The Aftermath: What to Expect After a Truck Accident

In the aftermath of a truck accident, victims are often uncertain about the future and what steps to take. In many cases, truck accident injuries cause victims to lose wages and spend money on medical treatment. Victims are typically under a lot of stress, both from these financial pressures and from spending time and energy on treatment and recovery. Contacting an attorney can help victims understand what to expect after a truck accident, and start down the road to recovering compensation.

 Contacting a Truck Accident Attorney

An experienced truck accident attorney is knowledgeable about the different laws surrounding truck accidents, and will be able to provide victims with case-specific advice. Most truck accident lawsuits are filed against the company that hired the truck driver. In many cases, these companies are large corporations with extensive resources to defend their case.

An attorney is helpful in handling claims against large corporations by helping provide clients with the resources needed to file against corporations. There may also be statute of limitations laws that come into play, limiting the amount of time that a victim has to file a lawsuit against the trucking company. An attorney can help to gather the evidence and file a claim within the necessary time frame for the particular jurisdiction in which the accident occurred.

Truck Accident Lawsuits

Due to the weight and size of tractor trailers, truck accidents often cause severe injuries. After treating injuries, claims will usually be filed against the victim’s health insurance and PIP insurance, if applicable. However, these types of insurance usually do not completely cover the cost of treatment needed for injuries such as head trauma, paralysis, and spinal cord damage. To recover additional compensation for treatment, a truck accident attorney may have to negotiate with insurance companies or file a lawsuit against the trucking company.

Negligence Lawsuits

Most truck accident lawsuits are based on proving the truck driver or company’s negligence. Negligent actions that may cause a truck accident include failing to obey traffic laws, failing to stop at weigh stations, overloading the vehicle, and driving for longer than is legally allowed without taking a break.

Product Liability Lawsuits

If a truck accident was caused by a flaw or malfunction of the truck or a truck part, a product liability lawsuit may be filed against the manufacturer of the truck or part. These types of lawsuits may be more difficult to prove, and often require the testimony of an expert. An attorney will be invaluable in acquiring the evidence necessary to file this type of claim, as the burden of proving that the truck or part was unreasonably dangerous even when the truck was being operated and maintained as intended will fall on the plaintiff.