Oxnard Truck Accident Lawyers

If the unthinkable has happened and you or a loved one were seriously injured or died in an Oxnard truck accident, call the personal injury lawyers at The Dominguez Firm at 800-818-1818 for a free consultation right away. Don't wait to contact us because waiting can seriously hurt your case.

Trucks are a common sight in Oxnard, CA due to the city's importance as an agricultural and distribution center. All of this commercial activity causes big rigs, tractor-trailers and other large trucks to regularly travel Oxnard’s surface streets and freeways. That puts those in passenger vehicles at greater risk of serious injury if they have an accident with one of these trucks. Below you'll find more information on what to do if you find yourself in this scenario and what your rights are.

Oxnard Truck Accident Statistics

Overall, the city of Oxnard recorded some disturbing traffic accident statistics in 2018. It ranked second among similarly sized California cities for traffic accidents of any kind with injuries and deaths. Even worse, it ranked first overall for the number of pedestrians under the age of 15 injured or killed in traffic accidents for the same year.

At the state level, 12,584 trucks had fatal and non-fatal accidents in California in 2020. This might seem like a high number, but it is an improvement over the 14,567 trucks that crashed and caused injuries and deaths in the Golden State in 2019.

Given the enormous size difference between passenger vehicles and trucks, especially commercial trucks, most serious injuries and fatalities impact those riding in passenger vehicles. For example, in 2019, 2,757 people traveling in passenger vehicles were killed in accidents with trucks. The number of people traveling in trucks killed was 679, or roughly a quarter of that.

Do I Need a Lawyer for My Oxnard Truck Accident?

Yes. Truck accident cases are very complex. They are not the sort of claim a victim or their family should take on by themselves. There are several reasons for this. One of the most important is that there could be multiple defendants besides the truck driver. Among the other possible parties are:

• The company that owns the truck.
• If the driver leased their truck, the leasing company.
• If the truck wasn’t loaded properly, the company responsible for loading the truck.
• If the truck had a defect, the manufacturer.

You can be sure the trucking company and their insurance representatives have aggressive defense attorneys ready to represent their interests. They have a well-deserved reputation for trying to pay out the least amount possible on Oxnard truck accident claims. This is true regardless of the extent of your injuries or even if there were any deaths.

Instead, let the personal injury lawyers at The Dominguez Firm deal with the trucking and insurance companies on your behalf. We have over 30 years of experience successfully handling truck accident claims throughout California. Let us handle all of the paperwork, defendants and deadlines for you. At this difficult time, you should focus on feeling better, not stress over high-pressure tactics from insurance adjustors and opposing lawyers.

What are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?

One of the leading and most well-known causes of truck accidents is truck driver fatigue. While federal law allows an 11-hour driving limit, which is itself quite high, drivers are known to bend the law by going over that limit. Add speeding to the mix and the odds of an accident increase exponentially.

But truck drivers aren’t always to blame when there’s an accident. Oxnard is unique in that it is a medium-sized city with a large agricultural and distribution presence. Drivers need to account for everything from commercial trucks to railroad crossings to slow-moving agricultural vehicles. A distracted or impatient drivercan easily cause a catastrophic truck accident.

Impatient drivers may attempt dangerous maneuvers to try and pass or outrun a truck. This is a very bad idea for two reasons: trucks have very large blind spots and they need a lot more room to come to a complete stop. Distracted drivers looking down at their cellphone can quickly find themselves involved in a major accident if they inadvertently cross paths with a truck.

The main causes of truck accidents in Oxnard include:

• Truck driver fatigue
• Speeding by either the truck or a passenger vehicle
• Distracted driving, again by either driver
• Poor truck driver training
• Alcohol or drug use by any of the parties involved
• Not obeying traffic signals
• Cargo that has been improperly loaded on a truck
• A truck’s much larger blind spot
• A truck’s longer stopping distance
• Poorly maintained trucks
• Manufacturer defects to either the passenger vehicle or the truck

Poorly maintained trucks pose a dangerous hazard to anyone sharing the road with them. Faulty brakes or a blown tire can result in devastating accidents for those unfortunate enough to be driving near them.

