If you have been involved in an accident and injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, then contacting an accident lawyer to help with your claim is the best way forward. A crash with a semi-truck can often be a devastating experience, resulting in serious damage to your car and the potential for serious, life-changing injuries or even death. If you have been involved in this kind of accident, then a good accident lawyer can help you ensure that you receive the financial compensation that you are entitled to for the damages that you have suffered.
Why Are Semi-Truck Accidents Dangerous?
A semi-truck can weigh between ten thousand and twenty-five thousand pounds on its own. When the semi-truck is connected to a trailer that has been fully loaded, this can be a serious weight, with the combined truck and trailer at around eighty thousand pounds or more. In comparison, an average car only weighs around just under five thousand pounds. When you consider the difference in size and weight of the semi-truck and a car, you can see why a crash between these vehicles can be so dangerous for the car driver. Most car drivers are at a significantly high risk of injury if a negligent semi-truck driver crashes into their car. The faster the truck is going, the bigger the impact will be and the more devastating the damage.
Victims of semi-truck accidents can suffer a range of common injuries including spinal cord and back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones and fractures, neck injuries, facial injuries, soft tissue injuries, and wrongful death.
Can I Sue for a Semi-Truck Accident?
If a semi-truck has crashed into your car as you were driving on the road, then it might seem obvious when it comes to who is at fault for your crash. However, the employer or other third parties might be the responsible party when it comes to truck accidents. A trucking company is responsible for any damage a negligent employee truck driver causes while acting within the course and scope of their employment. Simply put, an employer can be liable for the employee’s actions, as long as the employee was on the job when the crash occurred.
At What’s My Case Worth, we know how complicated it can be to seek compensation after being involved in an accident involving a truck driver. We may pursue a claim against the truck driver but know that there may also be a case against the truck driver’s employer to help you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
There are several cases where the employer of the truck driver may be held liable for the accident. For example, they may have failed to conduct a background check of the driver or failed to conduct the appropriate drug and alcohol test. In some cases, the fault may lie solely with the company and not the driver, for example, if the company has failed to ensure that the truck is well-maintained and safe to drive. A truck company may also be negligent for forcing its drivers on the road when they have not received enough rest.
In semi-truck accidents, other parties may also be liable. For example, the manufacturer of the truck or certain vehicle parts may be held liable for the accident if they manufactured or designed defective truck parts, which ultimately led to the crash occurring.
How a Good Attorney Can Prove Negligence
At What’s My Case Worth, our primary responsibility after you have been hit by a commercial semi-truck is to establish negligence. This provides a basis by which you can then seek compensation from the truck driver, their place of employment, and in some cases, the truck or truck parts manufacturer.
There are several things that we can do as lawyers to establish liability and strengthen your case. This includes:
- Obtaining or preserving the truck’s “black box”
- Investigate the scene of the crash to obtain and measure physical evidence such as gouges in the road and tire markings
- Interview witnesses
- Collecting evidence surrounding the circumstances that led to the truck accident
- Consulting with expert witnesses such as trucking industry experts to reconstruct the crash
- Conducting research into the regulations and laws that may apply to the truck driver and their employer
- Obtaining traffic collision reports
- Take the depositions of the truck driver and anyone involved in the crash
What Causes Semi-Truck Accidents?
There are several factors that can increase the risk of being involved in a semi-truck accident. These include the truck driver driving too closely or tailgating the car in front, either vehicle driving over the speed limit, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, driving while fatigued, unsafe turns or lane changes, failure to use signals while turning, and aggressive driving.
Depending on the behavior of the truck driver on the road and the severity of your crash, a semi-truck accident could also result in legal charges against the truck driver. Bear in mind that you will not be prevented from filing a civil lawsuit against the truck driver or their employer, even if either party faces criminal charges for their actions leading up to the crash.
How We Can Help
If you have been involved in a truck accident and injured through no fault of your own, get in touch with What’s My Case Worth today to discuss your case. We are experts at representing truck accident victims and know just how complex and difficult to navigate these cases can be compared to a regular car accident. We are committed to holding negligent trucking companies and truck companies accountable for their actions, and helping you get the maximum compensation that you are entitled to, so that you can move on with your life, recover from any injuries you have suffered, and start getting things back on track after the accident.
We have lawyers based in California, Nevada and Texas ready to take on your semi-truck accident case and help you get the result that you want. We offer a completely free case evaluation, and work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you will only ever pay once you have received the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 877-559-3513.
