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Personal Injury

Truck Driver Negligence

At The Matiasic Firm, we specialize in handling a wide range of personal injury cases. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights, holding negligent parties accountable, and fighting for the compensation you deserve.

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Accidents Caused by Truck Driver Negligence

Hit By a Negligent Truck Driver in San Francisco, CA?

When it comes to the competency of commercial truck drivers, the U.S. Department of Transportation imposes strict rules and regulations – including driver training and testing programs. They also maintain that it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that these regulations are followed. A driver that is not properly tested and trained will not have sufficient experience, and is at a much higher risk of causing an accident.

Similarly, truck drivers who maneuver recklessly or aggressively, make poor decisions while out on the road, or engage in distracted driving behaviors, can also put other drivers at risk. If you were injured in a truck accident, and you think that negligence on the part of the truck driver may be the cause, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact our team at The Matiasic Firm today for the help you need.

At The Matiasic Firm, we have over 25+ years of experience helping accident victims in San Francisco recover compensation for their injuries. Over the past several years, we have recovered over $12 million in damages.

Texting While Driving

In 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) responded to the rise in trucking accidents caused by texting while driving by imposing an immediate ban on the practice. Due to the high probability of serious injury or death occurring when a truck is involved in an accident, the importance of safeguarding private citizens on the roads and highways from these types of accidents has become paramount.

If you were injured in a trucking accident, and you have reason to believe that the truck driver was texting or otherwise distracted, it’s important to contact an attorney from our firm as soon as possible. At The Matiasic Firm, we pride ourselves in investigating every detail of a trucking accident to be certain that we bring the strongest case possible. And, we are committed to taking on even the most difficult of cases.

Aggressive & Reckless Driving

If you believe that your accident was caused by aggressive or reckless driving on the part of the truck driver, it is crucial that you discuss the details of your case with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Reckless or aggressive behavior can include:

  • Tailgating
  • Careless passing
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Speeding
  • Ignoring traffic signals
  • Failure to yield

Determining the cause of a trucking accident in which you have been injured can be difficult, but it is a vitally important aspect of your case. Let our experienced legal professionals help you get started today.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck driver fatigue can affect a driver’s perception and judgment just as much as being intoxicated. Drivers who feel rushed to get to their destination may violate federal trucking regulations by driving longer than they should. Exhausted drivers can make mistakes, overlook the obvious, and react too slowly in emergencies.

For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has imposed strict regulations to prevent tired driving. When a truck is loaded with cargo, it can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. The weight, size, and power of a truck can cause an otherwise minor accident to become a catastrophic or fatal event.

According to hours of service regulations, commercial drivers may not drive more than 11 hours a day and must take a 10-hour break between driving intervals. If drivers ignore these rules and take to the road while fatigued, it can result in aggressive or distracted driving, in addition to falling asleep at the wheel.

In order to stay behind the wheel longer, truck drivers may also resort to stimulants, drugs or alcohol. A driver who is exhausted may become irritable under pressure and behave erratically. If you have been injured in a trucking accident, The Matiasic Firm can determine if you have grounds for a personal injury case.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Due to the size, weight, and power of a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, commercial truck drivers are held to a higher standard of safety. Unfortunately, not all drivers take this responsibility seriously. All too often, accidents are caused by truck drivers who make poor decisions while behind the wheel, like unsafe lane changes.

Speeding, carelessness, and distraction on the part of the truck driver can all lead to unsafe lane changes, which may include:

  • Failing to signal before changing lanes
  • Failing to check traffic before changing lanes
  • Frequent lane changes
  • Cutting off other motorists during a lane change
  • Straddling two lanes

Even if you have exercised caution when driving near a large commercial truck, it may not be enough to protect you if the driver is careless when changing lanes. If you were hurt in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver in San Francisco, The Matiasic Firm is here to help. Call now for your free case evaluation.

Contact The Matiasic Firm for a Free Consultation

The legal professionals at The Matiasic Firm bring 25 years of experience in helping clients like you recover the compensation they deserve. Our firm has a high success rate and has recovered over $12,000,000 in damages in the last several years alone. We take pride in going as far as necessary to achieve a successful outcome.

