San Diego Truck Accident Lawyers
Helping You Sort through Complications

Anyone who's spent any time on the roads of San Diego understands that large trucks can appear en masse at almost any time. San Diego is one of the largest port cities in the world and sits next to an international border, and all of these realities lead to the need for the shipment of goods. However, this also leads to the danger of accidents, and given the size of these vehicles many of them require the help of San Diego truck accident lawyers.

Below you'll find information regarding the nature of truck accidents, the complications that can arise if someone chooses to enforce his or her legal rights in response to such an incident and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of a truck accident in San Diego.

The Nature of San Diego Truck Accidents

Large trucks are usually driven by professionals who pass through a high level of training before they're allowed to take to the public roads, but the realities are inescapable. These vehicles can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds and can move at speeds that equal much smaller cars and SUV's. As a result, when truck accidents occur, the results can be disastrous.

Thousands of people are injured and killed every year in the United States as a result of truck accidents, and the reasons for these troubling statistics include the size realities described above as well as the 'secondary' dangers that can arise in the aftermath of a truck accident. These secondary dangers include those presented by different types of dangerous cargo that a truck could be carrying at any time. For instance, if a truck is carrying fuel, a spill that results from an accident can create danger for anyone in the immediate area.

Complications That Can Arise from a Truck Accident

Aside from the extreme dangers presented by truck accidents, there are also potential complications that could arise if someone chooses to pursue his or her legal rights after an accident. Basically, there are two challenges that tend to arise for anyone, let alone someone who does not possess a legal background. These challenges are detailed below.

The Identity of the Defendant or Defendants

If someone decides to attempt to hold the responsible party or parties to a truck accident accountable, it can be difficult to name the proper defendants. For instance, if a truck driver responsible for an accident is an employee of a carrier, it could be appropriate to name both the driver and the trucking company as defendants.

However, if the truck driver was operating as an independent contractor, the issue of which parties to name as defendants can become muddled. In certain cases it would still be advisable to name both the driver and the company, while in others the identity of the defendant could be limited to the driver as an individual.

Discovery Challenges

In addition to naming the proper defendant, the process of discovery in a truck accident lawsuit can be difficult. Discovery is basically the exchange of information between the parties in preparation for a trial. When it comes to trucking accidents, items that should be included in discovery could include the driver logs, the records relating to the cargo, who loaded it, how it was loaded and several other issues. The federal government heavily regulates the trucking industry, and failing to meet even one of these regulations can lead to the potential for additional liability.

Rather than attempt to handle these situations by yourself, you need the help of experienced San Diego truck accident lawyers if you've been wrongfully injured in an accident. Contact the law firm of Mitchell | Gilleon today to schedule a free initial consultation.