A truck accident can leave you facing an extensive road to recovery and mental struggles as you heal from your injuries and trauma. You have enough to worry about without dealing with the burden of your compensation claim. This is where a truck accident attorney can step in.
Following a trucking collision, a skilled Philadelphia truck accident attorney can take on your case and fight for justice on your behalf. They have the skills and experience necessary to handle all of your case-related tasks and protect your rights to reach the best possible case result.
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Understanding Truck Accident Cases
When you sustain injuries and other losses in a truck accident, this will fall under the area of law known as personal injury. Personal injury law allows victims injured by third parties to seek justice and compensation.
Depending on the specifics of your truck accident case, you may start by filing an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. Based on the outcome of your claim, you may also need to file a personal injury lawsuit in court, involving the legal system to continue your pursuit of favorable financial recovery.
Seek legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer for the best results.
Trucking Collision Cases are More Challenging to Navigate Than Other Types of Accidents
It may seem like truck accident cases resemble other vehicular collision cases, like car accidents. But in reality, truck accident cases are much harder to navigate. This is one reason why having a knowledgeable attorney handle your case is so important.
Trucks Cause More Injury and Damage
It is a surprise to no one that large semi-trucks are capable of causing extensive injury and damage. Simply standing or driving next to one of these massive vehicles, it’s easy to imagine an accident with one.
While car accidents can also result in serious injury, a truck’s size and weight tend to cause more harm.
Greater Insurance Protection Covers Trucks
Like other types of vehicles, semi-trucks need insurance coverage. However, because these vehicles are so massive and capable of causing harm and damage, insurance protection is much higher than regular cars.
Coverage for commercial trucks ranges from thousands to millions of dollars. Insurance companies are generally difficult to deal with as it is, but when there’s so much money on the line, you can expect an even greater challenge.
Truck Accident Victims Typically Require More Compensation
More injury and property damage usually mean victims need more compensation to adequately cover their monetary and non-monetary losses. But, because insurance companies strive to protect their money and avoid paying victims, they’ll put up an even bigger fight.
This can translate to more intense settlement negotiations and even the need to file a lawsuit.
It Can Be Harder to Determine the Cause of a Truck Collision
Figuring out why your truck accident happened is a critical part of your claim. Without this information, you wouldn’t know who’s at fault for your crash, and you couldn’t pursue fair compensation from the appropriate party.
The Trucking Industry is Regulated By State and Federal Laws
Several laws govern vehicles and driving, but nothing compared to the regulations in the trucking industry.
Truck drivers and others in the trucking industry must comply with strict state and federal laws, for example, hours of service regulations. Failure to comply can mean legal trouble but also contribute to truck accidents.
Injuries Often Resulting from Truck Accidents
As mentioned, truck accidents can result in extensive injury to victims.
Every case is unique, but some of the injuries truck accident victims suffer most include:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Internal injuries
One of the biggest issues with truck accident injuries is the severity and high likelihood of complications. Depending on the injuries you sustain, you’re at risk of several physical and mental consequences, from chronic pain and nerve damage to brain damage and paralysis.
To help avoid potential long-term effects, you must seek medical care right away after a truck accident. Even if you don’t think your injuries are that severe, a physical examination may reveal otherwise.
Taking Action After a Trucking Collision
After suffering injuries in a truck accident, you should take action to pursue fair compensation for your losses.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Benefits Your Case
If you’ve wondered, “Should I hire a truck accident lawyer for my case?” the answer is a resounding yes. A truck accident attorney can give you immense peace of mind, utilizing their experience and skills to fight for you and get you the best possible case result.
The following are just some ways a truck accident lawyer can support you. For personalized guidance, speak with an attorney right away after your accident.
An Attorney Can Help You Understand Your Rights and Legal Options
First and foremost, a truck accident lawyer can review the details of your accident and explain your legal rights and options. A truck accident lawyer will explain your rights and give you options based on the specifics of your case.
A Lawyer Can Investigate Your Truck Accident
Often, truck accident cases require thorough investigations. An investigation can answer many questions you and your attorney may have, including who caused your accident.
An Attorney Can Determine the Cause of Your Crash
Truck accidents occur for multiple reasons, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Brake and mechanical failure
- Inadequate truck maintenance
- Negligent hiring
- Lack of training and experience
Because it’s commonly so difficult to determine the cause of truck accidents, it’s essential to have an attorney take on the challenge. Through their investigations, they can gather information and get the necessary answers to continue building your case.
A Lawyer Can Establish Liability
After you’ve figured out what caused your accident, you’ll have a better idea of who can be at fault.
