Ontario Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents can be particularly devastating, as these high-impact collisions can commonly cause severe injuries and even death. In California, truck accident victims are entitled to pursue compensation to recover money for their damages, such as pain and suffering and medical bills. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to a truck accident in the area, an Ontario, CA, truck accident lawyer from Amendt Law is here to guide you through the process of pursuing personal injury compensation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents
There were 114, 552 large-truck accidents in the country in 2023 that resulted in injuries. Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but there are several factors that tend to be present in most truck accidents, including:
- Speed. Speeding is one of the most common factors in all accidents, but especially truck accidents, where the velocity and physics of a heavy, fully loaded truck and trailer increase exponentially with acceleration, requiring longer stopping distances.
- Driver fatigue and sleepiness. Long-haul routes, incentives to deliver cargo early, and infrequent rest breaks all increase the chances that a driver will be sleep-deprived and tired, decreasing alertness and responsiveness.
- Distracted driving. GPS devices, cell phones, onboard entertainment and music, and eating while driving can all be dangerous distractions.
- Poor vehicle maintenance. Tractor-trailers undergo severe mechanical abuse, and while these big rigs are made to handle heavy loads and drive long stretches on our California roadways, improperly maintained trucks and trailers can pose a major threat to drivers who share the road with these large vehicles.
- Poor cargo loading. Uneven weight distribution, loads over or under the legal limits, and cargo like livestock that create issues with load distribution can all increase the risk of jackknifing incidents and rollovers.
- Bad weather. Hazardous driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow, or high wind, can all contribute to truck accidents, especially if the driver does not slow down and exercise caution.
- Road conditions. Potholes, construction, damaged guardrails, and curvy, mountainous terrain, especially in rural areas, can contribute to truck accidents.
Why Truck Accidents Are Complex
Truck accidents tend to be more complicated than car accidents, as they can often involve various parties, such as the trucking company, the trucking part manufacturer or repair company, the truck driver, and other drivers. Such accident cases are also governed by both federal and state regulations, such as rules set forward by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
On top of being highly complex in terms of liability, truck accidents commonly lead to severe injuries due to the sheer size and mass of these vehicles. Therefore, it is critical to work with an experienced Ontario truck accident lawyer. They can help you understand your rights after an accident and take concrete steps to pursue optimal compensation that reflects your damages.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often devastating, causing catastrophic injuries that can have lifelong impacts on victims. It is rare for the occupants of a smaller vehicle to come away from a truck accident uninjured, due to the massive amounts of force involved in these accidents.
Some of the most common injuries sustained in truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries. TBIs can have long-lasting, sometimes lifelong, neurological effects that can alter your ability to work and enjoy life. Some TBIs result in lifelong dependency on caregivers and severe disabilities that require long-term residential care.
- Spinal cord injuries. Head and neck injuries that affect the spinal cord can result in partial or full paralysis, or mobility issues that necessitate disability aids and ongoing rehabilitation therapy.
- Severe fractures, including compound fractures and crushing injuries. In many truck accidents, the smaller vehicle can be crushed by the truck’s weight, creating devastating fractures and crushing injuries that can result in amputation or partial immobility.
- Internal injuries and organ damage. Because of the mass of truck collisions, many victims of these accidents experience organ damage or internal bleeding that may require emergency surgery and life-saving, ongoing operations such as transplants and reconstructive surgery.
- Severe burns, lacerations, and soft tissue damage. Accidents can create traumatic soft tissue damage such as whiplash and deep lacerations, chemical burns from airbag deployment, or the caustic chemicals some trucks carry as cargo. These injuries can result in permanent disfigurement that requires ongoing reconstructive surgery and skin grafts to help mitigate the damage.
- Chronic PTSD and other psychological anguish. The after-effects of a traumatic accident don’t just create physical injuries. Anxiety attacks, insomnia, severe PTSD episodes, and a lifelong fear of driving can come about as a result of a truck accident. These deep psychological wounds can impact a person’s ability to work and enjoy life as they did before the accident.
No matter the scope of your injuries, under California law, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. When you hire a truck accident lawyer from Amendt Law, we will listen with compassion and offer sound legal advice to help ease your path to recovery.
Compensation for Truck Accidents in Ontario, California
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Ontario or the surrounding areas, it is critical to pursue the compensation you deserve. Depending on the exact circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to the following types of compensation:
- Medical bills. Truck accidents can cause severe injuries that need immediate medical attention. Hefty medical bills can add up, which can even bankrupt many accident victims. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to coverage for medical expenses, such as prescription drugs and medical devices, hospital bills, ambulance fees, diagnostic costs, rehabilitation, medication, and medical devices.
- Lost income. If your truck accident injuries have kept you out of work, you might get coverage for subsequent lost wages and benefits. This means that you can recover the wages you lost while healing from the accident, as well as future lost earnings if you are out of work for a long period of time or permanently.
- Property damage. If your vehicle required repair or replacement as a result of accident damages, you may be entitled to receive financial coverage for such costs. Furthermore, compensation for personal belongings, such as computers and jewelry, can be covered in a settlement as well.
- Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is a form of non-economic damages, which includes emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical pain. These losses can also be compensated in a claim. Calculating pain and suffering can be a complex legal process that also involves medical knowledge. It is critical to work with an experienced lawyer who knows how to properly evaluate these damages.
- Loss of consortium. If the damages from your truck accident have had a long-term negative impact on your relationship with your family members or spouse, your loved ones may be able to obtain compensation for these subsequent losses.
An experienced Ontario truck accident lawyer from Amendt Law can evaluate the details of your case, taking into account factors such as the severity of your injuries, the degree of fault, and the incident’s impact on future earnings, to determine the financial amount that you are entitled to. They can then design and implement a robust legal strategy to pursue full compensation that adequately reflects all that you have lost.
FAQs About Truck Accident Law
What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Truck Accident in California?
In California, the statute of limitations is the period of time that an individual is allowed to file a claim, starting from the date of their accident. For truck accidents that do not involve property damage, the statute of limitations is typically two years. Those involving property damage typically have a statute of limitations of three years. By working closely with an experienced lawyer, you can understand the critical deadlines for your case.
What Is the California Truck Accident Policy?
In California, truck accident policy is determined by federal and state rules and regulations. Such policies require:
* Trucks to be adequately maintained
* Drivers to have certain qualifications
* Drivers to only work a certain number of hours and take breaks
* Other critical measures to keep everyone on the road safe
Truck accidents can involve the liability of multiple parties, and victims in California can pursue compensation under state law by proving this liability.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in California?
If you have been in a truck accident in California, it is critical to immediately seek medical attention. You should make sure that even injuries that seem minor are adequately treated. Be sure to also report the accident to law enforcement, and collect the subsequent accident report. Work with an experienced truck accident lawyer to gather evidence and determine the extent of your damages. Your attorney can help you take adequate legal steps to pursue compensation.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer to Pursue Compensation in Ontario
Truck accidents can be particularly devastating due to the high rates of severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and even wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been harmed in an Ontario truck accident, an Ontario truck accident lawyer from Amendt Law is here to assist you. Together, we can analyze the details of your case to prove liability and the extent of your damages. We can then create and implement a strong legal strategy to recover these damages. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.