situation you face, you can be sure that our firm can effectively assess your needs and circumstances in order to provide you with the legal guidance and representation you deserve.

We pride ourselves on being able to achieve big results for our clients and secure the futures of those who have been severely injured.

Contact the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg for a free case evaluation. Call (949) 565-4281 today!