Workers’ Compensation Claims - Truck Accidents
If you are injured in a truck accident in California or if you were injured in a truck accident while driving a truck that was based out of California, you have the right to file for workers’ compensation even if the truck accident was your fault. You might feel confused or scared if you were involved in a truck accident while working. Contact a Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney if you don’t know what to do. Our Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorneys are experts in everything involving truck accidents. They can help you understand what to do if you were involved in a truck accident, tell you about the most common causes, how many accidents happen yearly, or who is liable f. Contact Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, P.C. now so we can help you file a claim for your work-related truck accident and help you understand your rights.
First, and most importantly, call 911. If you are involved in a truck accident, and someone is hurt, you must seek help immediately. If no one is hurt, you can call local law enforcement to investigate the accident and write a detailed police report.
Second, don’t forget to exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident. Gather each person’s name, contact information, address, license number, car registration, and insurance information. If you are a commercial truck driver, give the other driver your commercial driver’s license. If you are involved in a truck accident, you must also collect evidence from the scene. Take photos of the damage and vehicles and collect contact information from any witnesses.
After you’ve collected everything you can, you should contact your employer. You should file a workers’ compensation claim immediately if you were hurt in a truck accident. Contact a Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney before talking to your insurance company. We can help guide you through the process.
Truck accidents happen every day. There are many different types of truck accidents. The most common types of truck accidents include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Tire blowout accidents
- Lost load accidents
- Blindspot accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollovers
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the most recent data from 2016 suggests that of the 34,439 fatal crashes in the United States, 4,079 involved at least one large truck. That means 11.8% of deadly crashes in the United States involved a large truck. Additionally, of an estimated 7,242,000 nonfatal impacts, 537,000 were applied to at least one large truck. Many of these crashes left truck drivers with serious injuries. If you were hurt in a truck accident, call a Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney today.
We often get asked, “Who is liable for a truck accident?” and “Does it affect a truck driver filing for workers’ compensation?” A trucking company is usually responsible for a truck accident if an employee is involved. If you are an employee of a trucking company, you can file for workers’ compensation as well. However, if your driving actions were intentional, like road rage, you would be liable for the accident.
We’re also asked, “Are independent contractors liable for truck accidents?” and “Can independent contractors file for workers’ compensation?” An independent contract truck driver uses their own truck and buys their own gas. They are independent of a company and are not told how to make deliveries or drive the truck. This distinction is essential. Suppose a truck driver is deemed an independent contractor in the trucking industry. In that case, the company will not be liable for the accident, and the driver cannot file for workers’ compensation.
What can you do?
There is a common misconception that truck accidents are always the truck driver’s fault. In reality, this is only sometimes the case. Sometimes car drivers will cut trucks off, tailgate trucks, or travel in a truck’s blind spots. These actions can cause truck accidents. Truck drivers have dangerous jobs and are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits if involved in a truck accident, regardless of who was responsible. Truck accidents can be highly complex. Suppose you or a loved one is seeking workers’ compensation for a truck accident. In that case, you must contact one of our experienced Sacramento workers’ compensation attorneys today to learn more about your options. Our Sacramento workers’ compensation attorneys can help you understand what to do if you were involved in a truck accident, explain the most common types of truck accidents, tell you how many truck accidents happen every year, and who is liable for truck accidents. Contact us today so we can help you file a workers’ compensation claim for a truck accident.
