A truck-involved accident can result in serious injuries and death. A trucker who causes an accident will have to pay the medical bills of injury victims as well as for damage to their vehicles. They may have to cover damage to the road itself. If their cargo was damaged, they will have to pay for it. In some cases, a truck accident can do environmental harm to a community, and the trucking company will be liable.
Professional truck drivers are held to a higher standard than non-commercial drivers. Truckers must have a commercial driver’s license. If they cross state lines, they are required to be insured for much more money than a regular driver would be.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important to hire a truck accident lawyer before you even call the insurance company. Truck accident law is complicated and requires the assistance of a professional lawyer.
The average car weighs between 2,200 lb and 4,200 pounds. A semi-truck weighs at least 10,001 pounds. In most cases, they are more like 80,000 pounds. Semis are taller than other vehicles, and when they hit a passenger car or pickup truck, it is much greater momentum than the average vehicle would have.
A passenger car will often slide right under a semi-truck in an accident. Semi-trucks have very large wheels that are high off the ground. Trucks carry all different kinds of cargo. they carry everything, including livestock, liquid, and toxic materials. If a truck hits an object of any kind, cargo may come flying out into the street and cause major damage to the street and multiple cars.
Driver fatigue is a major cause of trucking accidents. Drivers are only allowed to be on the road for 12 consecutive hours at a time. They must not work shifts of over 15 hours. There are strict regulations on how long they must rest.
Not every driver follows these rules. When a person is tired, their reaction time will be slower, and they will have diminished cognitive abilities. They may even fall asleep at the wheel.
Some drivers will take illegal drugs to stay awake. Drugs such as methamphetamine impair a person’s judgment as well as their eyesight.
Truckers do not always load cargo correctly. Improperly loaded cargo can throw off the balance of a truck and cause an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident with a truck, you deserve to get fair compensation for your medical bills and your pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one to a trucking accident, you can sue the trucking company for wrongful death.
Both insurance companies and trucking companies are staffed with teams of highly trained lawyers. If you want to win your case, you will need to have a professional lawyer on your side as well. With the right attorney, you can get the money you deserve.
