START YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: CALL OR TEXT NOW (844) 629-3476
Browse Services:
Menu
When you hire us, you’re adding unmatched experience to your team, ensuring you get the best possible outcome.
Our firm maintains an impressive 99% win rate, even while accepting difficult cases other law firms have turned away.
We are not afraid of trial, and insurance companies know this. If it’s in your best interest, we are always trial ready.
Since most semi-trucks weigh up to 20 times heavier than the average automobile, an impact with these massive vehicles will often have gruesome consequences. In truth, Bakersfield trucking accidents cause injuries and fatalities at a higher rate than any other type of automobile accident.
Worse yet, even though the trucking industry has boomed in California over the past few decades and fueled the state’s economy, accidents involving semi-trucks remain an ongoing problem on California’s highways and roads, especially on I-5 and I-99.
If you have sustained injuries in a Bakersfield trucking accident, you should not have to go through this terrifying ordeal on your own. Rather, you should retain legal help that you can trust to get you through this challenging time in your life and to stand by your side as you pursue compensation for the full cost of your injuries. At The May Firm, our Bakersfield personal injury lawyers stand ready to take on this legal battle and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.
At The May Firm, we provide personal injury legal services, and our legal team consists of award-winning lawyers and accident attorneys. We only represent injured individuals and fight tirelessly for them while trying to alleviate as much of the burden from their shoulders as possible. This gives them the freedom to recover from their trauma and injuries without having to fight a legal battle alone.
At The May Firm, we handle each client’s case with the utmost attention, and we do everything we can to ensure that we take care of our client’s needs throughout the process. Of course, we also put in every effort to ensure that we recover maximum compensation on our client’s behalf given the specific circumstances of the case.
As a result, since our founding, we have won several multimillion-dollar cases and have recovered tens of millions of dollars on our client’s behalf. Even though we cannot guarantee that your case will have these exact results when you work with The May Firm, you can rest assured that our legal team will fight hard to go after the money you need.
At The May Firm we strive to be involved and connected to our local community. For example, this past holiday season we had bicycle and Christmas tree giveaway’s dedicated for individuals in our community. Our goal is to be a positive force for good in the local community and give back in some small measure to those we can serve. We receive satisfaction and joy from serving our clients and will continue to look for ways to be of assistance to the community as a whole. We receive positive energy from the community when we are involved.
We have listed a few of the local organizations we support and look forward to growing our outreach in the future. If you have any suggestions for ways we can be of service or support, please reach out to us.
Bakersfield is the largest city within Kern County, which encompasses more than 8,100 square miles. Bakersfield is conveniently located in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley, directly between Fresno and Los Angeles. The largest local employers are in the farming, agriculture and oil industries.
Unfortunately, this type of heavy labor can lead to a variety of personal injuries, especially trucking, farming and car accidents. The May Firm is here to help our clients get the justice they deserve. If you’ve been injured by no fault of your own, contact our office for a free consultation.
“My number one goal is to help others. When you step foot into our firm, you’ll be treated like family, period.”
Robert May, Attorney | Founder
Almost every 15 minutes in the United States, another individual suffers harm or dies in a crash involving a truck. On average, over 145,000 truck crashes occur each year, causing almost 68,000 injuries and 4,500 deaths on an annual basis. However, these troubling trends do not end there. Consider the following statistics:
Unfortunately, California does not fare any better when it comes to these trucking accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), on average, around 360 deaths get reported every year because of trucking accidents. California’s State Route 99, considered one of the most dangerous roads in the United States, experiences many of these traumatic truck accidents. The road stretches across the Central Valley and serves most major cities in Central California, including Bakersfield. However, with dozens of fatal accidents occurring on this road every year, it has earned a reputation as the most deadly 100 miles on any highway nationwide.
Due to the size and weight of big trucks, trucking accidents can cause significant devastation on our roads. Yet, although a variety of unique trucking accidents can occur, in Bakersfield, several common types of truck accidents result more frequently than others.
These include:
Almost one-third of all truck accidents result from truck driver error. Yet, although these mistakes can happen for a variety of reasons, some of the more common ones include the following:
Truck drivers often have tight deadlines and a significant amount of pressure to meet these deadlines. As a result, a driver may try to drive faster than appropriate for these types of vehicles. However, if a semi-truck decides to speed, it can mean bad news for others on the road, as this behavior can often cause deadly accidents, since the truck’s force of impact can reach significant levels due to its increased weight and speed.
Although laws and regulations exist for how many hours a trucker can drive in one shift, many companies still require drivers to deliver goods to certain destinations within short periods. Unfortunately, this means that these drivers may struggle to get in these mandatory breaks, as they will have to cover long distances in not much time.
