Truck Driver Personal Injury and Wage Lawyers in Santa Clarita

Passing through Santa Clarity Valley is Interstate 5, the most crucial highway through which truck drivers transporting all kinds of goods up and down California pass. It is also highly congested, a problem that people living and doing business in the region face every day.

Federal grants in the last three years are going to change things for the better, however. With the $47 million in funding from Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) in 2018, L.A. Metro constructed two new truck lanes to help decongest Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita Valley:

• A 4.7-mile highway between Pico Canyon and State Route 14
• A 3.4-mile, northbound highway between Highway 14 and Calgrove Boulevard

The project also extended the existing HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes from the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 interchange.

In May 2020, The California Transportation Commission approved the $247 million funding for a bigger infrastructure development project that would widen bridges and build new HOV and truck lanes in Santa Clara.

The goals of these developments are to remove the chokepoints in SVC and eliminate traffic congestion, improve road safety, and revitalize the region’s economy.

With projects now in the works, truck drivers from or passing through Santa Clarita will have more roads to travel in the future. These developments will hopefully create a safer environment for truck drivers in the region.

Accidents, however, are unpredictable and sometimes beyond anyone’s control. Should a truck driver passing through SCV or employed by a Santa Clarita-based operator get into an accident, our personal injury and wage attorneys in Santa Clarita can be on location and offer legal services as quickly as possible.

The Challenges Truck Drivers Face Daily

Truck drivers face daily challenges that will not automatically disappear with the construction of new, “safer” highways. The core aspects of their job remain the same, after all:

• Long hours on the road.
• Driving through any and all weather conditions.
• Exposure to reckless drivers, rough weather, truck engine malfunctions, and other road risks.

There are also other personal factors and mistakes that make truck drivers vulnerable to accidents and physical injuries:

• Fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Oversight in vehicle maintenance
• Speeding
• Lack of driving refreshers and defensive driving training

Regulations exist to guide truck drivers and other motorists on how to drive safely and  exercise vigilance on the road. Following the laws doesn’t guarantee, however, that other motorists and fellow truck drivers will also do the same. Even law-abiding truck drivers can fall victim to other people’s recklessness and negligence.

If you or someone you know finds himself in such a situation, Truck Driver Insights can help you focus on your recovery by taking care of the compensation claims against the responsible parties as well as your employer.

Truck Drivers’ Right to Receive Compensation

Truck drivers who got into an accident and were injured while on the job may be qualified to file claims for the following:

• Workers’ compensation claim – This is a benefit for employed truck drivers. Workers’ compensation is provided by an employer and covers medical expenses and lost wages.
• Personal injury claims – California is a comparative negligence This means that all responsible parties in a road accident will be held liable and asked to pay for damages. If the victim of the accident is partly at fault, the judge or insurance company will deduct the compensation they can receive based on their degree of negligence. Another example is if the truck driver is 10% at fault for the accident, he will only receive 90% of the amount he claims.
• Claims against multiple parties – Truck drivers who are involved in an accident caused by more than one individual may be entitled to receive damages from all of the people at fault. A sample scenario would be two cars racing each other on the highway and ending up causing a multiple car crash. Another example is if the vehicle that caused the accident had a manufacturing defect. In this case, the truck driver may be able to demand compensation from the driver at fault, his car manufacturer, the dealership where he bought the car, and government entities that should have policed the accident.

Filing these claims takes a lot of work, not to mention there are legal aspects that may be lost to the average individual who doesn’t have law knowledge. So although it’s possible to file a claim without an attorney, we encourage you to hire one for yourself or someone you know.

A Job for Personal Injury Attorneys

Compensation for damages is not always guaranteed for truck drivers. There are also other things to consider, such as if the driver is an independent contractor, employed by a trucking company, employed by a manufacturer or product distribution company, and if he is covered by any kind of insurance plan.

Insurance companies look out for their business interests, so they are inclined to deny compensation claims. Truck drivers, therefore, need to have personal injury attorneys who specialize in truck accidents. Truck driver personal injury attorneys gather evidence, prepare and submit legal documents, and champion their clients’ rights.

Beyond Road Accidents: Problems Regarding Wage and Management

In an ideal world, truck drivers only have to worry about the road before them and focus on getting to their destination. In reality, many truck drivers face problems that are unrelated to driving:

• Employer violations regarding salaries
• Non-observance of regulation hours
• Inadequate training
• Employer’s neglect of or refusal to respect the driver’s rights

Truck drivers who’ve been struggling with these wage and HR problems for a long time can change their situation by hiring employment and labor attorneys. They will examine their clients’ circumstances, study the areas that need improvement according to law, and start legal processes that will force employers to give truck drivers the benefits they are due.

Know Your Rights at Work

Knowledge is an employee’s first defense against non-compliant employers. Truck drivers must know their rights in order to make sure that they’re receiving fair treatment in the workplace.

The following are main facts about the truck driving profession that are mandated by law:

• 30-Minute Breaks – Truck drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for eight consecutive hours.
• Hour Driving Window – Truck drivers can be on duty for 11 consecutive hours, but only after being off-duty for 10 consecutive hours before.
• 11-Hour Driving Limit – The 14-Hour Driving Window comes with the condition that the truck driver only drives for 11 out of those 14 hours on shift. Once a driver has driven for 11 hours, he has to be off-duty for another 10 consecutive hours before returning to work.

If your employer doesn’t observe these rules or if you have a wage-related complaint against them, you should consult attorneys who have a wealth of experience in representing truck drivers in wage- and HR-related disputes.

You’ll find truck driver attorneys you can trust at Truck Driver Rights. We have over 20 years of experience in helping truck drivers and employees get their just compensation, benefits, and wages.

Call us at 877-700-0009 to schedule a Free Consultation.