15 Of The Most Popular Semi Truck Law Bloggers You Must Follow
Is a Semi Truck Accident Legal?
The first thing you should do if you're involved in a semi-truck crash is to remain at the scene. Photograph the vehicles, environment and speak to witnesses.
Drivers of trucks who make poor decisions like texting while driving too fast, speeding or not obeying trucking laws could be held accountable for the accidents they cause. In many cases, the company that owns a truck could also be held responsible.
Insurance
Truck accidents can result in serious injuries and even damage to vehicles and property. Due to their huge size and weight, commercial trucks often carry multiple layers of insurance to compensate for the damages. If you find that the driver of the truck who struck your car did not have insurance, or had only the minimum amount of insurance required, you may feel like you can't get compensation for the damage you've suffered. This is where an experienced semi-accident lawyer comes in. They can look into your case and discover other sources of compensation, such as the trucking carrier or the owner of the truck who hired the driver who was not insured or allowed them to use their vehicle.
A lawyer who handles truck accidents could also examine your auto insurance policy to determine whether there are other coverages that could apply to your crash. For instance, medical payments (also known as med-pay or personal injury protection) could pay for some of your medical expenses, dependent on the state's insurance laws. In addition, some states require UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist) coverage, which pays for your losses in the event you are injured by an at-fault driver who doesn't have any or enough car insurance to cover your damages.
A seasoned attorney can assist in speeding the settlement process. They can negotiate with the insurance company to increase your payout and help you get back on track faster following a truck crash. An attorney can help you to create a demand plan that includes all of the costs and will assist you in determining the value of your claim.
The value of a truck crash claim is contingent upon a variety of factors including the severity of your injuries and related treatment, property damage, and the extent of your suffering and pain. The greater the extent of your injuries will be, the greater the value of your claim will be. But, there are other variables that impact the value of your claim including the type of truck used, the conditions of the weather, the driver's and trucking company's history and many other. The process of determining your claim's value can take several rounds of negotiation, and how time it takes to receive the settlement will depend on the amount you're asking for and the insurance company's willingness to settle.
Damages
The consequences of collisions between trucks with passenger vehicles are often devastating. In addition to severe injuries and long-term disabilities, semi truck accidents can cause significant property damage and possibly death. Fortunately, those who can prove that the truck driver, or trucking company was negligent are able to seek compensation for their injuries. A New York City truck accident attorney can assist you in filing an insurance claim or sue the party responsible for the accident.
Truck accidents are different from other motor vehicle accidents which typically involve only two parties. They often involve multiple defendants and complicated legal issues. For example, a truck driver's insurance policy as well as that of their employer might need to be compared. Trucking companies also may have rules and regulations they must follow. A lawyer who has truck accident experience can look over these elements and determine who is accountable for your injuries.
Victims of semitruck accidents can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages are a result of future and past medical bills loss of wages, repair costs to the vehicle. Non-economic damages can be more complicated and include things like mental anguish in the form of pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment from your life. The amount of compensation that you receive will be contingent on how serious your injuries are and the impact they have on your life.
Your lawyer can assist in determining the amount of damages appropriate in your particular case and will fight for you the highest settlement possible. They will also ensure that any settlement you accept will adequately cover the current and future costs such as lost income and medical expenses. They can also assist you to discover your options for pre-settlement funding or legal funding which can be used to cover the costs of your lawsuit while it is in the process of being resolved.
Your lawyer is also an expert negotiator who will negotiate with the party responsible to maximize the settlement. They are familiar with the types of evidence to gather and have access to documents such as black box data, drivers' logs, and GPS devices that can be used to demonstrate that the truck driver was negligent. They can also help identify other parties that could be responsible for the damages you have suffered, for instance, the owner or the employer of the truck.
Liability
Trucking accidents are among the most dangerous accidents on the road, and a crash with one of these huge vehicles could have devastating consequences. Since trucks weigh as much as 85,000 pounds, they generate massive force when they collision with other vehicles, and this can cause serious property damage and life-threatening injuries. A New York City semi accident lawyer can help victims of these accidents receive the compensation they are due.
While the driver of the semi-truck could be accountable in some instances, they are not always the sole person responsible for a crash. The trucking company they work for may also be liable in the event that they required the driver to meet deadlines within an unreasonable time frame or made a rash decision on maintenance and safety. The owners of trucks who leased them to a trucking company instead of owning them directly can be held responsible.
Evidence in a car crash case could come from multiple sources such as the police report and testimony from witnesses. Information about the history of driving of the driver of the truck and any prior traffic violations are also vital. In some cases an accident could be the result of a defective component, which would make the manufacturer responsible. An attorney can assist in pursuing product liability claims for these kinds of accidents.
Documenting jersey city semi truck accident lawyer of your damage is essential when making an insurance claim. This includes medical bills and other financial expenses and non-economic damages, which may include pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment. These damages are determined by how much your injuries had an impact on you, and the at-fault parties should be held accountable for them.
A New York City semi-accident lawyer who is knowledgeable can assist you in determining the person who is responsible for your injury or accident. They can collect evidence like witness statements and police reports and also examine the vehicles involved in the incident. Photos from the scene of the accident may be extremely useful, as can surveillance footage and expert testimony.
Time Limits
Semi-truck accidents can result in life-altering injuries. The victims of semi truck accidents often suffer from expensive medical bills, chronic pain and mental distress as well as loss of earning potential. Families who have lost a loved one in a fatal crash typically suffer from loneliness, grief, and other forms of emotional trauma.
Insurance adjusters are aware that claimants may be struggling financially after a tragic truck accident but they should not exploit vulnerable individuals. Instead, victims should hire an attorney who understands the complexities of these cases and how to maximize settlement value.
A skilled lawyer for truck accidents will help clients gather evidence of the legal damages that are compensable. This may include submitting evidence such as medical bills, pharmacy receipts and payments, mortgage and car loans, home cleaning invoices and medical reports. Legal professionals may also speak with victims' physicians to get a better understanding of the long-term effects of their injuries and enlist economic experts to calculate their expected future losses.
A Bronx trucking accident lawyer can determine the parties accountable for the damages. This typically means proving that a defendant breached their obligation of care. This could include failing conduct regular checks, or improperly loading cargo or securing it, violating the hours-of-service regulations, and other reckless actions.
Truck accidents can involve several different liable parties and each of them could have their own defenses against liability. For example the truck driver might be able to defend against accusations of negligence, asserting that they were in compliance with federal driving laws and only crashed due mechanical issues. In contrast, a trucking company could be held accountable for an accident if they fail to maintain their trucks and other vehicles or employed a negligent truck driver.
Certain states have strict laws that limit the time frame during which injured claimants are able to start an action. Insurance companies can offer lump-sum settlements to claimants who accept them. This could mean they will not be entitled to claim additional compensation. However a compassionate truck crash lawyer can help claimants get temporary financial relief without waiving their legal rights.