Truck Accident Lawyer

What Is a Truck Accident Lawyer?

Truck accident attorneys file personal injury lawsuits on behalf of people injured in trucking accidents. Through a truck accident lawsuit, victims can seek compensation for their injuries.

Truck accident lawyers handle cases involving different types of commercial vehicles, like:

• Big rigs (semis, tractor-trailers, or 18-wheelers)
• Box trucks (single-unit trucks or straight trucks)
• Cargo vans
• City, coach, or school buses
• Delivery vans
• Dump trucks
• Taxis or rideshare cars

These commercial vehicles are often protected by insurance. Unfortunately for accident victims, insurance companies work hard to avoid paying out claims. A common tactic is convincing victims to settle for a quick payout that’s far less money than they deserve.

At LawFirm.com, we work with top truck accident lawyers who can help you fight against powerful insurance companies and get the compensation you deserve.

They’ll even the playing field and work to negotiate a settlement on your behalf, allowing you to focus on healing and getting your life back on track as quickly as possible. Contact us now to see if one of our partner truck accident lawyers can help you.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

After providing a free consultation to see if you qualify for legal action, a commercial truck accident lawyer will handle every aspect of your case. This includes determining liability, collecting evidence, filing your lawsuit, and fighting to get you the money you deserve.

The truck accident lawyers in our network don’t charge any upfront or out-of-pocket fees. They work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they successfully secure compensation for you.

1. Determining Liability in Trucking Accidents

Determining liability in trucking accidents can be challenging. Truck wrecks can happen for many reasons, some of which are unavoidable. In some cases, it is the driver’s fault in a passenger vehicle. In other instances, passenger vehicles can do nothing to prevent a truck accident.

Common causes of trucking accidents are:

• Being in the way when a truck makes a right turn
• Changing lanes carelessly
• Making a left turn in front of a truck
• Merging into traffic improperly
• Passing in an unsafe manner
• Rollovers or jackknife accidents

Figuring out who is at fault in a truck crash is the backbone of building a solid case. An experienced truck accident law firm has what it takes to identify who may be responsible for a large truck crash.

2. Collecting Truck Accident Evidence

Evidence is one of the most essential elements of a truck accident case. Once the liable parties are identified, a truck accident lawyer will work with you to collect this critical evidence.

Truck accident evidence may include:

• Data from the truck’s communication system
• Expert testimony
• Eyewitness interviews
• Medical records and bills
• Photos or videos of the scene of the accident and road conditions
• Police reports

A truck accident lawyer will also compile any expenses related to the truck accident and document any losses you suffered, like lost wages due to injuries.

3. Filing a Trucking Accident Claim

Once liability is determined and enough evidence is gathered, a truck accident lawyer will file a claim with the defendant’s insurance company.

This is usually done through what is called a demand letter. This document explains the details of the trucking accident, makes a claim about who was at fault, and states who should pay the injured party.

A demand letter generally includes the extent of injuries and the monetary damages that they caused. Depending on the laws in the state where the trucking accident occurred, pain and suffering may also be factored in.

4. Negotiating a Truck Accident Settlement

In many cases, your truck accident lawyer can negotiate a settlement with the truck’s insurance company. They’ll fight to get you the most compensation as quickly as possible.

If a settlement isn’t reached, your lawyer can take your case to trial and pursue a truck accident lawsuit verdict.

Call (888) 726-9160 now to see if our legal partners can help you seek compensation from a truck accident lawsuit.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident?

One factor that makes truck accident cases a bit more complicated is that determining liability is not always straightforward. In many cases, there could be more than one responsible party.

Parties liable in a truck accident could include:

• Government entities
• Insurance companies
• Manufacturer of the truck
• Other motorists
• Shipping company that loaded cargo
• Trucker
• Trucking company

Due to the complexity involved in determining liability, hiring a truck accident lawyer is often the easiest and most efficient option.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

Many people involved in accidents with commercial motor vehicles are left wondering what to do after a truck accident.

The most important thing to do is seek medical care. Even if you think you were not injured, it’s essential to seek medical attention to determine potential injuries. Sometimes, adrenaline or shock can mask injuries immediately after an accident.

While you are at the trucking accident scene, if you are safely able to do so, you should document as much as possible.

Use your phone to take pictures or videos of the:

• Accident scene, including any road signs nearby
• Road conditions
• Surrounding traffic
• Truck’s license plate
• Weather conditions

Recreating these kinds of factors is difficult to do once the conditions have changed, so it’s important to get as much documented at the scene of the accident as possible.

Let your insurance company know about the trucking accident, but don’t accept any settlement offers before you consult with a truck accident attorney.

What Can I Recover From a Truck Accident Settlement?

Since so many unique details are involved in truck accident cases, there’s no specific amount of money you can expect to recover.

Some factors involved in the amount of a truck accident settlement are:

• Economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages
• Extent of disability caused (temporary or permanent)
• Insurance policies of the parties involved
• Noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Punitive damages (sometimes awarded for gross negligence)
• Severity of injuries
• State laws where the accident occurred
• Who the defendants are
• Wrongful death

Because of the complexity of these cases, a skilled truck accident lawyer is likely needed to calculate the specific amount you are owed. Some of these lawsuits result in hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for the plaintiffs.

See if our team can fight for the money you deserve during a free case review.

How Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Trucking accidents can happen for many reasons, but they are often caused by the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver failing to comply with federal safety standards.

Some common reasons trucking accidents happen are:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Failing to properly maintain tires, brakes, and other truck parts
• Following too closely
• Inadequate surveillance
• Overloading trucks
• Speeding
• Trucker fatigue or drowsiness
• Unfamiliar roadways
• Unqualified or untrained truckers

Additionally, some trucking companies design pay structures that lead to dangerous driving. Drivers may be encouraged by their employers to cut corners to stay on schedule and budget.

This is an example of the trucking industry putting profits ahead of people, endangering other drivers on the road and their own employees.

Get Help Finding the Best Truck Accident Lawyers for Your Case

The best truck accident lawyers are attorneys who have proven success handling truck accident claims. This is because truck accident cases are often more complex than car accident cases.

There could be multiple defendants, including truck manufacturers or even government entities. Lawyers with experience will be able to determine who is responsible for the truck accident and get you the compensation you deserve.

We can connect you to lawyers who have:

• Access to extensive resources
• Experience handling truck accident cases
• A history of winning results for clients
• No upfront legal fees

Get a free case review now to see if you may qualify for compensation from a truck accident lawsuit.