Anyone who has been a victim of or witnessed severe trucking accidents can attest to the horrific devastation they cause. After all, the sheer size and weight of an 18-wheeler or semi-truck, combined with the force of the collision itself, are unlike anything you will find in traditional car wrecks. Many times, there isn’t much left of the vehicle that was hit, and even if there are no fatalities, there are almost always life-changing injuries, significant property damage, overwhelming financial burdens, and a litany of unanswered questions.
This is not a fender bender or a minor rear-end collision in which you can simply exchange insurance information and be thankful that everyone walked away. It is also not the time to take the proverbial wheel from a legal perspective and clean up the mess yourself. You need and deserve specialized legal expertise to determine how this happened, who is responsible, and what should happen next.
Why You Need a Lawyer Who Specializes in Truck Accidents
Trucking accidents are physically and emotionally traumatic and highly complex from a legal standpoint. Unlike traditional car accidents, trucking accidents can involve legal and regulatory issues, multiple liable parties beyond the truck driver, and aggressive insurance companies looking to protect their best interests. Navigating all this and more in the aftermath requires more than general knowledge.
Here are a few additional reasons why trucking accidents require dedicated legal attention:
- Federal and state regulations — As previously stated, it is important that your truck accident lawyer deeply understands the federal and state regulations that govern the trucking industry. This includes but is not limited to hours-of-service rules, weight restrictions, regular maintenance, and mandatory safety inspections. Your attorney will investigate and possibly litigate these cases to hold trucking companies and their drivers accountable for any violations that may have contributed to the accident.
- Complex liability issues — Unlike traditional car wrecks in the Quad Cities, truck accidents involve more than just the truck driver and any other driver involved. Other key players include the trucking company, cargo loaders, and vehicle or parts manufacturers. This makes determining actual liability that much more important.
- The size of the truck — The average weight of a large, fully loaded semi-truck is roughly 80,000 pounds. Even an unloaded truck can exceed the weight of a traditional car by roughly 30,000 pounds. When you see those numbers, it is easy to understand why such catastrophic injuries and fatalities occur when they are involved in an accident. This leads to higher compensation claims for the victims and their families. Your truck accident attorney can help you calculate medical costs, lost wages, and more.
- Insurance companies — Dealing with insurance companies can be a full-time job after the most basic car accident. Imagine what that looks like after truck accidents. Trucking companies often carry large insurance policies, which means you will need a specialized attorney to fight for your claim aggressively. From negotiating with insurance companies to representing you in court, if necessary, your attorney should be able to handle it all.
- Long-term impact on victims — Truck accidents involving semi-trucks may cause severe and life-altering injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or amputations that many of our clients and their families will have to live with for the rest of their lives. When calculating your compensation, your attorney should consider the severity of your injuries and their long-term effects.
In conclusion, please do not hesitate to contact a truck accident attorney for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been involved in one of these horrific accidents. We will work tirelessly to investigate your case, identify all responsible parties, and hold them accountable for your injuries and losses. We will also work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to build a strong case that supports your compensation claim. You deserve compassionate and knowledgeable legal advice, and we are here to help.
Call Keys Law Offices Today!!
Large truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, inadequate training, and drug and alcohol use. Sometimes, the truck company can be liable for the accident if it fails to maintain or inspect the truck properly or violates federal or state regulations. At Keys Law Offices, we are dedicated to representing victims of truck accidents and their families, including those involving semi-trucks.
We understand the complex legal and regulatory issues involved in truck accident cases, and we know how to investigate and litigate these cases to ensure that our clients get the compensation they deserve. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Our staff is always available. Call us today!