Truck Accident Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Accidents with large trucks can cause severe injuries that require months or even years to recuperate. In some cases, collisions with these massive vehicles cause permanent disability or death.

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you hold negligent truck drivers or trucking companies accountable for causing a crash. If we can’t win your case, you don’t have to pay any legal fees.

To speak with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga truck accident lawyer, contact our law office serving San Bernardino County. You can also reach our law office by phone at (909) 982-0707.

How Common Are Large Truck Accidents in California?

According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 11,974 accidents involving large trucks in California in 2023. These tractor-trailer crashes caused 5,194 injuries in the state that year and 407 deaths.

How Long Do I Have to File a Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit?

For most truck accidents, you have two years from the date of the crash to file an accident claim. Once that two-year deadline has passed, you will not be able to seek legal action.

Keep in mind that some truck accidents have shorter and stricter deadlines than that two-year statute of limitations. It is in your best interests to contact our semi-truck accident attorney in Rancho Cucamonga about your collision and the injuries you sustained.

Can I File a Tractor-Trailer Accident Claim If I Was Partly at Fault?

Yes.

California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that someone can still seek damages after a big rig accident even if they were 99% at fault in a crash. Their percentage of fault in the collision is subtracted from the total damages awarded from the jury.

This is why it’s always best to speak with experienced lawyers near you about any kind of large truck accident or auto collision.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas

Established in 1995, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas offers sound legal counsel to the people of San Bernardino County following collisions with large trucks. Beyond our high Avvo ratings and recognition from legal organizations, here’s what sets us apart from other law firms in the Inland Empire.

Experience Working for Insurance Companies on Accident Cases

Attorney Fernando D. Vargas began his legal career in 1987 working as a defense attorney for insurance companies. He knows how these companies operate, and the tactics they use to lowball settlement payouts. He uses that experience to negotiate better counteroffers and build stronger legal cases for truck accident clients.

Personal Attention on the Needs of the Client

You and your family matter, which is why Fernando D. Vargas will personally handle each case. He will always be accessible to you if questions or concerns arise. We encourage you to read testimonials from past clients to get a sense of what we can offer you after a catastrophic vehicle accident.

Se Habla Español: Legal Services in Spanish

To best serve the Hispanic community in San Bernardino County, it’s important to have fluent Spanish speakers. Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, and many of his staff members are fully bilingual as well.

Free Legal Consultations

After a serious tractor-trailer crash, your first concern is recovering from your injuries and paying off your medical bills and other expenses. At our Rancho Cucamonga law office, your first consultation is free of charge. This allows you to get honest advice from a qualified legal professional without any additional financial burdens.

Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis

Our firm takes cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we can secure a settlement or win damages in a jury trial. If we don’t win, you don’t have to pay us. Clients have nothing to lose when they come to the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.

Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Lawyer About Your Truck Accident

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, you can find local legal professionals who care and who are on your side. To discuss what happened with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga semi-truck accident attorney near you, contact the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.

Crashes Caused by Truck Driver Fatigue

Long hours spent on the road can take their toll on even a seasoned truck driver. Some truckers may get so exhausted that they wind up feeling drowsy or even falling asleep behind the wheel. This is why FMCSA hours of service regulations are in place, restricting the number of hours a trucker can operate their vehicle without mandatory rest periods.

While the regulations have helped prevent driver fatigue-related trucking accidents, these kinds of crashes still occur. This may be due to truckers ignoring hours of service rules or trucking companies forcing their drivers to spend far too long behind the wheel.

Crashes Caused by Major Big Rig Blind Spots

A tractor trailer has major blind spots surrounding the trailer as well as the cab where the driver is located. Any vehicles to the sides of the large truck may not be seen in the truck driver’s mirrors. In addition, a truck driver is often not aware of vehicles behind the trailer or directly in front of the cab.

Motorists need to exercise caution when driving around an 18-wheeler. However, when truck drivers are not paying attention to the road, they need to be held liable for causing serious crashes or catastrophic injuries.

Semi-Truck Collisions Caused by the Size of the Vehicle

Blind spots aren’t the only hazard related to the size of a semi-truck. These large vehicles need extra space to make turns or come to a full stop. While making a wide left or right turn, there’s the risk of a car getting hit from the side and getting forced under the trailer, which is known as an underride crash. For vehicles that are ahead of the semi-truck, a sudden stop could mean a potentially fatal rear end collision.

Whenever a truck driver fails to consider the safety of commuters and others sharing the road, our Rancho Cucamonga truck accident lawyer can help you hold them legally liable.

Crashes Caused by Truck Driver Distraction

Driver distraction covers a broad category of actions in which a driver diverts their attention from the road or removes their hands from the wheel. This can take many forms, including:

Texting while driving
Checking directions
Looking up something on the phone
Making a calling without a handsfree kit
Eating while driving
Rubbernecking

A minor distraction could mean the difference between a near miss and a fatal crash. Our semi-truck accident attorney can help when truckers fail to pay attention to the road.

18-Wheeler Crashes Caused by Reckless Driving

Reckless drivers can cause serious car accidents. Speeding, weaving through traffic, trailgating, and refusing to yield the right of way are dangerous enough already with a car, pickup, or SUV. These dangers are compounded when the reckless driver is behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer.

When reckless truck drivers cause crashes, we’re ready to hold them accountable for their disregard for other people’s safety and well-being.

