Truck Accident Lawyer in Riverside, CA

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, you know firsthand how quickly life can change. These accidents often cause devastating injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and long-term uncertainty. You need a truck accident lawyer in Riverside, CA who will fight for your rights and guide you through every step of the legal process.

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we bring decades of experience, in-depth knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to justice for truck accident victims. The goal of each experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney at our firm is to help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve while relieving the legal burdens so you can focus on healing.

How Common Are Truck Accidents in Riverside County?

Riverside County is a major transportation hub in Southern California, with interstates like I-10, I-15, and State Route 60 carrying a constant stream of commercial vehicles. The county’s flourishing economy, distribution centers, and proximity to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach mean heavy truck traffic is part of everyday life. Unfortunately, more trucks on the road also means more risk.

According to California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) data, Riverside County consistently ranks among the top counties in the state for truck-related collisions. These crashes can involve tractor-trailers, delivery vans, box trucks, and other large commercial vehicles. The sheer size and weight of these trucks often result in catastrophic consequences for individuals in smaller vehicles. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that California ranks second highest for the most fatalities resulting from large truck accidents.

If you are injured in a truck accident in Riverside County, the physical, emotional, and financial impacts can be life-altering. It is crucial to act quickly, as California law places strict deadlines on how long you have to file a compensation claim.

You Have Limited Time to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California

In California, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including truck accidents, is two years from the date of the crash. If a wrongful death occurred, the two-year period generally starts on the date of death.

However, certain circumstances can shorten or extend this deadline. For example:

• Claims against a government entity, such as a city-owned garbage truck, require filing a government claim within six months.
• If the injured person was a minor at the time of the accident, the time limit may be extended until they turn 18.

Missing the deadline almost always means losing your right to pursue compensation, so it is essential to contact a Riverside truck accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve evidence and protect your claim.

What Happens If You Were Partially at Fault for the Truck Accident?

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partly to blame for the accident, but the court will reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault.

For example, if a jury awards you $100,000 but finds you 20% responsible, your award would be reduced to $80,000. Insurance companies know this rule well and often try to exaggerate your share of fault to pay you less. Having an experienced truck accident lawyer in Riverside County helps you present your case and support it with evidence.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas for Help After a Truck Accident?

When you choose our team, you are choosing a law office built on a foundation of real-world insight and proven results.

• Decades of Experience: Attorney Fernando D. Vargas began practicing law in 1987, working as a defense attorney for major insurance companies. This early career experience gave him an inside look at the strategies insurers use to minimize or deny claims.
• In-Depth Knowledge of Insurance Tactics: Because Mr. Vargas has been on both sides of the negotiating table, he knows how to anticipate the opposition’s moves and counter them effectively.
• Personalized Legal Service: We limit the number of cases we take to ensure each client gets the personal attention they deserve.
• Proven Track Record: For over 35 years, we have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for accident victims throughout California.
• Commitment to the Spanish-Speaking Community: To effectively serve Riverside’s diverse population, we staff our office with fully bilingual personnel to ensure that Spanish-speaking clients receive clear, comfortable, and comprehensive communication throughout their case.

When your financial recovery and future well-being are on the line, you need an advocate who knows how to win against the toughest opponents.

Be Aware of These Insurance Tactics After a Truck Accident

The primary goal of insurance companies representing trucking companies or individual drivers is to protect their bottom line. They may:

• Contact you quickly after the accident to get a recorded statement that they can later use against you
• Offer a lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
• Delay processing your claim to pressure you into accepting less
• Dispute the severity of your injuries or claim they were pre-existing

Attorney Vargas’s background as a former insurance defense lawyer means he recognizes these tactics immediately and knows how to shut them down. We handle all communication with insurers so you can focus on recovery, not fighting adjusters.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means:

• There are no upfront costs to hire us.
• There are no hourly fees while your case is pending.
• We only get paid if we win your case through settlement or verdict.
• Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, agreed upon in advance.

This arrangement ensures you can access top-tier legal representation without worrying about how to pay for it.

