Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorney In Riverside, CA

Large commercial trucks are a common sight on the roads throughout the Riverside area, but accidents involving them can occur in various ways. These accidents tend to be more damaging than most other vehicle accidents and can raise more difficult questions of liability. If you or a family member has been injured in such an accident, it’s vital to consult a Riverside truck accident lawyer as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.

Legal Representation for 18-Wheeler Accidents in Riverside, CA

The attorneys at Duque & Price have served Riverside since 2006 and bring extensive experience representing injured clients in many types of vehicle accident cases, including commercial truck accident cases. If you are unsure how to proceed after such an accident, we can provide the guidance and support you need in this challenging situation. Our goal in every personal injury case we accept is maximum recovery for our client in the shortest timeframe possible.

In a truck accident case, it is vital to prove fault before you can recover compensation, as is the case with all other vehicle accidents in California. However, it is possible for a truck accident to raise the issue of vicarious liability under certain conditions. When a trucking company or other employer shares fault for the actions of their employee, this is vicarious liability, and you must understand how this could influence your recovery.

Reasons for Accidents

Truck accidents can happen from speeding, distracted driving, and other common causes of all vehicle accidents in California. However, they can also occur due to improperly loaded cargo, poor truck maintenance, or failure to adhere to trucking industry regulations. In this type of case, you need a legal representative who is fluent in addressing these specific legal challenges if you want to have the greatest chance of success with your case.

With our assistance, you can focus on your recovery, knowing your legal affairs are in capable hands. We can handle all of the procedural requirements of your case, carefully review the details of the accident to accurately determine fault, and uncover all of the various damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant who caused your accident. You can also trust our team to represent you if you must confront the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.

Why Truck Accidents Are More Severe Than Car Accidents

Truck accidents are often more severe than car collisions due to the extreme size and weight differences involved. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 to 30 times as much as a passenger vehicle. This directly translates into greater force being transferred during a collision.

Catastrophic injuries are more likely to occur in truck collisions. Injured parties may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and fatal crush injuries, even at lower speeds. Trucks also require longer stopping distances and have larger blind spots. Following a collision, anyone involved could require long-term medical care.

Lost income and other financial losses can add to the stress of an already difficult ordeal. Truck collisions can also result in fatalities. In 2022, 6,050 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes.

Types of Truck Accidents Cases We Handle

Riverside sees all types of truck accidents. Based on the cause of the collision and how the truck strikes a vehicle, your injury claim could include mentions of these and other types of truck accidents. 

• Jackknife: When a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle from the cab, this type of collision can cause collisions across multiple lanes of traffic.
• Underride: A collision where a smaller car slides beneath a truck or trailer can lead to an underride crash.
• Rollover: Trucks that tip onto their side or roll can cause serious damage to vehicles.
• Wide-turn: Trucks often require wide spaces to make turns. A wide turn can lead to collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles.
• Rear-end override: A truck that strikes the rear of another vehicle can override it, causing crushing damage.

Recovering Compensation for a Truck Accident in Riverside

Once you have established fault for your recent truck accident, your Riverside County truck accident lawyer can guide you through the recovery process. This is likely to begin with an auto insurance claim, but dealing with insurance companies can be challenging. It’s wise to expect the insurance company to fight back against your claim as much as possible. Its agents will try to settle for as little as possible. They may even unfairly deny your claim or deal in bad faith.

State law requires that you prove fault for your recent accident before you can recover any compensation for the damages you suffered. This means you must prove how your accident happened and identify the party or parties responsible. Trust your attorney to gather the evidence needed to establish liability for your accident, and then they can explain the steps you will need to take to recover fair compensation for your damages.

Insurance

Every driver in the state must have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements, and filing an auto insurance claim is likely to be your first avenue of recovery after your truck accident. Your attorney can help you file your claim, and you can rely on them to resolve any disputes you encounter with the insurance company. They can ensure your claim is handled fairly and that you receive an appropriate settlement offer.

If insurance will not fully cover your losses, or the at-fault driver does not have insurance, a personal injury claim will be your most effective option for recovering compensation for your damages. Success with your personal injury case will hinge on your ability to accurately determine fault for the accident and show the full extent of the losses you suffered.

Legal Support Duque & Price Provides

Your Riverside County truck accident lawyer can resolve any issues that arise with the insurance claim filing process. If insurance will not fully cover your losses, you can build a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Success with this type of civil case requires proving liability for the incident, establishing the full extent of your damages, and working with an experienced attorney to maximize your settlement or trial award.

The attorneys at Duque & Price are ready to provide comprehensive legal representation for all aspects of your truck accident case, from proving fault to filing an auto insurance claim to building a personal injury claim for you.

It is important to act quickly after your accident to ensure you can collect the evidence you will need to prove fault, and our firm is ready to assist you. We have helped many past clients navigate difficult vehicle accident cases, and we can apply this experience to your truck accident claim in Riverside. The sooner you connect with our team, the more time we have to build your case.

What to Do Following a Truck Collision in Riverside

Following a truck collision in Riverside, it is important to call 911 and report the location of the collision, whether it was on Tyler Street, University Avenue, or elsewhere in the area. If your vehicle is still operational, drive it to a nearby, safe location away from traffic.