However, after several days with too few hours of sleep, these truck drivers may lose coordination and concentration and react slower to hazardous road situations. Worse yet, these truck drivers may even fall asleep behind the wheel while driving due to extreme fatigue.
Driving long distances for hours on end can prove tedious, especially in rural areas where truck drivers may not have a decent radio signal. Unfortunately, this boredom can lead to distracted driving. This type of driving refers to any activity that diverts attention away from the primary task of driving and often includes things such as texting and driving, eating and driving, and playing with the radio while driving.
Alcohol, prescription medication, and drugs can all individually cause impaired driving. Generally, when a truck driver suffers impairment due to one of these causes, the driver often cannot use sound judgment to make safe decisions since their senses may suffer reduced capabilities—meaning that devastating crashes can occur.
Typically, the law mandates how many hours of training a truck driver needs to have before driving a commercial vehicle. However, in some situations, these truck drivers can manage to get on the road without meeting these requirements. Without this training, many drivers lack the experience necessary to drive in challenging situations, such as bad weather. As a result, if these drivers do not know how to operate in these poor conditions, it may cause them to jackknife, skid across the road, or even hydroplane and put other motorists at risk.
Finally, the trucking companies must inspect every truck before it gets on the road. This does not always happen, however, as proper truck maintenance often comes with immense costs, and the process can take a significant amount of time—time that the company may want to use on making deliveries instead. Consequently, routine maintenance often falls by the wayside, and trucks may hit the road without being ready for the trip.
If a truck driver fails to yield to the right of way, it can result in massive collisions. Typically, failing to yield usually happens at intersections that have a flashing yellow light, pedestrians in the crosswalk, a red light, or a truck driver trying to make a left turn who does not yield to oncoming traffic.
Every load needs to adhere to a specific size, length, weight, height, and width limits. If a truck carries dangerous materials, these regulations may include even stricter limits. Even with all these laws in place, mistakes can still happen.
If individuals responsible for loading a truck do so improperly, these loads can fall out of the truck and cause a hazardous situation, especially for drivers behind the truck.
Truck accidents often result in a slew of serious injuries that can leave victims suffering devastating harm and debilitating pain. Although these injuries can vary in type and severity, some of the more common injuries that result from these trucking crashes include the following:
Generally, spinal cord damage results in a temporary, partial, or complete paralysis of your lower body. The spine serves as the information center of your body, carrying messages through your nerves from the brain to all of your body parts. Once your spinal cord suffers a serious injury, it can result in debilitating harm that often requires months—if not years—of treatments, physical therapy, and surgeries. In some instances, it can even lead to permanent disability.
A variety of head injuries can result from a trucking accident. However, traumatic brain injuries often have life-long effects. These traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) usually result from a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. Often caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, TBIs can also happen when an object penetrates the skull.
Whiplash often happens when your head and neck snap forward, but your torso stays in place. Following a trucking accident, it may take some time for victims to experience the pain resulting from this injury, as symptoms may not appear immediately. Fortunately, most individuals with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a doctor’s treatment plan. Yet, some people may have long-lasting complications.
Amputations can occur when an accident’s impact itself cuts off a limb or because of a necessary surgery that needs to remedy another condition that resulted from the accident. Those that suffer an amputation will likely require continuing medical treatment and may also need adaptive devices to function in their everyday lives.
Even though you may believe that cuts and bruises don’t equal a traumatic brain injury in terms of severity, these injuries can still cause permanent damages. Typically, deep lacerations result when sharp metal, unrestrained objects, or shattered glass from the trucking accident penetrates a victim’s skin. Although the damage can range in severity, in some instances, it can even result in disfiguring scars or life-threatening infections.
Following a Bakersfield trucking accident, you likely have questions regarding your legal options. For this reason, The May Firm has prepared responses to the following frequently asked questions that our firm often receives following a trucking accident. We hope with this information, you have a better grasp of the legal remedies you can pursue to secure the money you need following your devastating crash.
5500 Ming Avenue, Suite 390
Bakersfield, California, 93309
First, you must realize that the actions you take following a trucking accident can not only keep you safe but also protect your legal rights.
For these reasons, following a Bakersfield truck accident, you should:
The statute of limitations dictates the maximum amount of time you have to bring a legal claim following an alleged offense. If you do not bring this lawsuit within that allotted time, you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
California law provides injured individuals with two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. However, various exceptions to this rule exist that can impact the amount of time you have to file. For this reason, you shouldn’t delay in filing your claim; instead, you should reach out to an experienced truck accident lawyer, like those at The May Firm, as soon as possible to set a timeline for your claim. These attorneys can determine the maximum amount of time you have to file your claim and ensure the timely filing of all required legal documents. Don’t attempt to handle your legal claim alone, as you may miss out on your chance to pursue compensation for the full cost of your injuries.
