Stockton Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents We Handle

Our dedicated team of commercial vehicle accident lawyers in Stockton knows how to handle a wide range of commercial vehicle accidents, including but not limited to:

• 18-wheeler accidents
• Delivery truck accidents
• Box truck accidents
• Crashes involving private buses and shuttles
• Fleet vehicle accidents
• Rollover crashes
• Rear-end collisions
• Jackknife accidents
• Accidents involving unsecured cargo

No matter what type of commercial vehicle caused you harm, we’re ready to stand by you and fight for your rights.

Why Clients Trust Thompson Law in Stockton

Our team focuses on personal injuries on the road, so we know the ins and outs of commercial vehicle accidents like the back of our hand. With our knowledge of the traffic laws around Stockton and decades of experience under our belt, we’ll create only the strongest legal strategy that can benefit your claim.

We’re not afraid to fight aggressively against large corporations and their insurance providers, especially when they’re trying to lowball and minimize your payout. We know how to negotiate on your behalf to make sure you don’t receive anything less than the compensation you deserve. We’ve won over $1.9 billion in settlements for our clients, and we’re ready to get you a maximum payout, too.

The best part? You’re not obligated to pay us any fees upfront. We provide our services on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay us if we win your case or get you a settlement. Other than that, you don’t owe us anything, plain and simple.

Want to know more about what we can do for you to lead your case to victory? Book a FREE CONSULTATION today!

The Most Common Causes of Commercial Truck Crashes

There are plenty of factors that contribute to why commercial vehicle accidents happen, many of them due to the negligence of one or more parties. Here are some of the main culprits of these unfortunate accidents:

• Driver fatigue, especially when large corporations demand more driving hours than they can take
• Speeding, especially when truck drivers can’t stop their vehicles in time
• Traffic violations such as running red lights and ignoring stop signs
• Distracted driving, when drivers are on their phones or looking elsewhere while driving
• Truck drivers making wide turns because of the size of their vehicles
• Commercial vehicle drivers not braking in time, leading to rear-end collisions
• Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which impairs the judgement of the driver
• Unsecured cargo that falls out on the road, injuring other motorists
• Defective equipment, such as worn brakes, engine failure, or blown tires
• Poor training on the part of the commercial vehicle driver

Most of the time, commercial truck accidents happen when one party puts their convenience over the safety of other motorists on the road. If another party was acting recklessly on the road and caused your injuries, our Stockton commercial vehicle accident lawyers are ready to take on your case and fight tirelessly to get you justice.

Who Do I Sue If I’m Involved in a Commercial Vehicle Crash?

If you want to take legal action for your injuries, you can sue whoever is liable for the crash. Our team at Thompson Law can help you look through every piece of evidence to determine who was at fault for the crash. Then, we bring forth a lawsuit to hold them accountable for their actions and ensure they give you the compensation you deserve.

Here are some of the defendants you’ll see named in commercial vehicle accidents:

• The trucking company or private corporation that owns the commercial vehicle
• Truck drivers who were negligent on the road, especially if they were off-duty
• Truck manufacturers that made defective parts of the vehicle
• A third-party motorist or pedestrian who might have caused the accident
• Cargo loaders who weren’t able to properly secure the contents of a commercial truck

In some complex cases, there might be two parties that can be found liable for the accident. Our lawyers can help you identify all parties that should be held responsible for your injuries.

How Does Compensation Work in a Commercial Truck Accident?

If you’ve been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you’re entitled to seek financial compensation for it. These are called compensatory damages, and they’re awarded to you if the court finds the other party liable for your injuries.

This is the law’s way of making sure the at-fault parties are held accountable for their actions. It’s also designed to help innocent victims recover properly without financial stress.

In a personal injury claim after a crash involving a commercial vehicle, you can potentially obtain compensation for the following damages:

• Medical bills, including emergency care services, treatments, medicine, and surgeries
• Future medical expenses
• Past and future lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage to your own vehicle and other belongings damaged in the crash
• In fatal cases, wrongful death damages, like funeral costs

There’s no guarantee that a victim of a commercial vehicle crash will get compensated. But with an experienced team of lawyers from Thompson Law to back you up, you’ll be able to demand the justice you seek and fight for the maximum compensation possible.

Local Laws Every Commercial Driver Must Abide By in Stockton

Commercial drivers in Stockton are held to a higher standard because of the risks involved in operating such large vehicles on the bustling city’s roads. That’s why there are strict traffic laws that trucks and commercial vehicles need to abide by when passing through Stockton. Here are some of those local laws and ordinances.

