Truck Accident Attorneys
Every year, 5,000 people are killed in accidents involving large vehicles. It is crucial to employ truck accident lawyers who are aware of the various factors.
An attorney should immediately submit a claim to the insurance company of the driver and with the company that owns and operates the truck. This is done to maximize the amount of available insurance.
Liability
While trucks make up only 4 percent of vehicles on the road, they are involved in more than five percent of all vehicle accidents. In the vast majority of these accidents, the victims suffer serious injuries and are permanently disabled. The financial burden of those injuries can be huge, and the family members of the victims need to recover damages to ensure they can live with dignity. Insurance companies and trucking firms will do everything to limit the amount of compensation the victim is due. This is why you need an experienced, skilled semi truck accident lawyer who can stand up to the insurance companies and their attorneys. John Hensley and his team have the experience, knowledge and determination to make a difference in your case.
Semi-trucks, referred to by the names tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler and tractor are commercial vehicles of a large size made up of the truck unit (tractor) and an attached trailer to transport cargo. Because of their size and weight, these trucks are prone to serious accidents if they are driven in reckless manner or when a driver fails to exercise reasonable care when operating the vehicle. Accidents involving trucks are usually caused by speeding, distracted drivers and the inability to spot blind spots when turning or changing lanes. Another cause of truck crashes is the improper loading of cargo, which can cause shifting and swaying which could result in the truck rolling over.
In addition to the truck driver, other parties may be liable in a truck accident, such as the driver's employer and the company they transport products for, and even the person who sets up the load. Proving fault is more difficult when multiple insurance companies are involved in the matter, as they will each try to limit their own liability.
In some cases, the local government entity could also be responsible for an accident that occurs on its property. For instance, if a poor road layout or maintenance issues contributed to an accident the county board could be responsible for the damages caused by the victim. This type of claim is based on the principle of vicarious liability which holds an authority party responsible for the actions of an employee who is acting within the context of their work.
Damages
Any car accident can result in extreme physical and emotional trauma. The consequences of a collision with semi-trucks are more severe than other kinds of accidents. Not only can these vehicles cause more serious injuries and injuries, but they also have the potential to damage or destroy property which can result in substantial financial burdens. A semi truck accident attorney can help you determine the full extent of your loss and pursue the right compensation for them.
Although it's generally recommended to speak with an attorney for injury after any kind of accident, this is particularly important for cases involving large-sized trucks. In addition to the general laws that govern traffic and personal injury There are specific rules applicable to commercial vehicles. These regulations can have a significant impact on how a collision happens, the responsible parties and the types damages that are possible to award. An attorney can help you understand these regulations and ensure that the at-fault parties are held liable.
When a truck accident occurs it is not uncommon to have several parties that could be responsible which include the driver of the truck and the company they work for, as well as the company that hauled the load. A truck manufacturer or any defective components could be liable for the accident. An attorney for semi-truck accidents can provide the evidence necessary to prove that all at-fault parties are responsible and that you are entitled to fair compensation.
A semi truck accident lawyer with years of experience will be able to protect you from typical tactics employed by insurance firms to deny or reduce your claim. Injured victims are usually eager to receive compensation in order to pay for medical treatment and other expenses. Insurance companies know this and take advantage of delay as a strategy to to force you to accept less than what you are entitled to.
An attorney can help you determine the damages you are entitled to both in the future and now including medical bills, lost income and property damage. A lawyer can also help you determine the appropriate amount of compensatory and punitive damages to award in your case. Compensatory damages seek to compensate you for your losses. Punitive damages are designed to penalize the party who is at fault and prevent other people from engaging in similar crimes.
Expert Witnesses
The nature of truck accidents is different from car accidents in that they require a lot more specific details, including the mechanics of the truck involved and the long-term economic as well as medical effects of the crash and the regulations for the industry. A semi-truck accident attorney should have access to experts who can fill in gaps and provide crucial testimony that could be crucial to a client's legal case.
Specialists in accident reconstruction are some of the most valuable experts that a semi-truck attorney can contact. These experts are highly skilled and know how to assess the scene of an accident, examine the truck as well as the vehicle involved, determine the cause of the crash, and explain their findings clearly and comprehendable. They are usually an essential element of a successful lawsuit, as they can help the jurors to understand how a collision took place and who is accountable.
Expert witnesses can also help determine the damage that is applicable and the value. A life care planner, for example is an expert who can demonstrate the impact of an accident that is severe on the victim's ability to work and their medical needs throughout their lifetime. Additionally, an economist can assist in calculating things like lost earnings damages, which could constitute a substantial portion of any compensation award.
lynchburg semi truck accident law firm in toxicology forensics and drug and alcohol identification can be extremely helpful to a successful claim. These experts can aid in drawing a clear line between intoxication and the incident, particularly when the trucker might have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. A metallurgist can also be an expert witness since they can conduct tests on the metal components of the truck that might be involved in the crash to determine whether they were laden with.
In some cases, an attorney for an New York semi truck accident will engage an expert to look into 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 could be subject to certain requirements that other drivers aren't. An expert can look into the trucking company's safety procedures, hiring practices, and any other information that might aid in determining the source of the problem.
Time Limits
Evidence is often destroyed or lost in a truck crash. That's why it's important to speak with a semi truck accident lawyer as quickly as you can. Our lawyers can conduct an extensive investigation to determine who is responsible for your injuries. We'll work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals and financial experts to assist you in getting the compensation you require.
The most common cause for truck accidents is driver carelessness. This could include driving while distracted or impaired or driving recklessly. The trucking company that operates and owns the truck could also be at fault for accidents in the event they fail to comply with safety guidelines or employ unqualified drivers.
Improper maintenance of the vehicle is another cause of a truck crash. Failure to check or repair a truck's brakes, tires or other parts can result in a deadly crash. It is crucial that your lawyer for truck accidents understands the maintenance requirements of large trucks in order to determine any safety issues.
A third reason behind a truck accident is a poorly loaded trailer or cargo. A truck that isn't loaded properly can cause the trailer or truck to be jackknifed if not properly loaded. This is a serious crash which can result in serious or fatal injuries to motorists.
The negligence of other drivers can also result in truck accidents. They might cut off the truck driver or merge into the wrong lane. These actions can cause the truck to turn off the road and collide with other vehicles or pedestrians.
One of the most deadly truck accidents is a head-on collision. The front end of the passenger vehicle usually takes the brunt of the impact, resulting in serious injuries, and sometimes death. These accidents happen when a truck driver is asleep, or is swerving to avoid another vehicle or is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. There are also accidents that involve trucks spilling their loads of hazardous materials. These accidents could cause environmental harm and health hazards to people who come in contact with the chemicals.