Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Stockton

The average Stockton resident has learned how to live with fully loaded 80,000 lb semi-trailers barreling down the I-5 and Highway 99. Unfortunately, this also means that traffic collisions between these trucks and other vehicles happen. And when they do, the casualties are often severe.

Sadly, some of the distracted driving truck accidents in Stockton would have been avoided if the truckers had been paying attention to the road. If you or a loved one is involved in an 18-wheeler truck wreck, our trusted and compassionate truck wreck lawyers can help you pursue compensation and recover your losses.

What Qualifies as Distracted Driving?

Any activity that causes a trucker to take their eyes off the road or keeps them from concentrating fully while driving is considered distracted driving. Common examples include:

• Eating/drinking
• Listening to music
• Fiddling with knobs
• Engaging in conversations
• Talking or texting on the phone
• Checking destination routes on navigational maps on a mobile device

Other examples are picking up items from the vehicle’s floor or from any of the other seats, keeping children entertained, and watching other incidents on the road.

Understanding this is often crucial to establishing who is responsible for a distracted driving tractor-trailer accident in Stockton.

Filing an Injury Claim After a Tractor-Trailer Wreck

Once the cause of the crash is established and the at-fault party is identified, filing an injury claim is often straightforward. The basis of every injury claim is proving negligence or malicious actions.

An experienced accident lawyer in Stockton merely has to show that the driver was distracted and, as a result, did not exercise a reasonable duty of care while operating their tractor-trailer. Sometimes, this means filing a special request for truck or phone records.

Upon establishment and with the injured victim’s approval, they can proceed with an injury claim filed with the insurance companies of all liable parties. For instance, if the trucker was distracted because of a call or text from their company, this means the attorney can also file a claim with the organization’s insurer.

Additionally, notice of the traffic collision must be sent to the insurance company within 48 hours, and all truck injury claims must be filed within specified deadlines. Failure to do this may lead to a delay in payout or claim denial.

Recoverable Damages in a Semi-Truck Accident Claim

Plaintiffs in Stockton may be able to recover compensation for the losses they incurred due to distracted driving tractor-trailer truck crashes. These include:

• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced earning capacity
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Other out-of-pocket expenses
• Ongoing and future medical expenses
• Loss of past, present, and future income
• Household expenses related to the accident
• Associated property damage costs – may include repair or replacement costs

If the victim died from injuries sustained in a truck accident, the claim may cover damages such as burial and funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of consortium.

Consult a Stockton Lawyer After a Distracted Driving Semi-Truck Collision

Securing the maximum settlement amount from cases involving distracted driving truck accidents in Stockton requires significant experience and skills.

At Law Office of Brian H. Turner, PC, our experienced and trusted lawyers are committed to fighting for victims like you whose lives and schedules have been interrupted by the actions of careless truck drivers. We will even come meet you at home to discuss your options. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.