5 Semi Truck Compensation Lessons Learned From The Pros
Truck Accident Attorneys
Every year, 5,000 individuals are killed in accidents involving large trucks. It's important that you employ truck accident lawyers who are knowledgeable of the different causes.
A lawyer should immediately file claims with the insurance company as well as the company which is the owner of the truck. This is done so as to maximize the insurance coverage available.
Liability
Trucks account for only 4 percent of the vehicles on the road but they are involved in more than 55% of all accidents. In the vast majority of these accidents, victims suffer severe injuries and become permanently disabled. The financial burden resulting from these injuries can be enormous, and the families of victims need to recover damages to ensure they can live a life of dignity. Unfortunately, trucking companies and their insurance providers will make no effort in an effort to limit the amount of the compensation a victim is entitled to. You need a knowledgeable and dependable semi truck accident lawyers truck accident lawyer who can take on the insurance companies and their lawyers. John Hensley and his team have the expertise, experience and power to make a difference in your case.
Semi-trucks, referred to by the names tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler, are large commercial vehicles made up of the truck unit (tractor) and an attached trailer to transport cargo. These trucks are more prone due to their size and weight, to serious accidents if they are driven recklessly. The most common causes of accidents involving trucks include speeding, distracted driving and failing to look over blind spots before turning or changing lanes. Unsafe loading of freight could result in truck accidents. This can cause shifting, swaying and even the truck rolling.
In addition to the driver, other parties can share the responsibility for truck accidents. This includes the company that is responsible for the driver and the company the driver is responsible for hauling goods or the person who is responsible for setting up the load. Finding fault is more difficult when multiple insurance companies are involved in the matter, as they will each try to limit their own liability.
In certain instances, the local government agency might be held accountable for an accident that occurs on its property. For instance, if poorly designed road layout or poor maintenance contributed to an accident the county board may be held accountable for the damages suffered by the victim. This kind of claim is based on the principle of vicarious accountability that makes a supervisor accountable for an employee's actions while acting in the scope of their duties.
Damages
The physical and emotional trauma that accompanies any motor vehicle crash can be extreme. However, the effects of a collision with a semi truck are more severe than most other types of accidents. These vehicles can cause serious injuries and damage property. This can lead to an enormous financial burden. A semi truck accident lawsuits truck accident lawyer can assist you in determining the full extent of your losses and pursue appropriate compensation for them.
It's an excellent idea to consult an attorney who can help you after any kind of accident, this is especially important in cases involving large vehicles. Commercial trucks are subjected to specific regulations in addition laws that govern traffic, personal injury and other laws. These regulations can have a major impact on the way a crash is handled, the parties responsible and the types damages that may be awarded. A lawyer can help to understand these rules and ensure that the parties responsible are held liable.
It is not unusual that several parties are held responsible for an accident involving a truck, including the driver as well as their employer and the company that hauled the cargo. A truck manufacturer or any defective parts could also be held responsible for the incident. An attorney for semi-truck accidents will provide the exact evidence needed to demonstrate that all at-fault parties are accountable and that you are entitled to fair compensation.
Having an experienced semi truck accident attorney on your side can protect you from the usual strategies used by insurance companies to reduce or deny your claim. Injured victims are usually desperate to receive their money in order to pay for medical treatment and other expenses. Insurance companies take advantage of this by using delay to force you to accept less than what you're entitled to.
An attorney can help you determine all of the future and present damages you are entitled to, including medical bills and lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. An attorney can help determine the amount of damages to be awarded in your particular case. Compensatory damages are meant to compensate you for your losses, whereas punitive damages are intended to punish the person at fault and deter others from committing similar acts.
Expert Witnesses
Contrary to a typical car accident scenario, truck accidents generally involve a significant amount of specialized information about industry regulations such as truck mechanics, the long-term medical and economic consequences of the crash. A semi-truck accident attorney should have access to the right experts who can fill in knowledge gaps and provide crucial testimony that could be vital to the client's case.
Specialists in reconstruction of accidents are one of the most valuable experts a semi truck accident attorney can call on. They are skilled professionals who know how to examine the scene of an accident, analyze the truck and vehicle involved in the crash, determine the reason for the crash, and explain their findings in simple, easy-to-understand terms. They are often an important part of a successful lawsuit, since they can assist jurors comprehend how the crash took place and who is responsible.
Expert witnesses can also determine the damages that can be claimed and their value. For instance, a health planner could be hired to show the effect a serious accident could have on the victim's ability to work, their medical requirements for the remaining years of their lives and any other long-term repercussions. Likewise, an economist can assist in calculating things like lost earnings damages, which could be a significant part of any compensation award.
Experts in toxicology for forensics as well as identification of drugs and alcohol are also very helpful in a successful claim. They can assist in drawing the line between intoxication, and the accident. This is particularly true when the trucker was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of crash. A metallurgist is an excellent expert witness. They can conduct tests on metal components of the truck involved in the crash to determine if they were overloaded.
In certain cases an attorney in a New York semi truck accident will hire an expert to investigate the trucking company and the way it operates. This is important, especially when the trucker worked for an enormous trucking company and was subject to the same standards as other drivers weren't. The expert can examine the safety protocols of the trucking company, as well as their hiring practices, as well as any other information that could aid in determining the source of the problem.
Time Limits
When a truck accident happens the evidence is often lost or destroyed. It is crucial to get in touch with a semi-truck crash attorney as quickly as possible. Our lawyers can conduct an exhaustive investigation to identify all the liable parties for your injuries. We will work with accident reconstruction specialists doctors, medical professionals, and financial analysts to ensure you get the money you deserve.
The most typical cause of truck accidents is driver carelessness. This can be caused by driving distracted or impaired or reckless driving. Trucking companies who fail to follow safety rules or hire employees with no qualifications could be held accountable for accidents.
Improper maintenance of the vehicle can also be a cause of crashes involving trucks. A failure to inspect or repair the truck's brakes or tires or other parts can lead to a dangerous crash. It is essential that your truck accident lawyer understands the maintenance requirements of large trucks to determine any safety issues.
A third reason behind a truck accident is a poorly loaded trailer or cargo. If a truck is not properly loaded, it may cause the trailer to shift on the road or cause the truck to hit the ground. This is a serious crash that can cause severe or fatal injuries to motorists driving on the road.
Accidents involving trucks are also caused by negligent driving by other drivers. They could cut off the truck driver or merge into the wrong direction. These actions can cause the truck's wheels to slide off the road and crash with pedestrians or other vehicles.
A head-on collision between a truck and a passenger vehicle is among the most fatal kinds of truck accidents. The front of the passenger vehicle typically takes the brunt of the impact, resulting in serious injuries or death. These accidents happen when a truck driver falls asleep, or swerves to avoid another vehicle or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are also accidents involving trucks spilling their loads of hazardous materials. These accidents can cause environmental harm and health hazards for humans who come into contact with the chemicals.