Commercial truck-related accidents can be physically and emotionally devastating. Having a truck accident lawyer on your side can alleviate some of the hardship.
Ask any group of new drivers what part of driving frightens them the most,
and "driving next to an 18-wheeler" will likely be high on that list. Whether you are navigating the road in a tiny Smart car or a powerful SUV, driving next to a giant big rig can make you feel like you are about to get steamrolled.
Luckily, truck drivers must adhere to an especially strict set of guidelines behind that big wheel. They must train and acquire a different type of license called a commercial driver's license. And since 2011, truck drivers can only drive a maximum of 70 hours per week to reduce the amount of fatigue-related crashes caused by overworked truck drivers.
They are also held to stricter alcohol limits. For example, to be charged with a DWI or DUI in most states, the driver would have to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. Truck drivers must keep their BAC under 0.04.
Despite these precautions, truckers are involved in thousands of crashes each year. As you can imagine, many of these crashes result in serious injury or even death. In these circumstances, it is almost always a good idea to hire a truck accident lawyer.
Why? It is because truck drivers are commercial drivers who operate under the protection of their companies' insurance. These companies typically have a team of lawyers and top-notch insurance agents that work to help them pay as little liability as they possibly can.
It is common, after an truck-related accident, for the insurance company to try to get the victim of the crash to settle outside of court. Any truck accident lawyer can tell you that most of the time, they are trying to get you to settle for less than what you deserve and need.
A truck accident lawyer will assess the true damages, including your medical bills, compensation for time missed from work and the amount to fix your car or to purchase a new one if it has been totaled.
The first and most important thing to remember is to refuse the insurance claim adjuster's request for a recorded statement if you are not at fault. The claim adjuster's job is to minimize the blame on the part of his or her client and to make sure the insurance company pays you as little money as they possibly can. You must call a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible and begin your case from there.
Of course, no amount of money can truly fill the void left by the loss of a loved one. However, a truck accident injury lawyer may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if a close family member has been killed by a truck driver.
This lawsuit can help in several practical ways. It can get you enough money to pay for your loved one's funeral arrangements. If the victim was a primary breadwinner in your home, you may be able to acquire enough money to make up for what he or she would have earned at work. This type of a lawsuit can help minimize the stress a life-altering loss can have on you and your remaining family's lives.