What many victims may not realize is that following a trucking accident, more than one person may bear responsibility for the crash. The more defendants in a case, the more complex it will likely prove. For this reason, we recommend reaching out to an experienced attorney sooner rather than later to determine who may bear liability for your accident and injuries. Potential defendants in truck accident cases may include:
Unfortunately, it often proves difficult to determine the at-fault parties for a truck accident. Following your crash, you should work with a skilled Bakersfield trucking accident lawyer who can help you identify all those liable for your collision and hold them accountable for your injuries. If you choose not to contact an attorney for help with your case, you may miss out on naming potentially liable parties as defendants in your claim, which may result in you missing out on potential sources of compensation.
Trucking accidents often result in more severe and debilitating injuries than other types of motor vehicle accidents. In addition, determining fault in a trucking crash often proves more complicated than in an automobile collision. Even if the truck driver bears some liability for the impact, several other parties may also share liability for the accident. The trucking company, for example, may share liability with its employed driver.
Another key difference includes the insurance policies involved. Large trucks must have higher insurance coverage than other vehicles. As a result, following a Bakersfield trucking accident, you should reach out to a skilled Bakersfield trucking accident lawyer, such as those at The May Firm, as quickly as possible. These lawyers can gather the evidence needed to figure out not only what happened but also who bears responsibility for the incident and help you go after maximum compensation following your accident.
After an accident with a truck in Bakersfield, the victim may have debilitating injuries and significant financial damages. If the truck driver or the trucking company caused the incident (or contributed to it), the victim can seek damages by filing a lawsuit against the wrongful parties. These damages often include:
Economic Damages: These damages include tangible losses that an individual incurred or will incur because of their accident.
These damages are usually easily quantifiable and include:
Non-Economic Damages: These damages refer to rather subjective losses and relate to injuries that often prove difficult to quantify.
Non-economic damages include:
Punitive Damages: Unlike the other compensatory damages, which courts award to compensate victims for their specific losses, courts award punitive damages to punish a defendant for particularly egregious actions and deter others from committing these acts again. However, to obtain these damages, the victim must show that the defendant acted with malice or caused intentional harm or an injury through extreme recklessness.
To determine your claim’s validity, you should speak with an experienced trucking accident lawyer, who will consider several questions that will go into figuring out whether you have a valid claim.
These questions often include:
Unfortunately, due to these many unknowns, we cannot provide standards answers for these questions. However, when you reach out to a knowledgeable Bakersfield truck accident attorney, like those at The May Firm, these lawyers can review your claim, determine whether you have a viable case, and help you pursue maximum compensation for your specific situation.
No attorney can tell you the exact value of your trucking accident claim.
Too many unique factors can impact your case and the amount of money you may ultimately receive, such as:
Even though we cannot tell you precisely how much money to expect following a Bakersfield trucking accident, if you work with one of the experienced trucking accident lawyers at The May Firm, our attorneys can go over your claim, figure out which of these factors can influence your recovery, and make sure to prepare the strongest case in response to these factors—helping you to pursue the maximum damages you need.
Truck accidents often involve complex legal issues that can overwhelm any victim. Fortunately, you will not have to tackle this complicated legal battle on your own. At The May Firm, we have years of experience handling these challenging trucking accident claims, and we know what it takes to take on these cases and go after maximum damages on your behalf.
Once you retain our legal team, we can:
If a Bakersfield trucking accident disrupted your life or the life of a loved one, do not wait any longer to seek legal help. Instead, contact The May Firm today for your free case consultation, and let our legal team show you how we can help! During your free consultation, you can discuss the details of your Bakersfield truck accident, ask questions about your legal options, and determine your eligibility to pursue compensation for the full cost of your injuries.
Contact us to get started. It is important to have the proper legal representation on your side if you’re involved in a motorcycle crash. Often wrongful blame is placed on the rider in a multi-vehicle collision due to the increased risk that comes with riding a motorcycle. Insurance companies are reluctant to side with the motorcyclist and oftentimes will attempt to place the full or partial blame on them. Don’t accept that blame and the legal repercussions that come with it.
Call (866) 619-6679 to schedule a free consultation with our award-winning motorcycle accident lawyers. We’ll help determine the viability of your case based on your testimony and help you determine the best way to proceed. Working on a contingency fee means our lawyers are only compensated when your case or settlement is won, and our extensive experience and case history allow us to settle most claims out of court, giving you a faster resolution to your case and allowing you to focus on your recovery process. We factor in every possible expense when building your settlement: Medical bills, wage loss, property damage, and emotional suffering are all considered. Our goal is to help you put your life back in order to the best of our ability.
GET ANSWERS AND PEACE OF MIND NOW:
Tell us what happened (866) 619-6704
California Personal Injury Lawyers
WE SERVICE ALL OF CALIFORNIA
