When a victim is injured in a semi truck accident, it is unlikely that the case will be a “simple” personal injury matter. Semi truck accident cases are complex and often involve severe injuries, so it is very important for those who have been injured in these types of crashes to have the support of a personal injury attorney with experience in handling large truck accidents.
How Liability Is Determined in a Truck Accident Case
Although large trucks, defined as those weighing over 10,000 pounds when empty, make up less than five percent of all road traffic, they are responsible for about 11 percent of all fatal highway accidents. The majority of these victims are not occupants of a large truck but of smaller passenger vehicles.
Even when a passenger car occupant survives a large semi truck crash, he or she is often left with serious injuries and lifetime disabilities. Ironically, trucking companies often lobby for laws with less stringent safety requirements for these huge vehicles and fight legitimate personal injury claims by victims.
Liability in a truck accident case is often determined by whether the driver or company was negligent in following all rules and regulations regarding large truck operation. An investigation may be necessary to collect evidence such as driving and maintenance logs to prove the victim’s case.
Understanding State and Federal Regulations
Both the federal government and each state government impose certain requirements and restrictions on large trucks. Owners must inspect them on a regular basis, and drivers are required to maintain logs showing driving time and other facts about their work. However, despite these regulations, experts estimate that nearly a quarter of all large trucks on the road are in violation of one or more laws at any given time. Drivers are often encouraged to ignore restrictions in order to maximize profit for their companies, and trucking companies may deny that they hold any responsibility when an accident occurs.
Trucking Companies And Their Resources
Trucking companies often have large amounts of money at their disposal as well as attorneys who work hard to minimize their exposure after an accident. The victim of a truck crash must not only deal with the problems associated with any personal injury case, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other expenses, but must also understand the law surrounding the operation of large trucks and how to recover evidence to support a claim.
A personal injury attorney may be able to help. An attorney with experience in large semi truck accident cases can help the victim investigate the case and utilize experts such as accident reconstruction companies and others to support a personal injury claim. If you have been injured by an accident involving a truck driver, contact a personal injury attorney immediately. The truck accident attorneys at David & Philpot, P.L. have been assisting truck accident victims for over 20 years. They have helped recover millions of dollars for their clients and are ready to talk with you about your case. Contact them at 800 360-7015 today for a no cost, no obligation consultation.
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