If you sustain an injury in a truck accident, then you have the right to hire personal injury lawyers and sue for financial compensation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that in 2012, a total of 3,802 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes. Many of these accidents create a personal injury case. If you were in a wreck, you may have questions about how to proceed and what your legal options are. We encourage you to call our office to find out.
It's not that simple of a process
A truck accident is actually more complicated than if you were in a wreck with another personal vehicle, due to the concepts of negligence. For you to have a strong personal injury lawsuit, someone else must be responsible for your accident and injuries. As your attorney, it will be our job to conduct an investigation into what happened, so we can identify the negligent party and gather evidence to prove it. The reason this is more complicated with a trucking accident is because more than one party can be to blame.
As personal injury lawyers, we know that both the truck driver and the trucking company could be at fault. For example, if the trucking company failed to properly maintain the truck and the accident occurred due to the combination of speed and faulty breaks, then both the driver and company can be negligent and named in your lawsuit. Another example is if the trucking company forced a driver to be on the road when they were tired. In this case, the driver can fail to make the right decision or react fast enough to prevent the accident. While the driver would technically have been the one behind the wheel, the company would be equally to blame. This is the type of information that we uncover during an investigation to ensure that all parties are held accountable for your injuries.
We need as much information as possible
Once we have identified the negligent party, we need to gather evidence to prove it. This often requires us reviewing accident reports, pictures, witness statements, maintenance records and more. Please provide us with any information you have, since you never know what will be useful in building your case.
Next, we will value your case to determine what it is worth and what to ask for during settlement negotiations. We want clients to wait to settle until they have an understanding of how their injuries have impacted their lifestyle. Settling involves seeking compensation for more than medical bills. For example, you may need physical therapy or medical devices for complete recovery. However expensive the recovery costs may be, it is important to include them when valuing your claim so that you do not get less than you deserve.
Working with personal injury lawyers in our office also gives you the opportunity to request compensation for lost wages and punitive damages. Punitive or non-economic damages is what a jury may award if they feel that the other party was particularly negligent in causing your accident. Ultimately, they will determine what your case is worth during a trial and by having an attorney on your side, it becomes more likely that you will receive a fair settlement.
To discuss the details of your case and to file a lawsuit, call our office to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers.
NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
