TESTIMONIALS
Hear what Our Clients Have to Say
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"I can actually say I am looking forward to working with them."Her patience in explaining my situation with my case was comforting. No one really explained it in a way I could ever understand. She gave me a sense of hope that I may actually get the help needed under her watch.- Nakia D.
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"They restored my dignity."This law firm accepted my bogged down nine-year-old Worker's Compensation case from another law office. In less than 12 months, I was awarded a just compensation package. Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld not only fought and won my case, but they restored my dignity.- Former Client
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"They are amazing."I love Ghitterman Ghitterman & Feld. They are amazing, and the case workers are amazing. They understand and hear me in every aspect of my situation, thank you so much.- Maria G.
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"I honestly could not have done it without them."This is the second time I have used Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld for different types of cases. This is the second time I have received a settlement. I am very grateful for the team. Everyone involved is kind and amazing. I honestly could not have done it without them. I highly recommend!- Former Client
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"When I needed an attorney, I chose Ghitterman Ghitterman & Feld."I am a (former) Workers' Compensation Claims Adjuster, so I know when an attorney is representing their client well. Being injured on the job has given me a keen appreciation of having a smart, compassionate, and proactive attorney in my corner.- Samuel L.
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"You made me feel comfortable, welcomed, cared for, and accepted in an uncertain time."ou are what I was waiting for. With you, I feel like we are a team. We will win this case together, and I’m certain about it because of you.- Nestor S.
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"Made me feel like I mattered."Candi made me feel like I mattered. She was very nice and helpful. She made everything so easy, which took away the stress of the issue.- Carl N.
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"They were very dedicated to my case."Ghitterman Ghitterman & Feld law office was professional and amazing. They were very dedicated to my case, and through their persistence, they won my case for disability. I highly recommend them as your advocates and lawyers.- Scott S.
Common Causes of California Truck Accidents
Commercial truck collisions rarely happen without warning signs. Most are traceable to a specific failure on the part of the driver, the carrier, or both. Understanding these causes matters because they shape how fault is established and which parties can be held liable.
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations: FMCSA rules limit how many consecutive hours a commercial driver can operate a vehicle, but those limits are frequently pushed under tight delivery schedules. Fatigued drivers can have significantly impaired reaction times.
- Distracted driving: Cell phone use and other distractions behind the wheel of a vehicle weighing tens of thousands of pounds can have catastrophic consequences in the seconds it takes to lose control.
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo: Cargo that shifts during transit can destabilize a trailer without warning, triggering rollovers or sending freight into the path of other vehicles.
- Defective or poorly maintained equipment: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical problems tied to inadequate upkeep can point liability toward the trucking company or a third-party maintenance contractor.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Exceeding posted limits or driving too fast for road and weather conditions is a contributing factor in a significant share of serious truck crashes.
- Inadequately trained or screened drivers: Carriers that rush drivers onto routes without proper training, or that skip background checks during hiring, create foreseeable risks for everyone sharing the road.
- Impaired driving: California holds commercial truck drivers to a blood alcohol content limit of 0.04 percent, half the standard limit for non-commercial drivers, reflecting the heightened danger of impairment at the controls of a large commercial vehicle.
Types of Truck Accidents We Handle
The size, weight, and mechanics of commercial vehicles produce collision patterns that simply don’t occur with passenger cars. Each type raises distinct investigative and legal questions about what failed and who is responsible.
Jackknife accidents occur when a semi-truck’s cab and trailer fold toward each other, often sweeping across multiple lanes before the vehicle stops. These crashes frequently result from abrupt braking or slippery road surfaces.
Rollover accidents often follow sudden cargo shifts, sharp turns taken at unsafe speeds, or abrupt braking. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer rolls, surrounding vehicles face crushing hazards across a wide area.
Underride accidents happen when a passenger vehicle slides beneath a truck’s trailer in a rear or side impact. These collisions are frequently fatal, and investigations typically focus on whether required underride guards were present and properly maintained.
Override accidents occur when a large truck rides over a smaller vehicle, typically in a rear-end collision. The weight disparity between a fully loaded commercial truck (up to 80,000 pounds) and a typical passenger car (roughly 3,000 to 4,000 pounds) makes these crashes among the most devastating on the road.
Lost load accidents result from improperly secured cargo falling from a truck in transit, creating sudden hazards for other drivers who have no time to react.
Wide-turn accidents occur when a truck driver swings left before executing a right turn, creating a crushing hazard for vehicles in adjacent lanes that aren’t aware the truck is about to cut across their path.