Designated Routes for Bigger Trucks

Larger trucks are required to follow specific, designated truck routes around Stockton. There are specific routes for city and country trucks, as well as those carrying flammable liquid and hazardous materials. This helps the city manage the flow of trucks and other commercial vehicles while keeping residential zones safe.

Allowed to Park on Certain Streets

According to California Vehicle Code § 22507.6, cities can make their own local laws to prevent specific vehicles from parking in certain areas. However, commercial vehicles are exempted from these laws when they are making deliveries and pick-ups from nearby buildings or homes, or dropping off construction materials at a site. The no-parking rules only come into effect when there are big signs and notices in the street. Otherwise, commercial vehicles are allowed to park nearby.

These laws ensure that drivers of commercial vehicles, especially delivery trucks, can safely load and unload their vehicles while they’re on duty. That way, they aren’t forced to block certain driveways or lanes, which can be dangerous for other motorists.

Restrictions for Food Trucks

The Stockton Code of Ordinances § 5.72.060 has specific mandates for food trucks and wagons to reduce congestion on the road and disturbances to residents. These include the following:

• Food trucks can only park on public roads if they are at least 300 feet away from a school, playground, or city recreation center.
• They must also be at least 200 feet away from intersections with traffic lights or stop signs.
• In residential areas, food wagons must move 400 feet every 30 minutes and cannot return to a previous spot they were in within the same day.
• In commercial areas, they must move 400 feet every three hours and cannot return to a previous spot in the same day.
• They cannot park within 400 feet of another food truck in residential areas.
• They can only operate from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM in residential zones.
• They cannot park on public property that conflicts with city regulations, such as bicycle paths.

Stockton’s High-Risk Roads: Where You Should be Most Careful

It’s important to be vigilant when you drive anywhere in Stockton. However, there are some roads that are busier and more dangerous than others because they’re prone to accidents and crashes. Here are just some of the city’s crowded streets where you should be most careful, especially when there are trucks nearby:

• Interstate 5, a highway with a mix of commercial trucks and local traffic
• Highway 99, a major state highway with lots of trucks and other vehicles
• Pacific Avenue, which runs through the city and is known for a high number of accidents
• Airport Way, a busy road with lots of traffic congestion
• Hammer Lane, which has high congestion
• West Lane, a residential street where motorists might drive recklessly
• El Dorado Street, another residential street, and a site of car accidents

Hospitals in Stockton for Commercial Truck Injury Treatment

If you get hurt in a crash with a commercial vehicle, the first thing you need to do is get the appropriate treatment. For that, you can call 911 to get paramedics on the scene. If it looks like you have serious injuries, you might need attention in a hospital. Here are some of the local hospitals in and around Stockton where you can get treated after a commercial truck injury:

• St. Joseph’s Medical Center:  A Dignity Health hospital with an emergency department and surgical, neurological, orthopedic, and rehabilitation services.
• Stockton Medical Plaza I:  A Sutter Health facility that has an urgent care center, full lab services, an imaging center, and surgical services.
• San Joaquin General Hospital:  A Level II Trauma Center just outside of Stockton, making it a great option for accidents that happen south of the city. It has emergency services but also specializes in primary care and pediatric care.

We Help You Recover After a Commercial Vehicle Accident

It can be overwhelming trying to handle all the legal procedures while you heal from a road crash with a commercial vehicle. That’s where we come in. Our team of Stockton commercial vehicle accident lawyers can help face the legal battle on your behalf, from gathering evidence to taking negligent parties to court. That way, you can focus on recuperating and nursing yourself to health while we fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

There’s a better future ahead, even after getting hurt in a commercial vehicle accident. We at Thompson Law can help take you there. Take the first step toward justice and schedule a FREE CASE REVIEW to see how we can help.

FAQs About Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Stockton

When is the deadline for filing a commercial vehicle accident claim?

In Stockton, you can file a claim for a personal injury following a commercial vehicle accident up to two years after the date of the incident. If you’re filing a claim for property damage only, for say, damage to your car, you can do so within three years of the date of the accident.

How much are most commercial truck accident settlements?

Settlement amounts for injuries sustained in a commercial vehicle accident differ and heavily depend on the severity of your injuries and the damages you’re demanding. If it was a minor accident, you can expect an amount closer to $50,000 to $100,000. Meanwhile, those that cause debilitating injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or even a wrongful death, result in higher payouts, sometimes going into the millions.

How fast can you get a settlement for a commercial truck accident in Stockton?

Every case is different, and the time it takes to reach a settlement for a commercial vehicle accident will depend on your unique circumstances. For example, if the accident was clearly the other party’s fault, they might be quicker in proposing a settlement outside of court. But if liability can be disputed, it may take longer for the case to play out, leading to a settlement that takes months or even years.