In 2015, a total of 3,852 people died in truck accidents. 16% of these deaths were truck occupants, 69% were car occupants and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians or cyclists. Whether it’s you or someone you know that was involved in an auto accident, you’d probably understand the pain and suffering these accidents cause. Generally, accidents resulting from large trucks and heavy vehicles cause tremendous damage and injuries, which result in high medical bills and long court proceedings. In this case, you’ll need a tractor trailer crash attorney to help you in this situation.
An accident attorney will file a lawsuit aimed to trigger compensation from the party at fault. Accident lawsuits are often tricky and complicated, especially if you are dealing with a large-scale defendant. Finding an experienced auto attorney is important, but it’s also critical for the attorney to file a befitting lawsuit in line with your claims. The aftermath of truck accidents usually leaves victims with injuries. These injuries can range from mild ones to the most severe like the spinal cord, burns, paralysis, head trauma, or even death. Most often, the less severe injuries get covered by the personal injury protection insurance, but when the injuries exceed a certain threshold, you are entitled to additional compensation.
What are some of the accident lawsuits your tractor trailer crash attorney will file for additional compensation?
Truck Driver’s Negligence
Most lawsuits involved in truck accidents claims and settlements are often based on truck driver’s negligence, which includes driver fatigue, speed driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, overloading trucks, disobeying traffic laws, exhaustive driving among others. These are just some of the indication of negligence by the truck driver, but follow-up investigations by relevant parties can uncover more malpractice.
For you to stand a better chance of defending your claim, your attorney will have to prove that the negligent driver had a duty to ensure safety on the road and due to that negligence, injuries were sustained by the victim.
Trucking Company Negligence
Truck drivers aren’t the only parties liable in a tractor trailer accident; trucking companies are also responsible if negligence is found on their part. Typically, this kind of lawsuit will require the injured to prove the truck had a defect, inadequate truck maintenance, overweight trucks or failure to adhere to state laws. A tractor trailer crash attorney will try to argue your case based on the evidence provided, and when the evidence is insufficient. Further testing and analysis will be required.
Wrongful Death
In worst case scenario, truck accident victims end up dead. The victim’s family might resort to bringing up a claim on behalf of the deceased. Here, the family has to prove their case, basing the same facts as their loved one, had they survived and pursued their claim. This approach is crucial to stand a chance of being compensated. An auto injury attorney can offer legal advice to the family on how to approach this matter and help them recover punitive damages for the loss.
These forms of lawsuits pose estimable benefits for both the victim of the accident and the general public. An example is when the victim gets compensated for the injuries sustained, which has resulted in huge medical bills, pain, and suffering plus loss if income. The same lawsuits serve to punish trucking companies and their driver’s negligence and ignorance. Additionally, these lawsuits send a stunning warning to truck drivers who willingly attempt to cut corners to save time and money. Lawsuits aren’t for the faint-hearted, they are as complicated as they are time-consuming. You need to find a tractor trailer crash attorney experienced enough to offer you with some knowledgeable legal backing. Services provided by these accident attorneys are indispensable, you just don’t know when you’ll be needing them.
