One thing is clear — big trucks can cause substantial injuries. The legal weight for an eighteen wheeler is 80,000 pounds. The average weight of a passenger car is 5,000 pounds. It also takes an eighteen wheeler 40% more time to come to a stop than the average passenger car. With these statistics it is no wonder that an accident with an eighteen-wheeler often results in serious injuries or death.
Trucks and commercial vehicles such as big rigs, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, or semis can do a lot of damage in an accident with a passenger vehicle. The disproportionate size and weight of a truck usually mean the smaller vehicle takes the brunt of the impact. For the passengers inside, that can mean devastating injuries. If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a truck, you know how frightening and harmful these crashes can be.
If a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence led to your injuries, an experienced truck accident attorney could help. A lawyer can take care of your case’s filing and handling while you focus on your health and healing. Truck accident lawyers have the knowledge, resources, and experience to handle truck or commercial vehicle accident cases.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents happen for various reasons, most of which involve negligence. A negligent act or behavior is careless or reckless and results in injury or harm to another person. Truck drivers must stay focused and drive safely when they share the road with other vehicles. When they don’t, they must be held accountable for their actions. Common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Inadequate licensing and
- Poor driver training
- Lack of driver oversight and supervision
- Failure to ensure that cargo is loaded and secured properly
- Poor maintenance and repair of the vehicle
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Failure to adhere to traffic laws
All these issues involve negligence and are preventable. Sadly, many trucking companies skip essential safety steps, vehicle maintenance, and training to save time or money. When trucking companies fall short in safety standards or training, they may be held liable in the legal arena for accidents that occur. An experienced trucking accident attorney can help you hold them accountable.
Safety Regulations and Truck Accidents
State and federal laws set trucking operation’s standards and requirements. Many times, accidents are related to the driver’s or trucking company’s failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Your car accident lawyer should be familiar with the applicable laws and regulations, including:
- Driver licensing, training, and qualifications
- Hours of service regulations
- Driver oversight and supervision
- Cargo oversight
- Vehicle maintenance and repair
Truckers are often under extreme pressure to deliver loads on time. They may also face pressure to log as many miles as possible, as most of them are paid by the mile, not the hour. This pressure can bring about dangerous practices such as reckless driving, speeding, drowsy driving, and abusing legal or illicit drugs to stay focused and awake.
You Need An Advocate on Your Side
The insurance company for the truck driver and the trucking company that hit you is not really there to find out the truth about what happened and pay you what is fair and reasonable for your injuries you sustained in your truck accident. Instead, they are there to figure out how to pay as little as possible to you for the injuries that their driver caused you when they hit you. That’s because, insurance companies are only truly concerned about protecting their profits.
You need a lawyer and a law firm that will fight with the insurance company from the very beginning to hold the insurance company’s feet to the fire and make sure that they treat you and compensate you fairly for the injuries that you sustained as a result of the collision caused by their insured.
Get Legal Help for Your Truck Accident Case
To protect your rights and maximize your recovery, you need to take immediate action after a truck accident. You may be hurt, stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated, so you will need the counsel and guidance of an experienced truck accident attorney. If you have a claim, our lawyers have the resources and knowledge to fight for maximum compensation.
If you or a loved one has been injured, or you have a loved one who has been killed in a truck accident, contact us by using the form below or by calling our law firm now.