What Steps Should I Take After an Oxnard Truck Accident?

Number one is to seek immediate medical attention. Even if by some miracle you appear to be uninjured, you may still have suffered dangerous internal injuries.

Second, make sure an ambulance and the police are called to the scene. Since the accident involves a truck, the police will show up. If the accident happened on a freeway, try and stay out of the path of other vehicles if at all possible.

Third, take photos of the damage to your car, the truck, traffic signs and signals and anything else you think is important for your claim. Again, only do this if you’re not putting yourself in any danger.

Fourth, get contact information from all other drivers involved, witnesses and the police officers who respond to the accident.

Fifth, call the Oxnard truck accident lawyers at The Dominguez Firm right away. Do not delay taking this step. Do it as soon as you’re able to do so or have a loved one make the call for you.

What Should I Not Do After an Oxnard Truck Accident?

There are a few things you shouldn’t do if you get into a truck accident in Oxnard. This is true whether you’re the truck driver or the driver or passenger of a passenger vehicle.

First, don’t apologize to any of the other drivers. Apologizing can be seen as an admission of guilt and used against you. Even if you think you caused the accident, don’t do it. Accidents happen in seconds. There are a lot of moving parts. What you think happened may not have. This is especially true if you suffered any injuries since you’re likely in shock and disoriented.

Second, delaying or not seeking medical attention. Even if you think you’re ok, see a doctor. As previously noted, you may be unaware of any injuries, which can have grave consequences if not attended to. Also, if you don’t see a doctor or go to an ER right away, defense attorneys for the insurance company may question the extent of your injuries.

Third, not calling The Dominguez Firm right away. Trucking and transportation companies are notoriously aggressive when it comes to defending themselves against truck accident claims. They are a business. Maintaining their bottom line is their main concern, not paying out large amounts of money  to accident victims. Get us involved from day one. This allows us to send our investigators to the scene of the accident immediately which ensures vital evidence isn’t lost. Plus, we’ll arrange the crucial medical care you need without delay.

What Compensation Could I be Entitled to for My Oxnard Truck Accident?

Suffering serious injuries in an Oxnard truck accident can easily cost a victim hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars over their lifetime. It’s important you receive the maximum compensation you’re entitled to for your injuries. If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, the financial support a truck accident settlement or verdict amount provides can help a family move forward with financial peace of mind, especially if the deceased left behind any children.

An Oxnard truck accident claim is a civil case, not a criminal one. The aim is to seek monetary compensation from the defendant, not jail time. That monetary compensation is legally known as damages. There are two kinds of damages, economic and non-economic. Economic damages are meant to compensate you for the expenses you’ve had to endure because of your truck accident. Here are the most common examples:

• Ambulance fees
• Hospital bills
• Visits with medical specialists
• Any needed surgery
• In-home and/or long-term care
• Lost wages now and in the future
• Mental health counseling
• The cost to repair or replace a vehicle

Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for your emotional losses due to your Oxnard truck accident. This can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Anxiety

The Dominguez Firm has won record-setting verdicts and settlements for truck accident victims. We have the resources and experience to see your case through to the end, not all law firms can say that. Insurance companies and their attorneys know this and that gives you, our client, the kind of leverage other law firms can’t offer.

Call the Oxnard Truck Accident Lawyers at The Dominguez Firm Now

The Dominguez Firm is a full-service personal injury law firm with over 30 years of experience. We aren’t a referral service, nor do we close out cases for less because we can’t afford to go to trial. Instead, we will handle your Oxnard truck accident case from start to finish and fight for all of the compensation you’re legally entitled to. As our client, you’ll also receive our award-winning customer service.

Finally, if you’re worried about the cost of hiring The Dominguez Firm, you shouldn’t be. We work on a contingency basis. That means we only get paid if you win. We receive a percentage of your final verdict or settlement. That percentage will be clearly noted in the representation agreement you sign when you become our client. There are no hidden fees, upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses, period.

Call The Dominguez Firm for a FREE consultation at 800-818-1818 today. We can travel to your home or hospital at a moment’s notice.