Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer
According to the latest statistics, the United States experiences around half a million truck accidents on the road each year. Sadly, around 5,000 people are killed, and thousands of others are injured. While some quickly recover and get back to work shortly after, others are left unable to work. While bills pile on the welcome mat, they stop earning and this financial dilemma takes many years to overcome.
If you’ve experienced tractor-trailer accident injuries, you could be entitled to compensation if the commercial tractor-trailer truck accident wasn’t your fault. With a trained and experienced tractor-trailer accident lawyer like The Injury Firm, you get a free consultation. If we determine that you have a personal injury tractor-trailer accident case, we’ll protect your legal rights while chasing compensation on your behalf.
Dealing with a Tractor-Trailer Accident
One of the biggest problems with a tractor-trailer or truck accident is the sheer size of the vehicles involved. First and foremost, take a moment to consider any injuries you may have. Even if all seems fine, it’s best to get medical attention because you could have internal bleeding. Also, the adrenaline from the tractor-trailer truck accident could mask symptoms of injuries. Additionally, medical attention will generate paperwork that can later be used as proof of your injuries.
Furthermore, ensure that the police are called to the tractor-trailer truck incident because they will analyze the evidence and give an early indication of blame/responsibility. As well as taking notes of the tractor-trailer incident, they will also take statements.
Wherever possible, take pictures of the tractor-trailer accident, gather the details of potential eyewitnesses, and avoid conversations with other people involved in the accident. If you admit blame or say anything that could be construed as such, this could lead to issues later.
Causes of Commercial Tractor-Triler Truck Accidents
As personal injury lawyers, we see cases of tractor-trailer truck accidents regularly. Unfortunately, most accidents (involving vehicles of all types) are still preventable, even in 2022. Why? Because they’re caused by negligence, reckless driving, inattention, driver error, and similar causes. In the case of tractor-trailer truck accidents, drivers are often tired due to the pressure on them to meet deadlines and often ignore driving limits. Elsewhere, some tractor-trailer truck drivers operate their heavy machinery under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Aside from drivers, the tractor-trailer trucks themselves can sometimes cause accidents when they aren’t maintained properly. Every year, truck companies have a responsibility to ensure that all vehicles are fit to be on the road. With trucks often traveling thousands of miles per week, maintenance is essential. Without proper care, vehicles become dangerous because brake pads wear and other small problems arise.
In these cases, trucking companies are often responsible for accidents. However, there could be cases where neither the driver nor the trucking company is responsible. It could be that the roads were poorly maintained or that the truck itself had a manufacturing/design error. In the latter situation, the truck manufacturer could be responsible for the accident because it allowed an unsafe vehicle to get into the hands of an innocent driver.
As you can see, various and sometimes multiple parties can be responsible for your accident. This includes:
- Driver
- Truck company
- Truck owner
- Shipper
- Truck manufacturer
With all this considered, the most common causes of tractor-trailer truck accidents are driver fatigue, lack of training and experience, poor vehicle maintenance, negligent driving, truck driver losing control or following others too closely, speeding, and alcohol/drug use.
Common Tractor-Triler Truck Accident Injuries
As tractor-trailer accident lawyers, we’ve seen many injuries over the years resulting from tractor-trailer truck accidents. Due to the nature of the vehicles, many people lose their lives, and this leads to wrongful death cases and compensation for loved ones. On the other hand, other common injuries include the following:
- Spinal cord damage
- Brain damage
- Amputations
- Burns and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Concussion
Recovering Compensation
Unfortunately, there’s no universal advice that will apply to every situation because each incident is unique. Be sure to contact the experienced tractor-trailer ancient team at The Injury Firm for tailored advice through a free consultation. This being said, you can get an idea of what compensation might entail for you by considering your damages. Victims of tractor-trailer truck accident injuries can often recover the following:
Monetary Damages - These are fiscal damages and include:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Reduced earning capacity (current or future)
With a value attached to each, it’s quite easy to work out how much you’ve lost because of the tractor-trailer truck accident.
Non-Monetary Damages - On the other hand, these are harder to calculate because they don’t have a fiscal amount attached. Instead, we’re talking about:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional damage
- Loss of consortium and companionship
Rather than objective damages, these are more akin to subjective damages.
Punitive Damages – Instead of compensating the victim, punitive damages are designed to punish the guilty party in rare cases. Normally, this is only implemented when the responsible party acted intentionally and with extreme recklessness.
If you’re claiming for a lost loved one, your case will be slightly different because it will contain wrongful death and other damages.
How Can a Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer Help?
After a free consultation, tractor-trailer accident personal injury lawyers will perform the thorough investigation required to build a case and obtain compensation. Since the trucking company will use investigators and the insurance company will use adjusters, you need a strong experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney on your case to protect your best interests and legal rights. The Injury Firm knows how the process works and how to take the right steps toward compensation.
We know how to gather evidence, contact expert testimonies, negotiate a settlement, obtain police reports, gather witness statements, and even dig into motor carrier records and safety logs. Why worry about all this alone when you should concentrate on recovering from your injuries?
Tractor-trailer truck accident cases are complex because of the many parties that can be involved, so allow us to support your claim and chase compensation on your behalf!
