The Complete List Of Semi Truck Compensation Dos And Don'ts
Truck Accident Attorneys
Every year, 5,000 people are killed in accidents involving large trucks. It is essential to work with truck accident attorneys who are knowledgeable about the various causes.
A lawyer should immediately initiate claims with the insurance company of the driver company as well as the company which owns the truck. This is done to maximize the amount of available insurance.
Liability
Although trucks account for only 4 percent of the vehicles on the road but they are involved in more than half of all motor vehicle accidents. In the majority of these accidents, victims suffer severe injuries and are permanently disabled. The financial burden of these injuries can be huge, and the family members of the victims must seek compensation to allow them to live their lives with dignity. Insurance companies and trucking companies will do everything in their power to reduce the amount of compensation that the victim is due. You need an experienced and dependable semi truck accident lawyer who can fight the insurance companies and their lawyers. John Hensley's team is equipped with the knowledge skills, experience, and determination to make a major difference in your case.
A semi-truck, also known as a tractor-trailer or an 18-wheeler, is a massive commercial vehicle that consists of the truck (tractor unit) and an unattachable trailer that can carry cargo. Due to their size and weight they are prone to serious accidents if they are driven with recklessness or when the driver is not exercising reasonable care when driving the vehicle. The most common causes of accidents involving trucks include speeding, distracted driving and failing to check blind spots before changing lanes or turning. orange semi truck accident lawsuit of freight can also cause truck accidents. This can result in shifting, swaying and even rolling the truck.
In addition to the driver, other parties could share the blame in a truck accident. This includes the company that is responsible for the driver and the company the driver is responsible for hauling goods, or even the person who sets up the load. Finding fault is more difficult when multiple insurers are involved in the incident, as they will each try to limit their own liability.
In some instances the local government agency could also share responsibility for an accident that occurs on their property. For example, if a poorly designed road layout or poor maintenance resulted in an accident, the county board may be liable for the damage caused by the victim. This kind of claim is based on the concept of vicarious liability which holds a supervisory party liable for the actions of employees in the course of their job.
Damages
Any motor vehicle accident can cause severe emotional and physical trauma. The results of a collision with semi-trucks are more severe than other types of accidents. Not only do these vehicles cause more serious injuries as well, but they also have the potential to destroy or damage property and cause significant financial burdens. A semi truck accident lawyer can help you determine the full extent of your losses and seek appropriate compensation for them.
While it's generally recommended to speak with an attorney for injury after any type of accident, this is especially important when it comes to cases involving large trucks. In addition to the general laws that govern traffic and personal injury, there are special regulations applicable to commercial vehicles. These regulations can have a significant impact on how a collision occurs, the parties responsible and the type of damages that may be awarded. Lawyers can ensure that you know the regulations and that the parties responsible for the crash are held accountable.
It is not uncommon that several parties are accountable for a truck accident including the driver and their employer, as well the company that hauled the cargo. A truck manufacturer or defective components could also be liable for the incident. A semi truck accident lawyer will provide the exact evidence necessary to prove that all parties at fault are liable and that you have the right to fair compensation.
A semi truck accident lawyer who has experience can help you avoid common tactics used by insurance companies to deny or decrease your claim. Victims of injuries often feel desperate to collect their money so that they can pay for medical treatments and other expenses. Insurance companies know this and take advantage of delay as a tactic to to force you into accepting less than you deserve.
A lawyer can help you determine the damages you are entitled to in the near and future which includes medical bills, lost income and property damage. A lawyer can help you determine how much damages to award in your particular case. Compensatory damages seek to compensate you for the losses. Punitive damages aim to punish the party who was at fault and discourage other people from engaging in similar criminal acts.
Expert Witnesses
As opposed to a typical car crash scenario, truck accidents generally contain a large amount of specialized information about industry regulations including truck mechanics, the long-term economic and medical impacts of the accident. A semi-truck accident lawyer should have access to experts who can fill in the gaps and provide vital evidence that could be vital to a client's legal case.
Specialists in reconstruction of accidents are one of the most effective experts that a semi-truck accident lawyer can call upon. They are experts with years of experience who are able to analyze an accident scene, assess the vehicle and truck involved in the accident, determine what caused it and then explain their findings in simple, easy-to-understand terms. They are often an essential element in any successful lawsuit, as they assist jurors in understanding how a particular crash happened, and which parties could be accountable for it.
Expert witnesses can also help determine which damages are applicable and how much those damages will be worth. A life care planner, for example is a person who can illustrate the effects of an accident of a serious nature on a person's ability to work and their medical needs throughout their lives. An economist, for instance, can help to calculate things like lost earnings damages, which will be a major component of any compensation award.
Experts in toxicology in the forensic field and drug and alcohol identification are also very helpful for a successful case. These types of experts could help to draw a straight line between intoxication and the incident, particularly when the trucker was been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision. A metallurgist is also an expert witness. They can test metal components of the truck involved in the accident to determine if they were overloaded.
In certain cases an attorney representing an New York semi truck accident will hire an expert to study the trucking firm and how it operates. This is particularly important in the event that the trucker was employed by a large trucking company and is required to follow certain standards which other drivers aren't. The right expert can examine the safety protocols of the trucking company and hiring practices, as well as any other information that might help to determine fault.
Time Limits
When a truck accident happens the evidence is often lost or destroyed. This is why it's crucial to get in touch with a semi-truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible. Our attorneys will conduct an extensive investigation to determine who's accountable for your injuries. We'll collaborate with experts in accident reconstruction doctors, medical professionals and financial experts to assist you in getting the compensation you require.
The most common reason for a truck accident involves driver negligence. This could include driving distracted, driving while under the influence, or driving irresponsibly. The trucking company that operates and owns the truck may also be liable for a crash in the event they fail to comply with safety regulations or hire unqualified drivers.
Improper maintenance of the vehicle can also be a cause of an accident involving a truck. Failure to check or repair the truck's brakes, tires or other parts can lead to a dangerous crash. It's crucial to ensure that your attorney for truck accidents knows the requirements for maintenance of large trucks, so that they can determine any issues that could affect the truck's safety.
A third reason is that a trailer that is not properly loaded or cargo could result in a truck accident. A truck that is not properly loaded can cause the trailer or truck to be jackknifed if not properly loaded. This is a serious hazard which can result in serious or fatal injuries to other motorists in the road.
Accidents involving trucks are also caused by negligent driving from other drivers. They might cut off the truck driver or merge into the wrong direction. These actions could cause the truck to turn off the road and crash with other vehicles or pedestrians.
One of the most fatal truck accidents is the head-on collision. The front end of a passenger vehicle is usually the one to take the brunt of the impact, resulting in serious injuries and even death. These accidents occur when a truck driver is asleep, or is swerving to avoid another vehicle or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Trucks may also cause accidents by spilling their hazardous materials. These accidents can cause environmental damage as well as health risks for people who come in contact with the chemicals.