Truck Accidents on the 405: Who’s Liable and How to Build a Strong Case
In Southern California, I-405 is one of the busiest highways used by travelers every single day. Depending on what time of day you check, traffic reports may indicate that traffic is moving slowly, at a standstill, or blocked in one lane. Even when I-405 is fully open and there’s no backups, accidents are always a possibility. So what happens when you’re involved in a truck accident on the 405—who is liable and how can you protect yourself? The truck accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates can help you navigate what comes next.
Led by Robin D. Perry, Esq., our truck accident law firm knows what it takes to support and advocate for truck accident victims. You’ve likely sustained serious injuries, not to mention a damaged or totaled vehicle. Our team is committed to helping you fight for justice as you recover. Call us at 562-216-2944 to get started.
Truck Accidents on the 405
Truck accidents on the 405, also known as the San Diego Freeway, is characterized by its heavy traffic and frequent accidents. Of course, these two traits feed into each other. Heavy traffic increases the likelihood of accidents, and accidents slow traffic and lead to heavy traffic buildup. This route is frequently used both by personal drivers and commercial truck drivers, ramping up the risk of commercial truck collisions.
A number of factors contribute to accident rates on this highway. Heavy traffic gives drivers minimal leeway. A minor mistake that would be a near-miss on any other highway can cause a catastrophic accident on the 405. Additionally, truck drivers on this route are often running behind due to the highway’s traffic. This makes it harder for them to make good driving decisions, increases the risk of fatigue, and leads to reduced reaction times. When you combine all these factors, you see that some accidents are essentially unavoidable.
Potential Liable Parties
When you begin working with a truck accident lawyer, one of their main goals is to determine who is at fault. Figuring out who caused an accident and backing that claim up with solid evidence makes it much easier for you to secure the compensation you deserve.
There are several parties that may be liable for your collision. If the truck driver is an owner-operator, they may be personally liable for any crashes they cause. In this situation, you would pursue a claim against their commercial insurance policy. If the driver is an employee of a trucking company, any mistakes they make generally become the fault of the trucking company. As a general rule, employers are liable for anything employees do in the course of their work.
In addition to being liable for their drivers’ mistakes, companies can make their own errors that lead to liability. For example, they may put trucks in disrepair on the road, skip required or recommended maintenance, hire ill-prepared drivers, or encourage drivers to exceed hours-of-service regulations.
Vehicle manufacturers or repair shops can also be liable, although this is a less common outcome. If a manufacturer releases a truck that has not undergone proper safety testing and a malfunctioning part leads to a crash, they may be held liable when a truck accident attorney pursues compensation. Repair shops that do shoddy work or use unapproved parts may be at fault for accidents that follow.
Securing Proper Evidence
Any truck accident claim must be backed up with as much evidence as possible. Your truck accident lawyer will do a lot to collect and utilize this evidence, but you can help them by getting as much as possible from the scene of the crash. Photos and video footage are invaluable, since you only have one opportunity to get this type of evidence. Eyewitness testimony can also be useful, so make sure you talk to anyone who stops to help or provide input. After the crash, get a copy of the police report from the police department and furnish a copy to your lawyer. Your truck accident law firm may work on getting black box logs, truck repair logs, the trucking company’s hiring and repair protocols, and other relevant types of evidence.
Reach Out to the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates—We Are Here for You
The personal injury team at the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates is here to help you as you work through the trauma of a truck accident. Start your accident claim now by contacting us online or calling us at 562-216-2944.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
