When truck accidents happen, they tend to leave victims with more serious injuries than those from other motor vehicle collisions. If you or a loved one were in a truck accident, the severe injuries experienced will result in a tidal wave of medical expenses, lost wages from being unable to work, and other financial tolls on your life.
Fortunately, personal injury law allows victims like you and your loved ones to seek justice and recover compensation by filing a truck accident case. Since truck accidents are quite complex, you won’t want to face the legal process alone while trying to heal from your injuries.
The Glendale truck accident attorneys at Wyatt Injury Law provide award-winning legal representation to injured victims in truck accidents. We are rated among the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers because we treat our injured clients with compassion and fight for fair compensation. Schedule a free consultation with our Glendale truck accident lawyers to learn about your legal options and how to move forward from this traumatic event.
Truck accident claims are much more complicated than a car accident or motorcycle accident claim. While you can handle a car crash without a car accident lawyer if you have minor injuries, a truck accident is different. There are federal laws and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that will apply and you will likely have more than one at-fault party that will owe you maximum compensation.
A personal injury lawyer or a truck accident lawyer is better equipped to help you through this difficult time in your life. The truck driver, trucking company, and insurance company will all be looking out for their best interests, and you should too.
Since most truck accidents tend to be devastating, you may not even realize you’ve been in a truck accident until you wake up in the hospital. Our Glendale truck accident lawyers can take action immediately and start investigating your case. With a truck accident lawyer, you will have someone who can gather evidence before it is destroyed and help you build a solid case to secure fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
When you’re in a commercial truck accident, it is essential to protect your legal rights and take the right steps. You’ll have a better chance of being fairly compensated when you choose Wyatt Injury Law to advocate for you in your personal injury case. We provide a free initial consultation to help you understand your options.
Many truck accidents are caused by errors made by truck drivers; however, they may not be the only ones responsible when semi-trucks crash. Take a look at some of the reasons why commercial trucks get in a trucking accident:
The danger of distracted driving doesn’t just affect the people driving regular vehicles. It is a deadly habit that truck drivers also engage in but it’s much worse when a collision with a semi-truck occurs. The massive height and weight of large trucks makes it far more dangerous when a truck driver is texting while driving or engaging in other distracted behaviors behind the wheel.
When cargo is not distributed properly in a truck, it can shift while in transit. All it takes is for big rigs to make sharp turns for the cargo to throw off the truck’s center of gravity and cause a devastating crash.
Some truck accidents are caused by an intoxicated truck driver. Trucking companies are supposed to have their drivers undergo regular drug and alcohol screenings to make sure they are not a danger to other drivers on the road.
The FMCSA regulates the hours of service a trucker can be on the road and mandates a time period for taking breaks. Some commercial drivers may feel pressure to keep driving and violate the hours of service. When a truck driver is exhausted, their reaction time may be delayed or they may fall asleep behind the wheel.
Driving a large truck, especially one that is hauling hazardous materials, requires proper licensing and training. Due to the trucking industry experiencing exponential growth, the demand for truckers has caused a huge demand for drivers. Some companies will hire anyone who is willing to drive a semi-truck without giving them the proper training.
Smaller vehicles are in danger when they’re on the roads with trucks, even when the driver behind the wheel has years of experience. Truck accidents may happen due to lack of maintenance and inspections, faulty or defective parts, foul weather, or because of neglected roads. No matter the cause of your commercial truck accident, a truck accident attorney can help file your injury claim and pursue compensation. Contact our law firm today to find out more about how we can help you with personal injury matters like truck accidents.
One of the worst things about truck accidents is that they have more potential to cause catastrophic injuries. These injuries may leave you with permanent damage, shattering your ability to work in your normal capacity or enjoy the things you once loved.
Some of the injuries that are most often caused by accidents with commercial vehicles include:
If you were injured in an accident with a large truck, contact our law firm to speak with an experienced attorney. We will help you get compensation for spinal cord injuries and all other injuries, guiding you every step of the way in your personal injury claim.
Before you can secure compensation for your medical bills and other expenses, you will need to determine liability to hold the responsible party accountable for your damages. Accidents with trucks often have many liable parties that can be named in a lawsuit.
Drivers are responsible for operating their trucks in a safe manner on the roads. If a truck driver has engaged in illegal or negligent behavior while behind the wheel, they will be held responsible for the accident.
Trucking companies are also named in lawsuits for truck accidents. They usually have liability because they employ the truckers and they must abide by federal and state laws.
As previously mentioned, the shipping companies or those responsible for loading cargo can bear some of the liability in a truck accident.
Local and state government entities may also come under fire if they were found to be negligent in maintaining the roads or signage.
The manufacturer of the truck or its equipment may be held liable if an investigation reveals that the truck or its parts had defects.
Trucks and their drivers may not be the main reason for an accident. When the driver of another vehicle cuts in front of a truck or causes an accident, the trucker may not be able to stop in time.
No matter how many parties are liable, our law firm will work diligently to ensure you are awarded a fair amount for your injuries and damages. In truck accidents, our extensive experience and compassion for victims sets us apart in Glendale.
In those first moments after a truck accident, the steps you take are integral to protecting your legal rights. Make sure you call the police first to get them to the scene of the accident. They will create a police report and conduct an investigation, and calling 911 also ensures that paramedics are notified.
The next step may be the most important, and that is to make sure you get medical treatment, even if you do not believe you are injured. Many injuries do not have obvious signs, and adrenaline can further mask any symptoms. Delaying treatment can cause issues with the insurance company that represents the trucking company, which will likely try to claim your injuries either aren’t that serious or that they happened after the accident.
In most of these scenarios, the victims we represent call our law firm from the hospital. We can have an attorney visit you there, or you can schedule a free consultation when you are released. There is no obligation to hire an attorney but it is strongly advised that you work with competent legal counsel who can take over all the paperwork and make sure your lawsuit is filed within the time limit.
The statute of limitations for truck accidents applies to lawsuits that are filed, not for filing a claim with the insurer or reporting this event to your insurer. You must let your insurer know of the wreck as soon as possible, and when you file a claim with the trucking insurer, it’s best to act quickly.
These entities will require time to investigate and determine liability. Before you know it, the statute of limitations for filing your case, which is two years from the date of the incident, will be ticking away. You should be focused on healing from your injuries rather than taking on more stress.
Wyatt Injury Law is here for you and is dedicated to working for the best possible outcome. Contact us today to set up a free initial consultation to discuss your truck accident.
