Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident lawsuits are filed when a person sustains serious injuries as a result of a truck driver's distracted or impaired driving, moving violations or other negligence. A truck accident lawsuit can help victims get money to offset treatment costs for injuries sustained during a crash, as well as ongoing expenses like physical therapy and lost income due to disability.

Who Needs a Truck Accident Attorney?

More than 4,100 people died in trucking accidents in the United States in 2017. Sadly, the people most at risk in a truck accident are those driving other, smaller vehicles, such as passenger cars and motorcycles. Even when drivers practice safe driving habits, they and their passengers can fall victim to a semi-truck accident if the truck driver is not paying attention, gets distracted or is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Following a truck accident, money can be extremely tight with medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost income and other related expenses resulting from the truck crash. Filing a lawsuit and winning compensation can help pay for some of these accumulated costs.

Should You File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

Highway accidents involving tractor trailers, 18-wheeler trucks, "big rigs" or other commercial vehicles often lead to devastating injuries due to the impact forces caused by the weight and size of those vehicles. Serious injuries, such as brain or spinal trauma, a severed limb or another disfigurement, can lead to lifetime medical problems, including permanent disability. If you or a family member are injured due to the negligence of a tractor trailer driver, you should consider legal recourse right away.

Legal Requirements of Truck Drivers

Truck drivers are professionals who are held to high standards of conduct while on the job. They log many hours on the road and operate large vehicles that can inflict significant harm on other drivers.

Truck drivers and the companies that employ them are required to follow strict federal guidelines designed to improve the safety of our highways. Federal laws require truck owners and drivers to maintain vehicles, secure their loads, and prevent drivers from driving while intoxicated or fatigued. Knowing which federal guidelines come into play is important for winning your case.

Gathering Evidence After a Truck Accident

Time is of the essence when investigating a serious truck accident. Many types of important evidence can disappear as time passes, and unfortunately, some truck companies will do whatever it takes to avoid or reduce the amount of compensation they have to pay.

Government agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have established rules that require trucking companies to preserve evidence from a collision for a certain period of time. An experienced truck accident lawyer will increase the likelihood that all important evidence is preserved, giving you a much better chance of winning your case.

The specific evidence used in truck accident cases is different for each situation. Some of the most common types of evidence gathered are listed below.

Insurance vs. Truck Accident Attorneys

For many people involved in a truck accident, the first instinct is to submit an insurance claim. However, insurance companies have large budgets and teams of lawyers dedicated to making sure you receive as little compensation as possible. Insurance companies are famously bad at protecting the rights of injured parties, and in many cases, the only way to get the compensation you deserve is to file a lawsuit. Their loyalty is to their bottom line, and they will do whatever they can to withhold or delay payments to accident victims.

Workers' Compensation and Third-Party Truck Accident Claims

Victims who are hit by a truck while on the job may be eligible for workers' compensation, which is a type of insurance that pays medical expenses and partial wages for work-related injuries. Workers' compensation protects both workers and employers from costly litigation, guaranteeing a set of benefits for injured employees while preventing employers from being held legally liable.

While you may not be able to sue your employer for a truck accident that injuries you while at work, you could have a third-party claim against another company or individual, depending on the situation. Examples of third parties you may be able to file a lawsuit against include:

• The truck driver
• The truck owner
• The company that hired the driver
• The truck manufacturer or the maker of a defective part

Knowing all your options for filing a truck accident lawsuit is important to help you make appropriate legal decisions.

Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs

How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

Many personal injury lawsuits are filed on a contingency basis. That means you will not be expected to pay legal fees until you recover compensation as part of your case. After you receive a settlement or favorable verdict, a portion of that money will go toward paying the legal costs of the case.

What Compensation Is Available for Truck Accident Victims?

The amount of compensation truck accident victims receive differs from case to case depending on a wide variety of factors:

• Severity of injury - victims who suffer severe injuries like brain injuries, spine injuries, broken or severed limbs, or death, are likely to receive more compensation than less severe injuries
• Medical costs - likewise, the cost of treating injuries, including costs of therapy and ongoing care, are taken into account as part of the total compensation
• Disability - temporary and permanent disability are factored into the final amount that a truck accident victim can receive
• Lost income - lost income can be recovered as well, including in some cases income lost by family members who take off work to take care of an injured loved one
• Pain and suffering - the amount of pain and suffering caused by the accident will be worked into the final amount, including mental and emotional anguish
• Property damage - costs of repairing/replacing your car or other property damaged in the accident can also be part of a settlement or verdict

Limits on some of these types of damages may apply in certain states.