Many Factors Can Cause Truck Accidents

Determining the cause of a truck accident is the first step in building a successful personal injury claim. Unlike a typical car accident, where fault is often straightforward, truck accidents can have multiple contributing factors and liable parties. Some of the most common causes we see on Riverside County highways and local roads include:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers are under intense pressure to meet tight deadlines, often leading them to violate federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. When a driver is fatigued, their reaction time and decision-making abilities are significantly impaired.
• Distracted Driving: A moment’s distraction, whether from a cell phone, a GPS device, or a dispatch radio, can be fatal when a truck is traveling at high speeds.
• Improper Maintenance: Federal and state laws require trucking companies to inspect and maintain their vehicles regularly. Catastrophic failures, such as brake failure or a tire blowout, are often the result of a company’s negligent maintenance program.
• Overloaded or Unsecured cargo: Improperly loaded cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, leading to rollovers, jackknifing, or a shifting load that can cause the driver to lose control.
• Speeding and Reckless Driving: A speeding truck requires a much longer distance to stop, making it impossible to avoid a collision in heavy traffic or when an emergency arises.
• Driving Under the Influence: Despite regulations, some truck drivers still operate their vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol, putting every driver on the road at risk.
• Weather Conditions: Weather-related accidents are a significant concern in an area with diverse climates like Riverside County. Extreme heat can cause tire blowouts, while sudden rain or heavy fog can reduce visibility and make roads slick, increasing the risk of a jackknife or rollover.
• Blind Spots: Due to their massive size, commercial trucks have large blind spots, or no-zones, on all four sides. Drivers of smaller vehicles are often unaware of these areas, and if they linger in a truck’s blind spot, the truck driver may not be able to see them when changing lanes or making a turn, resulting in a dangerous collision.

Identifying the exact cause of your accident is critical to determining liability.

Who Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident?

One of the key differences between a car accident and a truck accident case is the number of potential defendants. A thorough investigation often reveals entities other than the truck driver whose negligence contributed to the crash. In California, we can pursue claims against:

• The Truck Driver: For negligent driving behaviors
• The Trucking company: For improper hiring, training, or maintenance practices
• Cargo Loaders: For failing to secure loads properly
• Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers: If a defective component caused the crash
• Government Entities: If unsafe road conditions contributed to the accident

Our truck accident attorneys in Riverside will conduct a comprehensive investigation, gathering evidence from multiple sources to identify all parties at fault. This includes black box data, driver logbooks, maintenance records, and company policies, all of which are essential in building a strong case.

We Handle Various Types of Truck Accidents

Our firm represents clients injured in all types of commercial truck accidents, including:

• Delivery Truck Accidents: Such as Amazon, UPS, or FedEx trucks
• Box Truck Accidents: Commonly used by local businesses and rental companies
• Moving Truck Accidents: Including rental trucks driven by individuals
• Garbage Truck Accidents: Often involving city or private waste management services
• Dump Truck Accidents: Frequently used on construction sites and in hauling operations

Each type of truck presents unique dangers and legal considerations that our team has vast experience handling for Riverside injury victims.

Types of Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

Because of their size and weight, trucks often cause severe injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Multiple fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Severe burns
• Amputations
• Wrongful death

These injuries can lead to long-term disability, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. We fight to recover compensation for your injuries so you can focus on getting better.

Compensation You Can Recover in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Pursuing a personal injury claim after a truck accident allows you to seek compensation for all the ways the crash has impacted your life. We fight to recover economic and non-economic damages to fully compensate you for your losses.

Economic Damages

These are the verifiable, out-of-pocket costs and financial losses you incurred as a result of the accident. They include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.

Non-Economic Damages

These are subjective, non-monetary losses that are more difficult to quantify but are equally important. They include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, if the judge or jury finds the defendant’s conduct to be malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive, a court may award punitive, or exemplary, damages. These are not meant to compensate you but rather to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior in the future.

Our firm works to document and pursue every category of damage fully.

Your Legal Options After a Riverside Truck Accident

After a truck accident, you may have several legal options:

• File an Insurance Claim: While this is often the first step, insurers rarely offer fair compensation without legal pressure.
• Negotiate a Settlement: We present evidence and argue for a fair amount based on your damages.
• File a Personal Injury Lawsuit: This may be necessary if the insurance company refuses to settle fairly.
• Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim: You may have options for recovery if the crash resulted in the loss of a loved one.

From the moment we take your case, we prepare as if it will go to trial, giving us leverage in negotiations and ensuring we are ready for court if necessary.

Additional Considerations in Truck Accident Cases

While the basics of a truck accident claim may seem straightforward, certain factors unique to Riverside County and California law can have a significant impact on your case.

• Local Jury Tendencies: Riverside County juries can be skeptical of injury claims. Having compelling evidence and expert witnesses is crucial.
• Federal vs. State Regulations: Commercial trucks must comply with California Vehicle Code (CVC) requirements and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.
• Preserving Evidence: Black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records can be destroyed if not requested promptly.

By working with our experienced truck accident lawyers who know the local courts, applicable regulations, and best practices for preserving evidence, you can protect your rights and position yourself for the best possible outcome.

Contact an Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Riverside, CA

A truck accident can upend your life in an instant. The medical bills, lost income, and emotional toll can be overwhelming, but you do not have to face these challenges alone. At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we combine insider knowledge of insurance company tactics with decades of proven advocacy to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. If you need an experienced truck accident lawyer in Riverside, CA who will stand up to trucking companies and their insurers, contact us today.