The San Fernando Valley is a heavily traveled thoroughfare – the 5, I-405, and State Route 118 all travel through it, making it a hub for commercial trucking. Unfortunately, the constant heavy traffic, strict delivery windows, and long shifts make truck drivers in the area prone to serious accidents. If you are a truck driver hurt on the job, it’s important to know your rights and to know what kind of compensation you may be entitled to. A trucker injury attorney in San Fernando Valley can help protect your future.
Common Causes of Trucking Injuries
Truck drivers face many dangers that could cause harm:
- Traffic collisions: Collisions with heavy trucks usually lead to severe or catastrophic injuries, particularly in accidents with smaller vehicles
- Repetitive stress injuries: All of that lifting and loading and long hours behind the wheel take their toll on truckers’ musculoskeletal systems
- Slip and fall incidents: Getting into and out of a truck or trailer may cause a slip and fall situation, particularly in bad weather or on poorly lit service station forecourts
- Equipment failure: Because of defective apparatus or poorly maintained trucks, accidents may happen
Whatever the cause, truckers who get hurt on the job should know they’re not alone — and that they may be entitled to financial help.
Difference Between Claims for Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury
For truckers who are injured on the job, the first line of compensation is typically workers’ compensation. California law mandates that employers have workers’ comp insurance, which provides for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits
- Job retraining, if necessary
Workers’ comp, though, does not plan for pain and suffering. If a third party, such as a different driver, a maintenance company, or the manufacturer of a vehicle, was partially responsible, then you may file a personal injury claim as well. Therefore, you need to work with an experienced trucker injury lawyer in the San Fernando Valley.
Why Legal Representation Matters?
Both workers’ comp and potentially personal injury claims can be complex to navigate. An experienced lawyer can assist by:
- Determining the reason for your accident
- Determining all liable parties
- Paperwork, back and forth with insurance companies
- Aggressively seeking the full measure of compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering
The insurance company tries to pay as little as possible, or nothing at all. Hiring a local lawyer with experience in San Fernando Valley courts and the standards by which they follow can represent you and help ensure that you’re treated fairly.
Actions to Take Following a Trucking Accident
If you’re injured on the job working as a truck driver, while it’s fresh in your mind, do this:
- Report the injury: Notify your employer, if you have one, as soon as you can. This is how you start the workers’ comp process
- Seek medical care: Your health comes first. Even if your injury appears to be minimal, have it evaluated by a physician
- Document, document, document: Keep information on your injuries, medical treatment, and any discussions with your employer, including statements from witnesses
- Seek the advice of an attorney: Contact a San Fernando Valley trucker injury attorney to learn what your legal options are
Damages You Could be Compensated For
Depending on your circumstances, you may receive:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages or earning capacity
- Disability benefits (temporary or permanent)
- What pain and suffering are (in an injury claim)
- Penal damages (in case of gross negligence)
Work-related injuries can have devastating consequences, particularly for truck drivers who depend on their health to make a living. San Fernando Valley Workers’ Compensation. If you have been working in the San Fernando Valley and at work, and you have been injured, your future doesn’t have to be left to chance. An experienced trucker injury lawyer in the San Fernando Valley will help ensure that your rights are protected and will help you get compensation for your injuries, damages, including medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. It is important you act quickly; protect your rights and your recovery by speaking with a legal professional today.
Lexy Summer is a talented writer with a deep passion for the art of language and storytelling. With a background in editing and content creation, Lexy has honed her skills in crafting clear, engaging, and grammatically flawless writing.