Request a Free Consultation with Our Rancho Cucamonga Semi-Truck Accident Attorney

Devastating injuries can happen after a collision with a large truck. When you need legal help, trust Fernando D. Vargas and his team. For a free case evaluation with a skilled truck accident lawyer near you, contact our Rancho Cucamonga personal injury firm.

Jackknife Tractor-Trailer Accidents

A jackknife accident is when the trailer of a big rig turns in toward the cab of the vehicle; this motion is similar to a folding knife. When a truck jackknifes, the danger expands from one lane of traffic to multiple lanes. Numerous vehicles could be totaled in a jackknife crash.

Jackknife accidents are usually caused by truck driver error, sudden or improper braking, poor vehicle maneuvering, or equipment failure. Our semi-truck accident attorney can look into

Collisions Caused by Poorly Loaded Truck Cargo

Truck driver error isn’t the only concern when it comes to tractor-trailer crashes. When the cargo on a large truck or flatbed truck is not properly secured, it can come loose. The cargo can cause immediate crashes involving nearby vehicles or increase the hazards of collisions for oncoming vehicles that must deal with debris on the road.

Our truck accident lawyer will examine what happened in your crash and determine who should be held liable for a cargo loading mishap.

Large Truck Driver DUI Accidents

We often think of alcohol when we hear about driving under the influence (DUI). While truckers sometimes drink and drive, there’s a bigger worry about truck drivers abusing stimulants and narcotics in order to stay alert. These substances can cause truckers to have poor judgment and act erratically.

When a driver operates their 18-wheeler drunk or is otherwise intoxicated, our Rancho Cucamonga semi-truck accident attorney can hold them liable for causing a crash.

Negligence by Trucking Companies Can Lead to Accidents

We’ve focused a lot on negligent truck drivers, but trucking companies can also be held liable for causing or contributing to an accident. These are just three examples of negligence on the part of a trucking company:

Poor Hiring Practices – When trucking companies fail to screen drivers or hire unqualified truckers with a record of poor performance, there’s a serious risk of accidents.
Failure to Maintain Fleet of Trucks – When trucking companies do not repair or perform routine maintenance on their vehicles, the unsafe big rig could cause serious injuries.
Overworking Current Drivers – As alluded to above, an overworked trucker is more likely to skip rest and suffer from driver fatigue in order to meet unrealistic demands.

Discuss Your Crash Our Rancho Cucamonga Big Rig Accident Lawyer

No matter the cause of your tractor-trailer collision, the team at the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas is here to help. To discuss what happened in your truck accident with an experienced lawyer serving San Bernardino County, contact our law office in Rancho Cucamonga.

Other Kinds of Large Truck Crashes in San Bernardino County

In addition to semi-truck collisions, our accident lawyer can assist with cases that involve other kinds of common trucks we see on the roads and highways of Rancho Cucamonga everyday.

Delivery Truck Accidents – There are plenty of trucks, vans, and other vehicles from Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and DHL that help deliver orders and parcels to people throughout the Inland Empire. Serious collisions are possible.
Box Trucks and Moving Trucks Accidents – Whether it’s a professional mover, a U-Haul, or a box truck used for other purposes, collisions with these vehicles can lead to major injuries.
Garbage Truck Accidents – Garbage trucks and recycling trucks can take up a lot of space on the road, especially in residential areas. When crashes happen, they can cause serious harm, even at low speeds.
Dump Truck Accidents – Dump trucks and other work vehicles are essential for new construction in the area, but they can be dangerous if they are not operated with diligence and care.

Catastrophic Injuries in a Semi-Truck Crash

All kinds of severe injuries can occur in a tractor-trailer collision. These can lead to long-term changes to your quality of life. In some cases, these crashes can cause permanent disability. Examples of potential catastrophic injuries from 18-wheeler crashes include:

Compensation in a Semi-Truck Accident Case

When seeking compensation for clients after a large truck accident, our Rancho Cucamonga injury lawyer will consider the following financial losses and out-of-pocket expenses:

Medical Bills – Our lawyer will help seek compensation for the ambulance, emergency medical care, life-saving surgery, and follow-up visits with specialists.
Long-Term Health Needs – If your injuries result in permanent disability, our attorney will help you cover the cost of physical therapy, occupation therapy, assistive devices, and even ongoing mental health counseling.
Damage to Property – If your vehicle was wrecked or totaled, compensation will cover repairs or replacement as well as car rentals or rideshares while you were without a vehicle.
Lost Wages – Our lawyer will note any leave taken from your job to recover as well as pay cuts or changes in employment status as a result of the truck accident.
Lost Future Earnings – In cases of permanent disability, our law firm can help clients get compensated for the end of their career or their ability to earn a living wage.

Legal Options After a Fatal Semi-Truck Accident

When an 18-wheeler crash ends in the death of a loved one, our lawyer will help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the trucker or trucking company. These kinds of claims help seek compensation for the surviving family members of someone killed in a semi-truck crash.

Compensation After a Fatal Semi-Truck Crash

Compensation after a fatal truck accident can cover funeral expenses, grief counseling, loss of the loved one’s income to the household, as well as any lasting changes to your life due to the tragic absence of your loved one.

Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Whether you were seriously hurt in a tractor-trailer crash or lost a loved one in a fatal big rig collision, you can count on the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas to be on your side. To discuss your case with a trusted truck accident lawyer near you, contact our Rancho Cucamonga law office today.