Truck Accident Attorneys
Each year, 5,000 people are killed in accidents involving large trucks. If a crash does occur it's essential to work with truck accident lawyers who understand the various elements involved.
A lawyer should immediately file claims with the driver's insurance company, as in the case of the company that is the owner of the truck. This is done to maximize the amount of available insurance.
Liability
Trucks make up only 4 percent of all vehicles on the road but they are involved in more than five percent of all accidents. In the vast majority of these accidents, the victims suffer serious injuries and are permanently disabled. These injuries can have a huge financial impact on the victim, and the victim and families need to be compensated to live with dignity. Insurance companies and trucking firms will do everything they can to reduce the amount of compensation the victim is entitled to. This is why you require an experienced and dependable semi truck accident attorney that can stand up to the insurance companies and their attorneys. John Hensley's team has the expertise skills, experience, and determination to make a huge difference in your case.
A semi-truck, also referred to as a tractor-trailer, or an 18-wheeler is a large commercial vehicle comprised of a truck (tractor unit) and a detachable trailer that carries cargo. Because of their size and weight, these trucks are prone to serious accidents when they are driven in reckless manner or when the driver is not exercising reasonable care while operating the vehicle. Common causes of truck accidents include speeding, distracted driving, and not checking blind spots before changing lanes or turning. Improper loading of freight can also cause truck accidents. This can lead to shifting, swaying, or even the truck rolling.
In addition to the truck driver there are other parties who could share liability in a truck accident, including the employer of the driver, the company they haul products for, or even the person who arranges the load. Finding fault is more difficult if multiple insurers are involved in the incident, as they will each try to limit their own liability.
In some instances the local government agency might also be accountable for an accident that occurs on its property. For example, if a poor road layout or a lack of maintenance resulted in an accident, the county board could be responsible for the damages that the victim has suffered. This kind of claim is based on the principle of vicarious responsibility that is the law that holds a supervisor responsible for the actions of employees performing 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 could lead to an enormous financial burden. A semi truck accident attorney can help you determine the full extent of your losses and seek the right compensation for them.
It is always a good idea, regardless of the type of accident that occurred to talk to an attorney for personal injury. This is especially true when it comes to cases involving large vehicles. Commercial trucks are subject to special rules in addition to laws that regulate personal injury, traffic and other laws. They can impact how a accident occurs, who is responsible, and the types of damages that could be awarded. A lawyer can ensure that you know the rules and ensure that the parties responsible are held accountable.
When a truck accident occurs it is not unusual to have several people who are responsible which include the driver of the truck and the company they work for, and the company responsible for hauling the load. A truck manufacturer or any defective parts could be liable for the incident. A semi truck accident lawyer can provide the evidence needed to prove that all those responsible are liable and to show that you have a right to fair compensation.
A semi truck accident lawyer who has experience can protect you from the common strategies used by insurance firms to deny or reduce your claim. Victims of injuries often feel desperate to receive their compensation to pay for medical treatment and other expenses. Insurance companies profit from this by using delay to force you into accepting less than you are entitled to.
An attorney can help determine all of the present and future damages that you are entitled to, including medical bills, lost income property damage, suffering and pain. A lawyer can also assist you determine the proper amount of punitive and compensatory damages to award in your case. Compensatory damages are meant to pay you back for your losses, whereas punitive damages are meant to punish the person at fault and discourage others from committing similar crimes.
Expert Witnesses
Unlike a normal car accident case, truck crashes typically contain a large amount of specialized information about industry regulations such as truck mechanics, the long-term medical and economic effects of the accident. A semi-truck crash lawyer should have access to the right experts, who can fill in the gaps in knowledge and provide testimony that could be essential to a client's claim.
The specialists in accident reconstruction are among the most reliable experts that a semi-truck accident attorney might want to call. They are experienced professionals who are skilled at examining the scene of an accident, analyze the truck and other vehicles involved in the collision, identify the reason for the crash and present their findings in clear, easy to understand terms. They are often an important part of a successful lawsuit since they can assist jurors understand why a crash occurred and who could be accountable.
Expert witnesses can also help determine the extent of damages that are relevant and their value. For instance, a life insurance planner can be hired to show the effect a serious accident could have on a victim's ability to work, their medical needs for the duration of their lives, and any other repercussions that may be long-term. Likewise, an economist can assist in calculating things like lost earnings damages, which could be a significant part of any compensation award.
Experts in forensic toxicology as well as identification of drugs and alcohol can be extremely helpful to a successful claim. They can assist in drawing a clear line between alcohol consumption and the accident. This is especially the case when the trucker was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of crash. A metallurgist can also be a useful expert witness, since they can conduct tests on the metal components of the truck that could have been involved in the crash to determine whether they were loaded to the max.
In some instances the New York semi-truck accident attorney will engage an expert to look into the trucking company itself and the way it operates. This is particularly crucial when the trucker is employed by a large trucking business and might be subject to certain standards that other drivers do not. An expert could examine the trucking company's safety procedures hiring practices, safety procedures, and any other information that may help to determine fault.
Time Limits
If a truck accident occurs and evidence is lost or destroyed. This is why it's imperative to get in touch with a semi-truck accident attorney as soon as you can. Our attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation to determine who's accountable for your injuries. We'll work with accident reconstruction specialists along with medical professionals and financial analysts to help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
The most frequent cause of truck accidents is driver negligence. It could be due to driving in a hurry, driving under the influence, or driving irresponsibly. The trucking company that owns and operates the truck could also be responsible for the accident in the event that they do not follow safety guidelines or employ unqualified drivers.
Incorrect maintenance of the vehicle is another reason for the possibility of a crash with a truck. Failure to check or repair the truck's brakes, tires, or other components could lead to a dangerous crash. It is important that your lawyer for truck accidents is aware of the requirements for maintenance on large trucks to examine any safety concerns.
Another reason behind a truck accident is a trailer that is not properly loaded or cargo. A truck that isn't loaded properly can cause the truck or trailer to jackknife when it's not properly loaded. This is a serious accident that could cause serious or fatal injuries to other motorists driving on the road.
Truck accidents are also caused by negligent driving by other drivers. They could cut off the driver of the truck or merge into wrong lane. These actions may cause the truck driver to drift off the road, causing it hit other vehicles and pedestrians.
A head-on collision between trucks and a passenger vehicle is one of the most fatal types of truck accidents. corpus christi semi truck accident attorney of the passenger vehicle is usually the one that bears the brunt, leading to serious injury and even death. These types of accidents usually occur on highways with no traffic lanes when the truck driver falls asleep, is unable to steer clear of another vehicle or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There are also accidents involving trucks spilling their loads of hazardous substances. These accidents can cause environmental damage and health hazards for humans who come in contact with the chemicals.