The privilege of advocating for our clients is our number one priority. If you were involved in a truck accident in San Francisco that was caused by a negligent driver, contact us today at (415) 858-6692 for a FREE review.

Hear from our clients

“They are the type of lawyers you want to have on your side, the type you can trust!”

“Paul Matiasic represented me in an accident case where I almost got ripped off by the insurance company. The case took a little longer, but Paul and his team (Justin White) never gave up on me. They called/email every week to make sure I was feeling okay and gave me the status of the case. I felt at ease dealing with them. They are very human and care about their clients more than the money. They are the type of lawyers you want to have on your side, the type you can trust!”

Anonymous

Paul Matiasic is a superb personal injury attorney!

“Paul handled a case for me about eighteen months ago. It took a year to bring the recalcitrant insurance company to the table. Once there Paul was inspiring beyond his years. Strongest negotiator I have ever seen. A real treat to watch him in action. I found Paul to be prompt at returning phone calls, honest, fair and of the highest character. I would recommend him with no reservations.”

Tim

We can only say that God was on our side when Paul came into the picture.

“If it were not for Paul stepping to help with our case, we feel that it would not have been resolved as quickly and as efficiently as it was handled. We can only say that God was on our side when Paul came into the picture. Thank you, Paul!”

Anonymous

Paul represented me in a very complicated case, the result he got was outstanding.

“Paul represented me in a very complicated case, the result he got was outstanding. He's a very smart attorney and has a great personality. So glad he represented me!.”

Ken D.

Attorney Paul Matiasic is an outstanding attorney

“Attorney Paul Matiasic is an outstanding attorney that will walk and represent you strongly. Counsel Paul, represented in a complex and sensitive claim. Paul managed the claim with great care and we prevailed. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Marcia K.

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“I highly recommend The Matiasic Firm. Mr. Matiasic represented my family in a lawsuit this past year. He and his team were truly amazing. Not only will they fight for you and your family, but the empathy and compassion they show their clients is genuine and needed at such a trying time. If you are looking for someone to stand by you in what will inevitably be a very difficult time, The Matiasic Firm are the lawyers you need to trust. You want this team standing with & representing you.”

Todd C.

You can be assured The Matiasic Firm will work as hard for you, too!

“If you find yourself in need of an excellent attorney, I highly recommend The Matiasic Firm. This was a first for me and I will always remember the experience of working with Paul Matiasic and Scott Johnson in pursuing our wrongful death claim. I was turned down several times and then was referred to this firm. After presenting Paul and Scott with the facts as I saw them, they took on my case. The two attorneys as well as their staff was professional and tentative it felt as if I was their only client. We started the case in 2015 and I was advised from day one how difficult it would be but I was kept informed along the way. Any time I had a question or needed clarification Paul or Scott was there. In 2017, a settlement was reached. I just can't say enough of how pleased I was to have been their client. I will recommend Paul Matiasic and Scott Johnson to anyone in need of legal service. You can be assured The Matiasic Firm will work as hard for you, too!”

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“Paul Matiasic was amazing and got me a settlement that satisfied me!”

“I found Mr. Matiasic online and he was the only one of three other lawyers who responded wanting more info. The others did not want to persue the case, thinking it hard to prove. Mr. Matiasic was the only one who asked to meet with me personally to discuss the case and it was only with Mr. Matiasic asking questions and explaining to me the what we needed to prove, that I was able to give him the solid information (photos) that resulted in a successful settlement. He worked with and for me from the initial contact in May 2007 until the settlement in Dec 2007, keeping me appraised at every step of the negotiations. I was more than pleased with the result.”

Anonymous

Paul is a superb attorney

“Paul is a superb attorney, he represented me in a complicated case and got an outstanding result in my favor. He's a very intelligent attorney, super strategic and has a wonderful personality. If you have to engage the services of an attorney Paul is cream of the crop!. Share”

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If you’ve suffered a debilitating injury or loss at someone else’s negligence or recklessness, contact our attorneys at (415) 675-1089 today. Or refer a case to our team – we handle the toughest cases.

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