Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accidents in Bakersfield

Donald Colvin, Esq

California has strict guidelines for load and weight allowances for commercial trucks traveling its roads, bridges, and highways. These limits are enforced to protect the millions of residents and visitors who share the roads with these large vehicles.

When you or your loved one has been seriously injured in an accident with an overloaded or overweight truck in Bakersfield, do not hesitate to call our law office today. Our knowledgeable tractor-trailer collision attorneys could advise you on potential compensation and represent your interests during settlement discussions and, if necessary, a lawsuit and trial.

Immediate Steps After an Overloaded Truck Crash

The first step after a potentially catastrophic accident is to contact emergency services, such as an ambulance, for anyone injured in the incident. In Bakersfield, most overload/overweight truck accidents involving other vehicles require immediate medical attention for those impacted.

It is also important to begin collecting crucial evidence of fault, something your lawyer could help with. This includes the following:

  • Police reports and any police investigation materials
  • Traffic cameras and other video evidence to reconstruct the collision
  • Truckload, size, and weight documentation and permits
  • Driver and trucking company records
  • Insurance policies

This information and much more will determine how a trucking company and its insurers evaluate their exposure and offer you a settlement.

Commercial trucks in California generally have a weight limit of 80,000 pounds.  They also have length and size capacities. Operating outside those parameters without the appropriate permit is a California Department of Transportation violation code.

Commercial vehicles must also have proof of financial responsibility and minimum required insurance coverages. The required coverages depend on what the trucks are hauling. A reliable personal injury attorney with experience in handling overloaded truck wrecks in Bakersfield could handle all evidence collection for you so that you can focus on recovery.

Common Injuries After an Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident

Injuries can range from relatively minor to life-altering. We have represented clients with, among other injuries, the following:

Collecting a complete medical record of all injuries and treatments to date and retaining expert physicians to testify about the long-term medical treatment and prognosis is critical.

Available Damages From a Truck Collision

Several types of damages may be available to injured parties after an overloaded or overweight trucking crash in Bakersfield. The first kind is known as economic damages. These are tangible losses from an accident, which can include the following:

  • Medical bills (ambulance fees, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, etc.)
  • Lost work days and earning capacity
  • Property damage
  • Out-of-pocket expenses

The other primary type of compensation is called non-economic damages. These are more subjective losses and can be more challenging to calculate, such as:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional and psychological trauma (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.)
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium

Punitive damages are the last kind of compensation that can sometimes be available to an injured party. These are designed to punish the defendant for especially careless or heinous behavior, like drunk driving or intentional harm.

Call an Attorney for Help With an Overloaded-Overweight Truck Accident in Bakersfield

Our personal injury lawyers specialize in catastrophic injury cases. We have the capacity and the fortitude to go up against large trucking companies and their larger insurers to get the best recovery for our clients.

Colvin Accident Lawyers know how insurance companies evaluate claims against their insureds, and we are up-to-date on jury awards for injured parties of overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Bakersfield.

Call us to discuss how we could help relieve some of the financial relief so that you can focus on physical and emotional healing.