Category Archives: Big rig collisions

Been In a Truck Accident? You Need an Attorney Stat and Here’s Why

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Wrongful death attorney

Semi truck accidents and accidents in the trucking industry at large can be caused by any number of factors. Whether it’s driving too fast, an overtired driver, or the sheer size of their vehicle versus other vehicles on the road, unfortunately around 98% of all semi-truck accidents yield at least one fatality. Given that a semi-truck weighs an average of 80,000 pounds and a car weighs around 5,000 pounds, this isn’t totally surprising. But what happens if you or your loved one is in a semi truck accident that leaves you or loved one with serious injuries or if the accident causes a death? It’s natural that you would want recompense for the emotional and physical injuries sustained. The best step is to get in touch with a truck wreck attorney and see how he or she can assist you.

What are Some of the Reasons That Trucking Accidents Occur?

Commercial truckers on the road face a lot of pressure to make deadlines and move cargo. However, lots can happen on the road: bad weather, traffic jams, a flat tire, and more, that can set a trucker behind schedule. When that happens, they’re often pressed to make up for that “lost time,” which can lead to unsafe driving conditions. According to the United States Department of Transportation, almost a quarter of semi-truck accidents were because a driver was driving too fast for the road conditions. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that almost 15% of truck accidents were because of driver fatigue.

In other cases, truck drivers can be at risk for the same sorts of things regular drivers are prone to. Bad weather conditions or distracted or aggressive driving can all lead to accidents. Unfortunately, since trucks tend to be much larger and heavier than the average vehicle, this often means the scale of the accident is much bigger as well.

What are the Steps if I’m In a Truck Accident?

Make sure everyone is safe. If it’s clear that there are serious injuries, call 911 immediately before doing anything else. Follow basic first aid training until emergency personnel are on site. If at all possible, make sure evidence of the accident is collected, such as skid marks, scuffs, and even parts of the vehicles themselves, if they’re totaled.

Likely, you will have to exchange information, such as insurance information and contact information, especially if serious injuries or deaths occur. If you’re hiring a personal injury lawyer or a more specialized truck wreck attorney, you want to make sure they have all the information they need. No one should leave the site unless cleared to do so by the authorities.

If there’s been a wrongful death or severe injuries, it’s in your best interests to employ a truck wreck attorney as your defense. They’ll help level the playing field and make sure that the right paperwork is filed and that your case is as strong as possible.

Why Should I Look Into Hiring a Truck Wreck Attorney?

Truck wreck attorneys have better access and resources to making sure that your case is strong. Preservationists, for example, may be retained to collect evidence from the scene before it vanishes due to traffic or weather conditions. They’ll know the ins and outs of the legal responsibilities and obligations — and know what the other party’s responsibilities are as well, which can help if you’re claiming they’ve shirked those responsibilities.

A truck wreck attorney is also working off prior experience as well and will know what’s in your best interests. In some cases, mediation or arbitration might be the way to go; in other cases, you may want to take it into court. Having someone at your side who is experienced, knowledgeable, and levelheaded throughout the process can make it all much easier.

If you’ve been in a truck accident, don’t delay. Get in touch with an attorney immediately to see what the next steps are that you should take.

What You Need to Know About Wrongful Death Cases

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Accidents in the trucking industry

Dealing with bereavement of a loved is one painful experience and it’s even more anguishing if the loss is as a result of another party’s negligence or ill doing. In these situations, having a wrongful death attorney representation is often the best move for the family. Not only will you find closure and justice through this legal backing, but also receive financial compensation. A wrongful death claim allows representative on behalf of the deceased’s family to file a lawsuit against the party at fault.

Wrongful death claims stem from different situations such as surgery and medical malpractice, reckless driving, careless or ignorance act among others. Whatever the cause of death, if it’s determined that the death could be avoided, you have a viable claim. Research shows that there are about 6 million car accidents and 3 million injuries in the United States every year. While some victims may survive with either minor or severe injuries, those who die require justice, which is only possible with the assistance of a wrongful death attorney.

When looking to hire a lawyer, ensure they are experienced with this kind of case by asking the right questions. What are some of their achievements and success stories in similar cases? What strategies are they going to use to guarantee you justice and maximum benefits? Since wrongful death cases are often complex and involves rigorous court processes, attorney’s experience is an indispensable requirement. However, filing a wrongful death claim varies with state. The more close you are to the deceased is what will determine if your case is valid or not. In almost every state, spouses are allowed to collect wrongful damages on behalf of each other. Other states allow parents of minors to seek wrongful death legal action on behalf of their children. Over the years this matter has attracted mixed reactions as to how related one must be with the deceased to have a viable claim. But provided your wrongful death lawyer can prove that you depending on the deceased for financial support, whether related or not, then you stand a chance of receiving damages.

While there is no particular amount that can ever be equated to the life of a person, a wrongful death attorney seeks to help family and survivors find closure and financial security after the death of their loved one. So you should note that there are two types of wrongful death damages when filing this claim, noneconomic and economic. Economic benefits are monetary compensations awarded due to lost earnings, loss of money or other expenses such as medical and funeral costs. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are benefits given to cover other non-monetary related losses and injuries like pain, suffering, loss of care, loss of love and companionship and more.

Wrongful death damages are not entitled to family members only, but also any bystander present at the time of death. In limited circumstances, you can seek compensation for the emotional and psychological stress caused by the death of your loved one. This is common, especially for children, siblings and parents who witnessed the loss of their loved one. However, executing this claim requires the expertise of a skilled wrongful death attorney who’s able to define your exact claims. In some situations, you can be eligible for to receive double damages.

In conclusion, depending on the state, there is usually a timeline when you can file for wrongful death claims. Some states will limit the duration to two years while others expect you to make not exceed five years from the date of the act. Should you find yourself in such as position, it’s important you seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to avoid losing your privilege to financial settlements.