When someone gets in a truck accident, it is only fair that the victim receives financial compensation and the negligent party is held accountable. However, sometimes the trucking company tries to ignore this and fool the victim into accepting less money than they should.
This is highly unfair, considering commercial trucks are much bigger than cars, so the victims usually get severely injured, and trucking accidents can quickly turn into wrongful death cases. Therefore, hiring a reliable law firm from Dallas county, such as Tom Fowler Law, can be extremely helpful.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident Personal Injury Case
Semi-truck accidents are much more complex than any other type of vehicle accident, and this is because it can be pretty challenging to identify the party at fault. Some of the most common defendants are the truck driver, the shipping or trucking company, the manufacturer, or even government entities.
Nonetheless, in most cases, the trucking company is going to take the fault for the trucking accident, and these companies tend to have insurance coverage for these situations. However, having experienced legal representation can make determining liability much more manageable.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driving trucks can be extremely dangerous for everyone on the road, so all trucking companies must follow federal regulations to avoid accidents as much as possible. However, trucking accidents still happen, and the most common causes are the following.
Forcing truck drivers to spend too much time on the road may cause them to fall asleep.
Making mistakes when loading the cargo or not following directions.
Failing to meet weight distribution requirements.
Distracted driving.
Overpassing the speed limit to meet unrealistic deadlines.
Identifying the cause of the accident is extremely important to build a solid case, as this is going to help the victim identify the liable parties. This is why hiring a truck accident lawyer in Des Moines who can do a proper investigation and gather all the needed evidence for the case is vital.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Commercial truck accidents can result in terrible injuries for all parties involved, especially if there are small vehicles involved. In the worst-case scenario, the people involved could even die due to the accident. However, some of the most common non-deadly injuries resulting from these accidents include brain and spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, and partial or total disability.
5 Reasons to Hire a Trucking Accident Lawyer
There are several reasons why victims shouldn't try to face the other party independently. However, the following five reasons are the main things to keep in mind when facing trucking accidents and why anyone should find a lawyer with vast experience in personal injury cases.
Trucks Are a Lot Bigger Than Cars
Trucks tend to weigh 20 times more than any regular car, so victims usually get severely injured after a trucking accident. Moreover, trucking companies are commonly prepared to handle these situations and quickly dismiss the victim. Therefore, all victims should be prepared and have a personal injury attorney who can fight this battle with them.
The Insurance Company Might not Offer Enough Compensation
Insurance companies usually take advantage of the victims by offering an extremely low amount of money. However, victims typically don't know any better and take this money without talking to their lawyers. This is a terrible mistake because it eliminates the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the trucking company and getting compensated in the future.
Therefore, a lawyer should always negotiate these claims because they know which factors should be considered to set the price.
Victims Don't Have to Worry About Saying Something Wrong
Trying to go through legal processes without an attorney can be pretty scary and confusing, especially if the victim has never done anything like that. One of the most stressful aspects of this is negotiating with the other party, and sometimes victims can get extremely nervous and make wrong decisions that affect their whole case. An accident attorney goes through negotiations like these every day, and they know how to not be intimidated by the other party.
There Might Be More to the Story Than Just a Mistake by the Truck Driver
In order to seek compensation for a truck accident, the victim must prove there was a breach of care between them and the other party, but sometimes this is a lot more complicated than just negligent driving. Sometimes, the trucking company could breach its duty if it didn't provide proper training to the driver, or it could have been due to the truck manufacturer if the vehicle had a manufacturing defect. All of these scenarios must be considered before filing a claim against one of these parties, and a good personal injury lawyer is capable of finding out the real cause of the accident.
A Truck Accident Injury Lawyer can Recover Non-economic Damages
On some occasions, the insurance company may offer just enough money to cover the victim's medical bills, but an accident involves much more losses than that. If a victim wants fair compensation, they should consider all lost wages, possible disabilities, psychological pain and suffering, etc.
Moreover, suppose the trucking accidents end up in wrongful death. In that case, the victim's family members are entitled to compensation for all funeral and medical expenses, loss of companionship, lost income, and many more non-financial damages. In fact, most damages discussed during the settlement negotiation aren't financial expenses, so the best that can be done is to find a free initial consultation with an experienced attorney who can help the victim get as much money as they deserve.
Other Waukee Practice Areas
Contact the Tom Fowler Law Firm
Trucking accidents are terrible for everyone involved, but accident victims deserve to receive fair compensation for their losses. Therefore, the best they can do is call the Tom Fowler Law Firm, the best law firm in Des Moines, IA.
Anyone can get a free consultation from one of our super lawyers with in-depth knowledge of personal injury law by simply calling the contact number at the bottom of this page.
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