California’s busy roadways are home to many different types of accidents. Many of these roadways are long, winding, and mountainous. Dangerous roadways combined with large semi-trucks can be a fatal combination. In the United States, semi-truck accidents account for almost 11% of all car accident deaths. The attorneys at Eason & Tambornini are experienced in handling wrongful death claims involving semi-trucks. This blog will outline how you and your attorney can take a tragic death involving semi-trucks.
What is a wrongful death claim?
A wrongful death claim is defined as a “Civil action against someone who can be held liable for a death.”. A variety of incidents can cause these wrongful death claims:
- Car accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Accidents in the workplace
Wrongful death claims are often complicated with losing a loved one; contacting an attorney can make the settlement process less stressful.
The severity of semi-truck accidents causes more severe injuries and fatalities
Several factors cause semi-truck accidents to be significantly more severe and often fatal. These factors can include:
- High speed
- Trucks weighing a maximum of 80,000 pounds in the United States
- Driving under the influence
- Driver Fatigue
- Difficult and dangerous roadways
Due to these factors, semi-truck crashes can result in severe and fatal injuries, especially against smaller vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The standard American car weighs roughly 4,000 pounds; it is easy to see how an 80,000-pound semi-truck can cause catastrophic damage.
Police and media involvement in fatal truck crashes
After a collision with a semi-truck, it is common for police and other agencies to become involved. These agencies can be vital to creating accurate Police Reports, obtaining witness statements, investigating causes of accidents, and investigating potential criminal cases. When there is a fatality in one of these accidents, it is not unusual for the traffic collision report to take many months and even years to create due to a lengthy investigation process.
Media and news companies can also help obtain photos, videos, statements, and other vital pieces of information regarding a severe motor vehicle collision.
Wrongful Death Claims
When filing claims for wrongful deaths, it is essential to consider several critical factors, including statute limitations, who can pursue legal claims, and who can be responsible for fatal accidents. Statute limitations can vary from state to state; however, as of the writing of this blog, the State of California’s Statute is generally two years. The statute can be as short as six months if a public entity is involved. The most common group to pursue legal claims when a loved one has been involved in a fatal accident are spouses, children, parents, and other family members. These family members can pursue a legal claim against several entities, including but not limited to:
- The Involved vehicle driver
- Vehicle owner
- Trailer owner
- The company that has contracted the driver, trailer, or vehicle
- Other third-party entities that may be involved
Can an attorney help my wrongful death claim?
When a loved one is involved in a fatal accident with a semi-truck, it can be an overwhelming and challenging experience. A wrongful death attorney in Sacramento at Eason & Tambornini is skilled and experienced in this claim and is here to help you through this challenging process.
Dangerous trucking accidents can cause severe and often fatal accidents that can be disruptive and difficult for family members to process and handle. Contacting the attorneys at Eason & Tambornini can make this tragic process less stressful and provide necessary support by seeking justice for these claims.
