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.
Commercial trucks serve an essential purpose in the United States—transporting essential goods across the country—but they also present a significant risk to other drivers on the road, and Fresno is no exception. Semi-trucks are big, heavy, and require special expertise to drive safely, and when they are involved in accidents the results are often deadly.
Dealing with the financial impact of a commercial truck accident is often stressful and overwhelming; that’s why the compassionate Fresno injury attorneys at The May Firm are here to help. If you or a loved one was injured in a Fresno truck accident, contact our firm today for a free consultation.
The Fresno personal injury lawyers at The May Firm is committed to securing clients the recovery they deserve. With more than 22 years of experience and a recovery rate of 99 percent, our team has a proven track record of securing results for our clients. This includes millions of dollars recovered for truck accident victims.
While our past results do not guarantee a recovery in your case, we are nonetheless proud of our successes. We believe in our team’s ability so much that if we don’t recover money on a client’s behalf, that client pays us nothing in attorney fees. We work with each client to understand their goals and bring our collective experience to each case to accomplish those goals.
At The May Firm we strive to be involved and connected to our local community. For example, this past holiday season we organized bicycle and Christmas tree giveaways 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.
We take pride in working hard for each of our valued clients and will help you recover from your injuries and losses, including lost wages, mental anguish, future earning potential, disability or continued health care needs and lost or damaged property.
Our Fresno injury lawyers stay well-informed and up-to-date on all applicable legal changes, so you can be confident that you will always receive relevant, current legal advice.
If you have suffered a personal injury or are a victim of an accident that is not your at fault for, contact our award winning Fresno attorneys 24/7 to schedule your free case consultation. You can also call our Fresno office at 1-(559)-385-2090. Let us be your personal injury and accident advocate.
“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
Of the 33,654 fatal crashes that occurred in the United States in a recent year, 13.8 percent involved at least one large truck or bus. Additionally, 8.3 percent of non-fatal crashes involved at least one large truck or bus.
Commercial trucks are subject to the laws of the state they are driving in as well as federal regulations. In a recent year, inspections uncovered more than 400,000 traffic enforcement violations.
The most common violations of regulations are:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 150,000 individuals work as truck drivers in California—the second-highest state for this profession. In California in a recent year, there were over 300 fatal crashes and almost 7,000 injury crashes that involved a truck. These crashes resulted in 367 deaths and 9,710 injuries—including 21 deaths and 225 injuries in the Fresno area.
When the truck driver was found at fault, the following were the most common factors for fatal crashes:
In addition to the above factors, the following were also significant contributors to injury crashes:
Commercial truck accidents continue to present a threat to drivers on Fresno roads.
If any party acted negligently and caused the accident and your injuries, they should be responsible for your damages. A party is negligent anytime they act outside the ordinary standard of care for their position or profession, including violation of traffic laws and regulations.
Commonly responsible parties after a truck accident include:
Because of all the parties involved in a truck accident, sorting through the evidence and negligent actions can take time and experience. Additionally, if multiple parties are involved, multiple insurance companies may manage various parts of your claim. Your lawyer will help you sort through the evidence, determine which party or parties acted negligently, and manage communications with the other parties and their insurance providers.
Preparing a damages demand is a complicated but important step in the legal recovery process, and it is best done in conjunction with an experienced attorney. The negligent party is responsible for all the injuries you have suffered, not just your medical expenses.
These injuries are unique to each individual, but common damages include:
Preparing a comprehensive damages demand can be time-consuming, but is an important step to ensure you secure the recovery you deserve. Not only will the jury review your demand if your case goes to trial, but it is also an important tool when analyzing any settlement offer from the defendant or their insurance company.
The first thing to do after any motor vehicle accident is to seek medical attention. Your health and safety should be your priority.
Once you have secured appropriate medical assistance, keep these considerations in mind:
One of the most important steps you can take after a truck accident is hiring an experienced Fresno truck accident attorney.
The May Firm is Fresno’s truck accident law firm, known for fighting tirelessly for our clients. Our team of award-winning lawyers is dedicated to securing justice for Fresno truck accident victims. If you or a loved one was the victim of a truck accident in or around Fresno, CA, contact The May Firm today for a free consultation.
Read on to find answers to commonly asked questions that are important to consider if you have been the victim of a truck accident in or around Fresno.
The May Firm is a Fresno truck accident law firm with deep experience supporting truck accident victims throughout our community. The firm’s team of award-winning Fresno truck accident lawyers understand that we are working with clients during what is potentially the worst moment in their lives, and we approach each client with empathy and understanding.
If you or a loved one was the victim of a truck accident in or around Fresno, contact The May Firm today at (559) 385-2090 to schedule a free consultation.
