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Each year, there are approximately half a million truck accidents on roadways all across the United States, and accidents involving trucks are frequently more serious. Of the 500,000 annual truck accidents, nearly 5,000 result in a fatality. Because trucks are so large and capable of causing so much damage, it makes sense that truck accident victims make up a significant portion of all people injured in automobile accidents each year.
If you have suffered a truck accident injury, it is very important that you speak with an experienced lawyer. An experienced lawyer can evaluate your claim, before you engage in costly settlement discussions with an insurance company.
This case involved allegations against a trucking company for negligently changing lanes and colliding into my client’s vehicle. The vehicle overturned and my client suffered head injuries. The matter settled on the first day of trial. The defendants increased their offer from $900,000 to $2,500,000.
Truck accidents can happen for a number of reasons. Some of the more common causes include:
Fatigue is one of the most common causes of accidents. In 2013, new regulations aimed at reducing driver fatigue limited the number of average driving hours per week to 70. The regulations also instituted an 11-hour daily maximum. Despite the high penalties for violating these limits, reports show that drivers often exceed the hour restriction. When drivers violate these limits, they put both themselves and other drivers on the road at significant risk.
As with any case involving accidents or injuries, one of the key issues is determining who was at fault for the incident.
Sometimes determining fault is relatively easy. These days an ever-increasing number of drivers are texting behind the wheel. Numerous studies have shown that texting while driving can be nearly as dangerous as drinking and driving. In most cases where a driver was texting behind the wheel, fault is easy to determine.
Other cases may be harder to prove fault. Both truck drivers and other drivers engage in aggressive driving such as: cut-offs, tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, and driving at excessive speeds. Such behaviors frequently cause of accidents, but who exactly caused an accident in these scenarios isn't always cut and dry.
With every case, we carefully examine the circumstances of your accident to evaluate fault. We conduct a thorough investigation of the facts, interview parties and eyewitnesses, and review relevant documents, including police reports, medical records, and insurance documentation. This investigation process helps us successfully argue your truck accident case and gives us leverage to potentially negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf.
Our client was driving a 63,000lb. Kershaw crane truck up a grade at 10-15 mph with his flashers activated. Defendant was driving a large commercial 18-wheeler semi-truck loaded with sodas and vending machine products. Defendant collided into the rear of my client’s truck at approximately 55 mph. Our client suffered bilateral loss of vision; bilateral tinnitus (ringing in ears); cognitive deficits (minor brain injury); L5 radiculopathy (low back pain radiating down leg); and right shoulder impingement syndrome. Our client was forced to be placed on full disability and unable to work. We retained various experts to prove liability and explain the injuries sustained. A vocational rehabilitation expert was retained to help our client obtain some type of gainful employment. The difficulty with the case was that our client suffers from a pre-existing rare disorder known as PXE. There is some literature evidencing loss of peripheral vision caused by this disease. We settled this case for $650,000.
Being involved in an accident with a large truck may result in serious and life-changing injuries and treatment of those injuries can be costly. In an instant, you may find yourself facing many thousands of dollars in medical bills.
We've seen first-hand the severity of these types of injuries and the dramatic impact they can have on our client's lives. Our goal is always to help accident victims recover from their injuries and reduce the overall toll the accident takes on their lives.
As soon as you contact us, we can help. We will assist you in obtaining a proper course of treatment for your injuries, even if you lack healthcare insurance. Post-accident treatment spans from the initial emergency room visit to rehabilitation and therapy. Our firm is there for you each step of the way.
Our focus is on your case. We deal with the other party and the insurance companies. We negotiate on your behalf. We communicate with your healthcare providers and track all of your medical costs and expenses. Our focus allows you to take care of the most important thing: your recovery.
We will send one of our experienced personal injury lawyers to you. Whether it is in the hospital or at your home, we will come to you to discuss your truck accident case and obtain any necessary information. You don’t need to travel to our office. We focus on making your recovery as easy as possible. We’ll make sure that you receive the care and attention you need.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means our fees are based on a percentage of any compensation that we recover on your behalf. We are paid out of the recovery. As a result, our attorneys are ready to commit to recovering costs related to your truck accident injuries, as soon as possible. You don’t have to pay any upfront costs out of pocket.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, contact our office today.
Speaking with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is important for several reasons.
Don’t risk your ability to receive compensation for your costs and injuries. Contact a truck accident lawyer at The Sevey Law Firm today. You only pay if you recover for your injuries.