Riverside is a beautiful city in California that has a hometown charm to it. It blends rich history, beautiful landmarks, and close-knit communities with modern infrastructure and growing industries. Its strategic location and thriving economy make trucks a common sight on their ever-busy roads, and unfortunately, so are truck accidents.
If you’ve been injured by a truck in Riverside, it means you’re facing one of the most serious kinds of vehicle accidents. The aftermath of these crashes is complicated physically, financially, and legally. Knowing what steps to take, what mistakes to avoid, and how the law in Riverside, CA, works is critical if you want to protect your health and your right to compensation.
In fact, one of the most important decisions you can make after such a collision is to call a skilled Riverside truck accident attorney. These cases are far more complex than regular car accidents, and trucking companies have their own lawyers and insurance adjusters who move quickly to limit what they owe you.
What Should You Do Right After a Truck Accident?
If you’ve been in an accident in Riverside, here’s what you should do:
Stay at or Close to the Scene
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal in California. You must stop as close as safely possible, check on everyone involved, exchange information, and call for help.
Leaving could result in hit-and-run charges, which carry severe penalties in Riverside County.
Call the Police
Even if the accident seems minor, always call the police. The report they write is one of the most valuable pieces of evidence you can have later. It provides an unbiased record of what happened, who was involved, and what conditions existed at the time.
Don’t Admit Fault
It’s natural to feel guilty or want to apologize after an accident, but you should avoid saying anything that sounds like admitting fault. Determining fault is complex and often requires investigations, so it’s better to let the evidence speak for itself.
Get Medical Attention
If you refuse or delay medical care, insurance companies may later argue that you weren’t really hurt.
Getting a full medical exam immediately after the crash both protects your health and creates a clear medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
How Do You Prove a Trucking Company Is Liable?
Liability in a truck accident isn’t always straightforward. It could be the truck driver’s fault, but the company that hired them might also be responsible. Under California law, employers can be vicariously liable for the actions of their employees.
Sometimes, liability extends beyond the driver and the trucking company. A mechanic who failed to maintain the truck, a cargo company that overloaded it, or even a manufacturer that sold defective parts could share responsibility.
Proving this requires strong evidence, expert investigations, and knowledge of trucking laws—things a lawyer can handle for you.
What Deadlines Do You Need to Know?
California has strict deadlines for filing lawsuits, called statutes of limitations. For personal injury claims, you usually have two years from the date of the accident. For property damage, you have three years.
If you miss these deadlines, you lose your right to file a claim entirely. That’s why it’s so important to act quickly.
Do You Really Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Yes, you do. Truck accident cases are much more complex than regular car crashes. Multiple parties may be involved, and trucking companies have powerful legal teams working against you from day one. Without your own lawyer, you’re at a major disadvantage.
A truck accident lawyer can:
- Investigate the crash in detail
- Collect and preserve key evidence like black box data and driver logs
- Work with experts to prove liability
- Calculate the true value of your damages, including future needs
- Negotiate with insurance companies or take your case to trial if needed
Summary Points
- Stay at the scene of the accident.
- Be sure to call the police.
- Don’t admit fault at the scene.
- Get medical treatment immediately.
- Don’t miss the legal deadlines.