Were you injured in a commercial truck accident in Irvine, California? An Irvine truck accident lawyer at Fielding Law can explain your rights and help you pursue compensation from the parties responsible for the crash. Contact our firm at 833.88.SHARK to schedule a free consultation.
We are a boutique personal injury firm that provides thoughtful, personalized legal guidance across many personal injury practice areas. Our legal team can investigate your collision, preserve important evidence, and help you understand your options.
Why Choose Fielding Law After a Truck Accident in Irvine, CA?
A truck accident can disrupt nearly every part of your life. You may be dealing with painful injuries, missed work, medical appointments, and calls from insurance companies. During this time, you need clear guidance from an Irvine personal injury lawyer who will take the time to understand your situation.
Fielding Law focuses on quality rather than case volume. We provide each client with personal attention, honest communication, and practical information about the legal process.
Our Irvine truck accident attorneys have 33 years of combined legal experience and have recovered $98 million for past clients. These results do not guarantee a particular outcome, but they reflect our commitment to careful case preparation and client-focused representation.
Contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve after a truck accident in Irvine, CA.
What Is My Irvine Truck Accident Case Worth?
There is no fixed amount that applies to every truck accident claim.
Factors that may influence the value of your claim include:
- The type and seriousness of your injuries
- The extent of past medical treatment
- Whether you will need future medical care
- Whether you lost income from being out of work
- Any reduction in your future earning ability
- The length of your recovery
- The effect of the injury on your daily activities
- The available insurance coverage
- The strength of the supporting evidence
- Whether you share responsibility for the crash
A severe injury may result in expenses that persist long after the initial hospital visit. Medical specialists, rehabilitation, home assistance, and time away from work can all affect a claim’s value.
Insurance companies sometimes make early settlement offers before the full effects of an injury are known. Accepting an offer generally ends the claim. An Irvine personal injury attorney can review the available evidence and help you evaluate whether an offer accounts for your present and future losses.
What Damages Are Available to Irvine Truck Accident Victims?
A person injured because of another party’s negligence may be able to recover compensatory damages. These damages are intended to address both the financial losses and the personal effects of the injury.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, such as:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital and surgical expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Other accident-related expenses
Bills, receipts, medical records, employment documents, and expert opinions may help establish these losses.
Non-economic damages address the personal effects of an injury, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
These losses do not have a fixed financial value but may have a greater impact in the long term. Our law firm can review your losses and explain which forms of compensation may be available.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Irvine Truck Accident Lawyer?
Fielding Law handles personal injury claims, including cases involving truck accidents, on a contingency fee basis. Under this type of arrangement, the attorney’s fee is based on a percentage of the compensation recovered for the client.
Clients do not pay attorney’s fees at the beginning of the case. If the firm does not recover compensation, the client generally does not owe attorney’s fees. The written agreement will explain the percentage, case expenses, and other important terms.
A contingency fee arrangement allows an injured person to seek legal representation without paying an hourly rate. During a free consultation, our attorneys can explain the fee structure and answer your questions.
Can I Recover Compensation If I am Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in California?
It’s possible because California follows a pure comparative fault rule. An injured person may recover compensation even if that person shares responsibility for the accident. However, the amount recovered is usually reduced according to the person’s percentage of fault.
For example, suppose a person has $100,000 in damages but is found 20% responsible for the collision. The available recovery would be reduced by 20%, leaving $80,000.
A trucking company or insurer may claim that you were speeding, following too closely, changing lanes without enough space, or driving in the truck’s blind spot, but an allegation of fault is not the end of the matter. A careful investigation may show that the truck driver, trucking company, or another party caused or contributed to the crash.
Common Truck Accident Injuries in Irvine, CA
Commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. When a truck strikes a smaller vehicle, the occupants may suffer severe or permanent injuries.
Common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Severe cuts
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Emotional trauma
Some injuries are not immediately apparent. Headaches, numbness, limited movement, or increasing pain may develop hours or days after the collision. Prompt medical attention can protect your health and document the connection between the accident and your condition.
Families may also have legal options when a truck accident causes a fatal injury. Eligible relatives may be able to bring a wrongful death claim for certain financial and personal losses.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Irvine, California?
Common causes of Irvine truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Driving under the influence
- Inadequate training
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Worn tires or faulty brakes
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Overloaded trailers
- Failure to check blind spots
- Pressure to meet delivery schedules
Commercial trucks travel throughout Orange County on Interstate 5, Interstate 405, State Route 133, and nearby local roads. Heavy traffic, frequent lane changes, construction, and short stopping distances can increase the risk of a collision.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?
California generally gives an injured person two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. A person who misses the applicable statute of limitations may lose the right to seek compensation in court.
Different deadlines may apply in certain cases. For example, a claim involving a California government entity may require an administrative claim to be submitted within six months of the injury. Other facts can also affect the filing period.
Speaking with a lawyer early gives the legal team more time to protect evidence and determine which deadlines apply.
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Irvine?
The steps you take after a truck accident may affect your health and any future personal injury case you might pursue.
When possible, take the following actions:
- Call 911. Report the collision and request medical assistance.
- Move to a safe location. Do not leave the vehicle unless it is safe to do so.
- Seek medical care. Allow emergency personnel to examine you and attend follow-up appointments.
- Exchange information. Obtain the driver’s name, insurance information, employer, and motor carrier details.
- Document the scene. Take photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, cargo, skid marks, and visible injuries.
- Speak with witnesses. Ask for their names and contact information.
- Avoid admitting fault. Provide accurate facts without guessing about what caused the crash.
- Save your records. Keep medical bills, repair estimates, wage information, and insurance correspondence.
- Use care when speaking with insurance adjusters. Do not sign a release before understanding its effect.
- Contact an attorney. A lawyer can explain your options and help preserve evidence.
Your health should remain the first priority. Do not delay necessary treatment to collect information at the scene.
What Is Negligence, and How Do I Prove It After My Truck Accident in Irvine?
Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. In a truck accident case, it may involve a driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo-loading company, or another party acting carelessly and causing a crash.
To recover compensation based on negligence, you generally must prove four elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached that duty
- The breach was a substantial factor in causing the accident
- You suffered harm as a result
Proving negligence often requires more than showing that a collision occurred. The evidence must connect the defendant’s conduct to the crash and your injuries.
Contact an Irvine Truck Accident Lawyer at Fielding Law for a Free Consultation
A serious truck accident can leave you facing medical treatment, financial strain, and uncertainty about what to do next. Clear legal guidance can help you make informed decisions while you focus on your recovery.
Contact an Irvine truck accident attorney at Fielding Law to schedule a free consultation. Our legal team can review the circumstances of your accident, answer your questions, and help you determine your next step.