According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a total of 4,136 individuals lost their lives in large truck crashes in 2018 alone. Sixteen percent were truck occupants, 67 percent were occupants in cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were either motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists.
Truck accidents happen frequently and are often the result of negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company. Drivers don't always follow government standards and regulations for rest periods. They are sometimes distracted or going too fast for conditions. Trucking companies may not provide proper maintenance for their fleet.
A skilled truck accident attorney can determine what and who caused your truck accident. More often than not, they can fairly settle your claim outside of court.
Do You Have a Truck Accident Case?
If you were injured in a truck accident, you or your truck accident attorney must be able to prove several points to obtain compensation. The party at-fault for your accident must have breached a duty, and you must have suffered damages. Without these two elements, there's not a valid claim.
Breach of a Duty
Truck drivers have the duty to drive safely, following not only the rules of the road but also the government-imposed standards for their industry. If the driver doesn't follow these rules or standards, they have breached their duty and are negligent.
Injuries and Damages
Negligence by itself doesn't give an injury claim merit. In addition, you must suffer a physical injury. Your injuries must cause you to incur provable damages. These can be economic such as medical expenses or lost wages, or non-economic, such as pain and suffering or loss of consortium.
Who Is Liable for Your Accident?
Those liable in a truck accident case might include any or all of the following individuals or parties:
The truck driver
Other drivers
Government entities responsible for road maintenance and conditions
The manufacturer of the truck or its parts
The trucking company
If there are multiple parties liable for your damages, they can all be held accountable for paying you fair compensation. Your truck accident lawyer will perform their own investigation to find out who is liable.
This may include interviewing witnesses, video camera footage, photographs, or even accident reconstruction in some cases.
Call an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Suffering injuries and damages in a truck accident weren't in your plans; however, calling with an experienced truck accident attorney should be. An attorney can stand up for your rights as a victim and may be able to get a full and fair settlement in your case, thereby avoiding a lengthy and stressful trial.
As an injured party in a truck accident claim, you might have many unanswered questions and some uncertainty. A lawyer from Salam & Associates can answer your pressing questions and help protect your legal rights and options. Contact us online at www.salampc.com or [email protected] to schedule a free case review today.