A personal injury from a truck accident can be particularly worrisome because of the high probability of severe bodily harm. Trucks, unlike a typical passenger vehicle, are very large, which means that the risk of serious injuries and even death is that much higher.
Accident victims who have been hit by a big rig tend to require immediate and often emergency medical treatment. Personal injury attorneys help their clients by providing legal representation so that fair compensation can be claimed where applicable. Sometimes, attorneys even represent truck drivers in claiming workers' compensation.
If you've been involved in a truck accident in Clive, IA, don't let any insurance company swindle you out of the compensation you deserve. Instead, retain the services of a personal injury attorney. Experienced lawyers know all about the tricks insurance firms use to undermine victim injuries and avoid paying what is due.
Arrange a free consultation today with an experienced personal injury lawyer from Tom Fowler Law by calling (515) 203-8434.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident Case?
Your Iowa attorney will tell you that liability in a truck accident case is not as straightforward as it is in other types of pedestrian or car accidents. If the truck caused the accident, you may think that the truck driver is always to blame, but this is not the case.
Especially when dealing with commercial trucks, any of the following parties could be fully or partially responsible:
Truck drivers
Companies that own the tractor-trailers
Truck manufacturers
Component manufacturers
That's why your best bet if you've been in an accident involving a semi-truck, is to reach out to a personal injury law firm. Beyond providing you with representation, there's an acute awareness of Iowa laws that helps to establish the negligent party so you can get the full compensation you deserve.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Clive, IA
Locations such as Clive and Des Moines, IA only account for a small number of what is an alarming rate of truck accident incidents in the USA. The country records over half a million on average annually. A Des Moines semi truck accident attorney is knowledgeable when it comes to investigating semi truck incidents.
Here's a look at the reasons behind most cases:
Distracted driving
Tailgating
Unwarranted speeding
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Aggressive driving
Improper lane change protocol
A Clive truck driver who engages in any recklessness puts people at risk and could cause them to deal with a host of medical expenses. Law firms, such as Tom Fowler Law, support victims with highly competent truck accident lawyers to navigate claims.
Typical Personal Injuries Caused By Truck Accidents
Like car accident cases, people can get injured in a truck accident and require extensive treatment. Wrongful death may also be at play, which means that family members of the deceased would file the claim. Here are some of the injuries someone in a truck accident could suffer from.
Brain Injuries
These often happen because of a sudden aggressive shaking of the head or because of a traumatic impact. The effects can be temporary or permanent, with some victims of the injury losing cognitive function.
Spinal Cord Damage
Spinal cord injuries may only result in mild discomfort. On the flip side, they may be characterized by temporary or permanent paralysis of one or more limbs.
Broken Bones
The violent impact that a truck accident often creates can lead to bones becoming fractured or broken, which puts a cap on the physical functionality of a victim.
Chronic Pain
Depending on the site of impact and the circumstances in place, people in a truck accident may find themselves feeling longstanding chronic discomfort in the aftermath.
Personal Injury Claims Handled By Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck accident lawyers in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, and other locations help their clients to exercise appropriate the relevant legal rights in submitting claims. These can be broken down into economic and non-economic components.
Note that wrongful death can fall under either category depending on the situation. If the matter is purely about the grief and mental anguish caused by losing a loved one, then it's non-economic.
In some cases, however, the deceased person was the family's main income earner. This introduces an income replacement component, which is economic.
Economic Damages
This category represents the elements of compensation that can be directly attributed to a cost center based on documented values. Medical bills, for example, fall under this category, as do lost wages and workers' compensation. Past, present, and future financial expenses associated with the accident are factored into the eventual settlement.
Non-economic Damages
On the flip side, the non-economic category, while truck accident lawyers attribute values to it, has no defined costs. Pain and suffering and loss of consortium fall under this category.
Iowa's Comparative Fault Law Affects Your Compensation
Your personal injury lawyer may explain to you that comparative fault applies in Clive, Iowa. This is the same across the state and in others that use the same rule.
Put simply, it means that you're only entitled to compensation up to the point where you were not negligent. If there was any negligence on your part, then you cannot be compensated fully.
How Do Clive Truck Accident Lawyers Support You?
Whether it's workers' compensation, lost pay, medical bills, etc., your personal injury lawyer stands ready to fight for you before and during court proceedings.
Assuming a reputable law firm is selected, your attorney provides you with sound legal advice on what you can do to bolster your case.
The law firm also negotiates with the other party's insurance company on your behalf to secure fair compensation for you.
Essentially, you get to focus on your recovery, while the lawyer handles the legal side of things for you.
Other Clive Practice Areas
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Clive, IA!
If you've been involved in a truck accident in Clive, IA, you may be entitled to a financial settlement. The super lawyers at Tom Fowler Law are highly experienced in auto accident law and other related practice areas.
Reach out today by calling the team at (515) 203-8434 to arrange a free initial consultation!
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