Truck Accident Attorneys
Every year, 5,000 people are killed in accidents involving large trucks. It's important that you engage with lawyers for truck accidents who are knowledgeable about the various causes.
Attorneys must immediately file a claim with the insurance company of the driver as well as with the company that owns and operates the truck. This will maximize the amount of insurance.
Liability
Trucks make up only 4 percent of the vehicles on the road, but they are involved with more than five percent of all accidents. The vast majority of those accidents result in catastrophic injuries, which result in permanent and life-changing disabilities. These accidents can have a devastating financial impact, and victims and their families should be compensated for their loss in order to live with dignity. Unfortunately trucking companies and their insurance companies will make no effort in an attempt to minimize the amount of the compensation a victim is entitled to. You need a knowledgeable and dependable semi truck accident lawyer to fight the insurance companies and their lawyers. John Hensley and his team have the expertise, experience and the strength to make an impact on your case.
A semi-truck also referred to as a tractor-trailer, or an 18-wheeler is a large commercial vehicle made up of an engine (tractor unit) and a detachable trailer that carries cargo. These trucks are more prone due to their weight and size to serious accidents if driven in reckless manners. Common causes of truck accidents include speeding, distracted driving and not checking blind spots prior to changing lanes or turning. Another reason behind truck crashes is improper loading of the freight which can lead to shifting and swaying which could lead to the truck rolling over.
In addition to the driver, other parties could be liable in a truck accident. This includes the driver's business and the company the driver hauls product for or the person who is responsible for setting up the load. Proving fault is more difficult when multiple insurers are involved in the matter, because they all attempt to limit their own liability.
In some cases a local government entity could also share responsibility for an accident that occurs on their property. If, for example an unmaintained road or a poorly designed layout contributed to an accident then the county board may be responsible for the damage suffered by the victim. This kind of claim is based upon the principle of vicarious liability, which is the law that holds a supervisor responsible for the actions of employees performing the duties of their job.
Damages
Any motor vehicle accident can cause extreme physical and emotional trauma. The effects of a collision involving semi-trucks are more severe than other types of accidents. These vehicles can cause serious injuries and damage to property. This can lead to significant financial burden. A semi truck accident lawyer can assist you to determine the full extent of your losses and get the right compensation.
Although it's generally an excellent idea to consult an attorney who can help you after any type of accident, this is particularly important in cases involving large trucks. In addition to the general laws that regulate personal injury and traffic, there are special regulations that pertain to commercial trucks. These rules can have a major impact on the way a crash occurs, the parties accountable and the types damages that may be awarded. A lawyer can assist you learn about these rules and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable.
It is not unusual for several parties to be held responsible for an accident involving a truck, including the driver as well as their employer and the company who hauled the cargo. A truck manufacturer, or any defective components could be liable for the accident. An attorney who is a semi truck accident can provide the detailed evidence to show that all parties at fault are accountable and that you are entitled to fair compensation.
An experienced semi truck accident attorney on your side can safeguard your rights from the common tactics that insurance companies use to reduce or deny your claim. Victims of injuries are often desperate to get their money to pay for medical treatments and other expenses. Insurance companies take advantage of this by using delay to force you into accepting less than what you're entitled to.
An attorney can help determine all the future and present damages you are entitled to, including medical bills loss of income as well as property damage and suffering and pain. An attorney can also help you determine the proper amount of compensatory and punitive damages to award in your particular case. Compensatory damages are intended to compensate you for the losses. Punitive damages are designed to punish the party responsible and deter others from committing similar criminal acts.
Expert Witnesses
Truck accidents are different from car accidents in that they require more specific information, such as the truck mechanics involved, the long-term economic and medical effects of the crash and the governing regulations for the industry. An attorney for semi-truck accidents should have access to experts who can fill in gaps and provide crucial evidence that could be crucial to a client's legal case.
Specialists in reconstruction of accidents are one of the most knowledgeable experts that a semi-truck attorney can contact. They are skilled professionals who know how to examine the scene of the accident, examine the truck and vehicle involved in the crash, determine what caused it and explain their findings in clear, simple terms. They are often a crucial part of any successful lawsuit, as they assist jurors in understanding how a particular crash happened, and which parties might be responsible.
The right expert witnesses can also help to identify the damages that are applicable and how much they will be worth. A life care planner, for instance can be hired to illustrate the effects of an accident of a serious nature on a person's ability to work and their medical needs over their entire life. In baldwin park semi truck accident lawsuit , an economist could assist in calculating things like lost earnings damages, which will be a major component of any compensation award.
Experts in toxicology for forensics and identification of alcohol and drugs can also be very valuable for a successful case. These experts can help draw a clear line between alcohol consumption and the accident, particularly in cases where the trucker may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision. A metallurgist may also be an effective expert witness as they can conduct tests on metal components of the truck that could be involved in the accident to determine whether they were loaded to the max.
In certain cases the attorney for a New York semi truck accident will retain an expert to look into the trucking business and how it operates. This is particularly important if the trucker worked for a large trucking firm and was subject to standards that other drivers were not. An expert could examine the trucking company's safety procedures and hiring practices, as well as any other information which could aid in determining fault.
Time Limits
Evidence is often destroyed or lost in a truck crash. This is the reason it's so important to contact a semi truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our attorneys can conduct an exhaustive investigation to identify the responsible parties for your injuries. We will work with accident reconstruction experts as well as medical professionals and financial experts to help you get the compensation you deserve.
The most typical cause of a truck accident involves driver negligence. It could be due to driving while distracted or impaired or driving recklessly. The trucking company that owns and operates the truck may also be responsible for a crash when they fail to adhere to safety regulations or hire inexperienced drivers.
Improper maintenance of the vehicle is another cause of an accident involving a truck. Inability to inspect or repair the truck's brakes, tires, or any other component could cause a serious crash. It is important that your truck accident lawyer is aware of the requirements for maintenance on large trucks in order to look into any safety issues.
A third issue is that a poorly loaded trailer or cargo can cause an accident with a truck. If a truck is not properly loaded, it may cause the trailer to shift on the road or cause the truck to become jackknifed. This is a serious crash which can result in serious or fatal injuries to motorists.
Inattention of other drivers could cause truck accidents too. They could cut off the driver of the truck or merge into the wrong lanes. These actions can cause the truck to veer off the roadway and collide with pedestrians or other vehicles.
One of the most dangerous truck accidents is a head-on collision. The front of the passenger vehicle typically takes the brunt of the impact, resulting in serious injuries, and sometimes death. These types of accidents often occur on highways with no traffic lanes when the truck driver is asleep, steers away from another vehicle or is under the effects of alcohol or drugs. There are also accidents involving trucks that spill their loads of hazardous substances. These accidents could cause environmental damage and health hazards for humans who come into contact with the chemicals.