For the most part, we know a commercial truck when we see it. To understand which trucks the government regulates, however, you must understand what trucks qualify as a commercial truck.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations define a “commercial motor vehicle” as a vehicle used on the highway to transport passengers or property in interstate commerce and:
The May Firm has substantial experience assisting clients to identify different kinds of trucks and pursue recovery, including 18-wheelers, big rigs, cargo trucks, concrete trucks, construction trucks, fuel trucks, semi-trucks, tanker trucks, tractor trailers, and logging trucks.
Not only are commercial trucks large, but they are also heavy. Semi-trucks can weigh more than 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. For comparison, a standard passenger vehicle weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. The trucks are often carrying cargo, sometimes hazardous, and any failure to load the cargo appropriately increases the risk of cargo spilling across the roadway or affecting the driver’s ability to effectively steer the vehicle. Trucks also require special skill and aptitude to drive and become much more dangerous when an inexperienced driver is behind the wheel.
Of the 33,654 fatal crashes that occurred in the United States in a recent year, 13.8 percent involved at least one large truck or bus. Additionally, 8.3 percent of non-fatal crashes involved at least one large truck or bus.
California employs the second-highest number of truck drivers in the nation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating the number of individuals at nearly 150,000. In California in a recent year, there were over 300 fatal crashes and close to 7,000 injury crashes that involved a truck. These crashes resulted in 367 deaths and 9,710 injuries across the state and 21 deaths and 225 injuries in the Fresno area.
The following actions were the most common causes of death or injury in a truck accident when the truck driver was found at fault:
A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required for any driver of a commercial vehicle in California. First, the driver obtains a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). To secure a CPL, the driver must have a normal driver’s license in the state of California, complete an application, complete a 10-year history record check, have a medical physical performed, and pass a knowledge test. Once the driver has held a CPL for 14 days, they can apply to take their skills test. The skills test will include a vehicle inspection, basic control skills test, and a road test.
Commercial truck drivers are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) which govern the conduct of commercial truck drivers. Some of the most notable regulations include:
Work with your attorney to analyze the actions of the truck driver involved in your accident to determine whether they violated any federal or state regulations.
Death or serious injuries are more common in truck accidents because of the disparate size and weight of vehicles involved. A collision can occur because of a direct collision, running into spilled cargo, or colliding with a different vehicle attempting to avoid a semi-truck jackknife or rollover.
Common injuries include:
Given the high likelihood of injury, be sure to seek medical assistance immediately after the accident.
Any party who acted negligently—meaning outside a normal standard of care—in a way that caused the accident is responsible for any injuries resulting from the accident.
Negligent parties often include:
The negligent party is responsible for all injuries suffered by another party in the accident. The most obvious expenses are medical expenses, such as doctor’s bills, the cost of a hospital stay, prescription medicine, and physical therapy. Don’t forget to include an estimate of future anticipated medical costs.
In addition to medical expenses, these are common damages recovered by victims of truck accidents:
Work with your attorney to prepare a comprehensive damages assessment because it will be an important tool when preparing for trial and the jury. Your lawyer can also involve financial and economic experts as needed.
The California Vehicle Code requires that any driver involved in an accident resulting in death or injury report the accident within 24 hours. In addition to the fact that a police report is a requirement, a police report will be a valuable evidentiary tool. The report will include photos of the accident scene, witness information, and any citations police issued to any party involved. This in-the-moment description of the accident forms important evidence as you move forward with your case.
California law requires that you file your Fresno truck accident lawsuit within two years from the date of the injury. If you didn’t discover the injury at the time of the accident, you have one year from the date you discover the injury to file a lawsuit.
Nobody can tell you for sure. Recovering after a truck accident may depend on whether you choose to accept a settlement offer. If you accept a settlement, you may receive compensation more quickly, but possibly for less than you would secure at trial. Proceeding through a trial may take longer but could net you more compensation.
Whether resolved via settlement or court judgment, the strategy for each case will depend on the facts of the case and the goals of the client.
Carefully consider any settlement offer and discuss it with your lawyer before accepting. The defendant and their insurance company will try to settle the lawsuit for the lowest amount possible. Early settlement offers are likely to significantly undervalue the cost of your injuries. There are many benefits to settlement, including eliminating the unpredictable nature of a jury trial and getting money in your pocket more quickly, but be sure not to settle for an amount less than is warranted by the strength of your case.
An attorney is a critical partner as you pursue recovery for your injuries after a truck accident. A lawyer will work with you to analyze the facts of your case, identify which party or parties are at fault, compile evidence to support your case, prepare a damages assessment, analyze settlement offers, and prepare all court documents.
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.
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