When the police and ambulances describe the events leading up to the collision factually to the offer and allow paramedics to look you over. A serious injury could mean that you need to be taken to Riverside Community Hospital, which saw 28,800 adult admissions in 2024, or another hospital.

When you are safely able to do so, take photos of the scene of the collision and gather contact information from the parties involved in the collision and witnesses. Then contact an attorney.

Why You Should Hire a Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents can occur along Magnolia Avenue, University Avenue, Mission Inn Avenue, and elsewhere in the region. In 2023, Riverside County saw 1,805 collisions that resulted in injuries, including many crashes involving large trucks. When you hire a truck accident lawyer, you gain the support of an attorney who understands the state’s truck accident laws and how to carefully manage your truck accident claim.

A trusted Riverside truck accident attorney can gather evidence to back your claim before pursuing negotiations or litigation on your behalf. Throughout the process, they can keep you informed about important matters, so you stay up to date on developments. During a difficult time, having the support and guidance of a skilled injury lawyer can provide you with the encouragement you need to see your case through.

FAQs

Who Is at Fault for a Truck Accident in Riverside?

Fault for a truck accident in Riverside could fall to one or more parties depending on the root cause of the accident. The truck driver may be responsible, but their employer could be vicariously liable for the accident if they negligently supervised their employee. It is also possible for liability to fall on a third party, such as a driver in another vehicle who hits a truck, causing it to crash into your vehicle.

How Do You Prove Fault for a Truck Accident in Riverside County?

You can prove fault for a truck accident in Riverside County by leveraging various forms of evidence that an attorney can secure on your behalf. Testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen and traffic camera footage, if available, could be incredibly helpful to your case. You will also need the police report from the accident, photos of the accident scene, and various forms of digital evidence to establish liability for the accident.

What Is the Comparative Fault Rule for Accidents in California?

The comparative fault rule for accidents in California applies when more than one party shares fault for causing an accident. Each liable party has a fault percentage assigned, indicating the share of the total damages they must repay. If a plaintiff shares fault, they will lose a percentage of their final case award equal to their fault percentage. Your Riverside County personal injury attorney can explain whether you have any reason to worry about this rule applying to your case.

What Happens if I Share Fault for My Truck Accident in California?

If you share fault for your truck accident in California, the pure comparative negligence statute will apply to your case. Under this rule, each liable party has a fault percentage assigned that reflects their respective level of liability for causing the accident. If a plaintiff is found partially at fault, their fault percentage is subtracted from their case award, and they keep the remainder.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Truck Accident in Riverside?

The amount of compensation you could recover for a truck accident in Riverside will vary based on the severity of your injuries and other damages. If you can prove another party is at fault for the accident, you can seek full repayment of any damages they caused. These may include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. An experienced Riverside personal injury attorney can estimate the total value of your claim.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer?

You need to hire a Riverside truck accident lawyer because you are significantly more likely to succeed with your case when you have legal counsel you trust on your side. Your attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove fault for the accident, handle the procedural requirements for your case, guide you through the auto insurance claim filing process, and handle your personal injury claim for you to maximize your recovery.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer?

The cost to hire a Riverside County truck accident lawyer will be a percentage of the total compensation you recover when you choose Duque & Price to represent you. Our firm takes these cases on a contingency basis, meaning our client does not pay any upfront fees for representation, and there is no fee if we cannot obtain compensation on their behalf. If we win your case, we will charge only a percentage of the total case award.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer?

The cost to hire a Riverside truck accident lawyer will depend on the attorney’s billing policy. The attorneys at Duque & Price accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our firm will charge a percentage of the total compensation we secure for our client in lieu of charging upfront and ongoing attorneys’ fees. Additionally, if we are unable to obtain a recovery for our client, there is no fee, so there is no financial risk in hiring our firm to represent you.

Contact Our Experienced Riverside Truck Accident Attorney

The aftermath of a commercial truck accident can be very difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney’s help. The team at Duque & Price has successfully assisted many past clients in a wide range of complex personal injury cases and can leverage this experience for you. If you are ready to learn what a seasoned Riverside truck accident lawyer can do for your recovery, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team.

Client Testimonials

Meet Our Riverside Truck Accident Attorneys

Brent A. Duque Attorney, Founder & President

Matthew R. Price Attorney Partner

Jordan Harris Davidoff Attorney

Riverside, CA Truck Accident Resources

• California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
• Top 5 Causes of Preventable Trucking Accidents

Riverside, CA Truck Accident Legal Resources

• Riverside County Superior Court – Civil Division
• City of Riverside – Claim for Damages
• Riverside County Clerk of the Board – Claims Division
• California DMV – SR-1 Accident Reporting

Proudly Serving Riverside, CA, and Nearby Areas

In the heart of Southern California, Riverside, CA, is surrounded by cities like Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula, and San Bernardino. The area’s dynamic growth and diverse communities make it a vibrant place to reside. Our personal injury law firm proudly serves Riverside and its neighboring cities, offering dedicated legal support to those affected by accidents and injuries.

Duque & Price – Riverside Office, CA Office