Getting Compensation for Your Trucking Accident
Semi-trucks are large and powerful vehicles. It is best to keep your distance when driving next to them. You should also ensure that the driver knows your every intention by signalling properly and keeping in plain sight of them.
Unfortunately, following the rules and taking the precautions described above does not always prevent an accident. If you have been injured in a truck accident that owes to the negligence or inattention of the driver, then you should seek compensation.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
You must remember that any legal action taken in this situation will be against the trucking company, not the driver. Trucking companies are ultimately responsible for the conduct and behavior of their drivers and they should be held accountable.
Trucking companies are regulated by state and federal law. Most companies adhere to these rules to keep their drivers safe. Others put profits ahead of people.
Driver fatigue is the most common cause of trucking accidents. Some rule-breaking companies compel drivers to violate mandatory rest periods to meet tight deadlines. If the trucking company maintains a formal or informal policy that encourages such behavior, they can be held liable for an accident.
Defective truck parts can also lead to accidents. Trucking companies are responsible for the regular inspection of their vehicles. No truck that is unsafe should be allowed on the road. If the accident is the result of a truck part that failed at a crucial moment, then you may be able to sue both the trucking company and the manufacturer of the part.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Truck accidents can be especially violent and destructive. Few cars and car drivers escape such an accident unscathed. As you recover, you should consult with a semi-truck accident lawyer. Your stay in the hospital will cost money. And being on your back will prevent you from earning it. A lawyer who specializes in this field of tort law will know how to get you the kind of money you deserve.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Your lawyer will bring together the relevant facts, expert testimony, forensic evidence, and applicable law to get you justice. One of the first actions they will take is to initiate their own investigation. Your lawyer will hire professional investigators to re-interview witnesses and make inquiries into the physical and mental state of the driver before the accident. They will also look into the practices and policy of the company.
Your lawyer will also bring in forensic experts who will know how to use the evidence left at the scene to reconstruct the accident, which may verify your version of events.
The lawsuit need not go to trial. Your lawyer may present enough evidence to the respondent to get them to settle. The trucking company may prefer to negotiate a settlement rather than take their chances before a jury. It will then be up to your lawyer to ensure that you get compensation that is commensurate with all that you have endured.
