Truck Accident Attorneys
Every year, 5,000 people are killed in crashes involving large trucks. It is essential to engage with lawyers for truck accidents who are knowledgeable about the various causes.
An attorney must immediately initiate a claim with the insurance company of the driver as well as with the company that operates and owns the truck. This is done so as to maximize the amount of insurance available.
Liability
Although trucks account for only 4 percent of the vehicles on the road yet they are involved more than 5 percent of all vehicular accidents. In the majority of these accidents, victims suffer catastrophic injuries and are permanently disabled. The financial burden of those injuries can be immense, and the family members of the victims need to recover damages to ensure they can live a life of dignity. The insurance companies of trucking companies will do everything to minimize the amount of compensation the victim is entitled to. You need an experienced strong and experienced semi truck accident lawyer to tackle the insurance companies and their lawyers. John Hensley and his team have the knowledge, experience and determination to make a difference in your case.
A semi-truck also referred to as a tractor-trailer or an 18-wheeler is a big commercial vehicle comprised of the truck (tractor unit) and a detachable trailer that carries cargo. These trucks are vulnerable due to their weight and size to serious accidents if driven recklessly. The most common causes of accidents involving trucks include speeding, distracted driving, and failing to look over blind spots prior to changing lanes or turning. Another reason for truck accidents is the improper loading of cargo, which can cause shifting and swaying that could lead to the truck rolling over.
In addition to the driver of the truck there are other parties who could be liable in a truck crash, including the driver's employer as well as the company they haul products for, and even the person who sets up the load. It isn't easy to prove the fault when there are several insurance companies involved, as each will seek to limit their own liability.
In some cases the local government agency might also be liable 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 responsible for the damages caused by the victim. This kind of claim is based on the principle of vicarious liability that holds an authority party responsible for the actions of an employee in the course of their work.
Damages
The physical and emotional trauma that can result from a motor vehicle accident could be severe. The effects of a collision with semi-trucks are more severe than other types of accidents. Not only can these vehicles cause more severe injuries and injuries, but they can also cause damage to property or destruction that can lead to significant financial burdens. A semi truck accident lawyer can help you determine the 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 type of accident, this is particularly relevant for cases involving large-sized trucks. In addition to the general laws that govern personal injury and traffic there are particular rules applicable to commercial vehicles. They affect how a crash occurs, who's responsible, and the types of damages awarded. A lawyer can assist you to understand these rules and ensure that the parties responsible are held liable.
It is not uncommon for multiple parties to be accountable in a truck-related accident which includes the driver or their employer, as well as the company that hauled the cargo. A truck manufacturer or any defective parts may be liable for the accident. A semi truck accident lawyer can provide you with the evidence necessary to prove that all the parties at fault are liable and to show that you are entitled fair compensation.
A semi truck accident lawyer with experience can protect you from the common tactics used by insurance companies to deny or reduce your claim. The injured victims are usually seeking money in order to pay for medical treatment and other expenses. The insurance companies are aware of this and take advantage of delay as a way to to force you into accepting less than you deserve.
An attorney can help you determine the total amount of present and future damages that you are entitled to, including medical bills loss of income, property damage, and pain and suffering. A lawyer can help you determine the amount of punitive and compensatory damages to be awarded in your particular case. Compensatory damages are intended to compensate you for the losses. Punitive damages seek to penalize the person who is at fault and deter other people from engaging in similar crimes.
Expert Witnesses
The nature of truck accidents is different from car accidents in that they require more specialized information, such as the mechanics involved in truck accidents and the long-term economic as well as medical consequences of the accident and the regulations for the industry. A semi-truck accident lawyer should have access to the best experts who can fill in the gaps in knowledge and provide evidence that can be crucial to a client's case.
The specialists in accident reconstruction are among the most knowledgeable experts that a semi-truck accident attorney might want to call. They are experienced professionals who are able to analyze an accident scene, assess the vehicle and truck involved in the collision, identify the cause of the crash and explain their findings in clear, simple terms. They are often a crucial element of a successful lawsuit because they can help jurors comprehend how the crash occurred and who could be responsible.
The right expert witnesses can also help to determine what damages are enforceable and how much those damages will be worth. For instance, a life insurance planner could be hired to demonstrate the impact that a accident could have on the victim's ability to work, their medical requirements for the duration of their lives, and any other long-term consequences. Likewise, an economist can assist in calculating things such as lost earnings damages, which will be a major component of any compensation award.
Experts in toxicology for forensics as well as identification of drugs and alcohol can also be very valuable in a successful claim. They can help draw a clear line between alcohol consumption, and the accident. This is especially true when the trucker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of crash. A metallurgist could also be a useful expert witness, since they can conduct tests on the metal components of the truck that might be involved in the collision to see whether they were overloaded.
In some instances, an attorney for an New York semi truck accident will retain an expert to look into the trucking company and the way it operates. This is particularly crucial if the trucker was employed by a large trucking firm and could be subject to certain requirements that other drivers aren't. The expert can look into the safety practices of the trucking company, their hiring practices as well as any other information that could aid in determining the source of the problem.
Time Limits
Evidence is usually destroyed or lost during a truck accident. It is essential to get in touch with a semi-truck crash attorney as quickly as possible. Our lawyers can conduct an extensive investigation to determine who's responsible for your injuries. We'll work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals and financial analysts to ensure you get the compensation that you are entitled to.
The most common cause for truck accidents is driver carelessness. This can be caused by driving distracted or impaired or reckless driving. The trucking company that operates and owns the truck could also be liable for the accident in the event that they do not follow safety guidelines or employ unqualified drivers.
Another reason behind a truck accident is improper maintenance on the vehicle. Failure to examine or repair tires, brakes or other components of a truck can cause danger in an accident. It is essential to ensure that your truck accident attorney knows the needs of maintenance for large trucks, so that they can examine any issues that may affect the safety of the truck.
A third reason for a truck crash is a trailer that is not properly loaded or cargo. If a truck is not properly loaded, it may cause the trailer to shift on the road or cause the truck to be jackknifed. This is a serious crash that can cause serious or fatal injuries to motorists in the road.
Truck accidents can also be caused by the negligent driving of other drivers. They may cut off the driver of the truck or merge into wrong lane. These actions could cause the truck driver to veer from the road, and cause it to be in collision with other vehicles or pedestrians.
A head-on collision between the truck and a passenger vehicle is among the most fatal types of truck crashes. lancaster semi truck accident case of the passenger vehicle is usually the one that takes the brunt, resulting in serious injuries and sometimes even death. These kinds of accidents typically occur on highways with no traffic lanes when the truck driver is asleep, turns to avoid another vehicle or is under the impaired by alcohol or drugs. There are also accidents involving trucks that spill their load of hazardous substances. These accidents can cause environmental damage and health risks to humans who come in contact with the chemicals.