Based on the cause, some of the parties often found liable in trucking collision cases include:
- The truck driver
- The owner of the truck
- The trucking company
- The truck driver’s employer
- The party responsible for loading the cargo
- The party responsible for truck maintenance
- The designer, manufacturer, or distributor of the truck or truck parts
In some cases, only one party is at fault. However, in other cases, multiple parties can share fault. When more than one party is liable for your collision, you can recover compensation from each, based on their percentage of fault, which your attorney can decipher.
An Attorney Can Obtain Pertinent Evidence
Evidence is critical in collision claims, especially truck accident cases.
Evidence that serves to strengthen collision claims includes:
- Photos and video
- Surveillance or traffic cam footage
- Medical bills and records
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Police reports
Additionally, your truck accident attorney can access the truck’s black box for further information. A black box, also known as an event data recorder (EDR), is inside a commercial vehicle. It records certain details, which can prove important for your case. For example, black boxes can provide the truck’s speed at the time of the collision.
Requesting evidence can be tough, but a truck accident attorney knows what evidence to obtain and the best way to get it.
A Lawyer Can Calculate the Value of Your Case
Every case has a certain monetary value.
To determine the value of your case, your truck accident lawyer can examine several factors, such as:
- The severity of your injuries
- How your injuries have affected you mentally and emotionally
- Whether your injuries have interfered with your lifestyle and relationships
- The total cost of your medical expenses
- Whether you’ll have additional healthcare needs in the future due to your accident injuries
- The amount of your property damage
- Any other monetary or non-monetary losses you suffered as a result of your collision
Depending on your losses, you can pursue certain compensatory damages, including:
- Property damage
- Past and future medical expenses
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost earnings and earning capacity
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Understanding the value of your claim can help ensure you receive the fairest possible settlement. You can rely on your truck accident attorney to assign a monetary value to your case and pursue the compensation you need and deserve.
An Attorney Can File Your Truck Accident Claim for You
Filing a compensation claim can be confusing, especially if you don’t know where to start. Your truck accident lawyer can handle filing your claim along with supporting documents to get the recovery monetary process started.
Should you need to file a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney can also draft and file your complaint in court. They can also handle every suit-related task, working diligently toward favorable compensation on your behalf.
A Lawyer Can Negotiate for a Fair Settlement on Your Behalf
Negotiating for a fair settlement is a big part of the claim process after a truck accident. It’s unlikely the first settlement offer you get from the insurance company will adequately cover your losses. Therefore, back-and-forth negotiations are often necessary.
Truck accident attorneys know how to handle negotiations with insurance companies and represent their client’s best interests throughout. It takes special skill and patience to negotiate with the opposing party, especially when so much is on the line.
An accident lawyer won’t quit until they reach the best possible settlement for you.
An Attorney Can Represent You in Court if Needed
While most personal injury cases settle outside of court, that doesn’t mean your case is guaranteed to stay out of the courtroom.
You can trust your truck accident attorney will do everything possible to settle pre-trial, but the possibility of going to trial still exists if reaching a fair settlement with the insurance company is not in the cards.
Even if your case goes to trial, you can feel confident knowing your attorney will present your case in court and continue fighting for a beneficial case result. They won’t quit until your case has concluded.
How Soon Should I Meet With a Truck Accident Attorney After My Collision?
After a truck accident, the last thing you likely want to deal with is finding and hiring an attorney to get the claims process going. Still, the sooner you consult with an attorney, the better for your case.
Every state has a different statute of limitations, a law that imposes strict time limits for filing legal claims. Depending on your state, you have about one to six years to take action to pursue compensation. While this may seem like enough time, time goes by quickly, and you don’t want to lose your right to monetary recovery.
For this reason, meet with a truck accident lawyer as quickly as you can following your accident. As soon as you hire your attorney, they can begin working on your case.
Following a Trucking Collision, Do Not Hesitate to Seek Legal Representation from a Qualified Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident attorneys can do so much for your case and your overall well-being.
They can take the burden of handling your claim and seeking compensation completely off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on the things that matter most after your collision, like recovering physically and keeping up with all medical treatment.
After your truck accident, don’t wait to meet with a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer for legal support, advice, and quality representation. You have nothing to worry about. Allow an experienced lawyer to take over the legal process. Seek your free case evaluation today.
Gabriel Levin - Attorney
Gabriel Levin is a highly experienced and credible attorney with over 10 years of practice in Pennsylvania. Known for his tenacity, he has represented clients in a wide range of civil matters, trying hundreds of cases. He prepares each case as if it will go to trial, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
Unlike many firms that delegate tasks, Levin personally handles every aspect of a case and maintains open communication with clients throughout. He has secured millions in compensation, making him a reliable choice for those seeking legal representation.
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