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Truck accidents are terrible for all parties involved, as they can be extremely dangerous and cause several deaths. Therefore, anyone who suffers these accidents is entitled to financial compensation and should hire a Florissant truck accident lawyer to handle their case and ensure they get the justice they deserve.
The Powell Law Firm has incredible truck accident lawyers willing to help anyone who may need legal representation after a serious truck accident so that victims can focus on recovering instead of having to deal with the tedious legal process of these claims.
How Are Truck Accidents Different From Car Accidents?
Truck accidents aren't as simple as car accidents, as many more factors intervene when creating the case. The first and most obvious difference is the size of the car, which can be up to 20 times heavier than any other regular vehicle. Moreover, trucks must follow certain federal regulations to prevent accidents, which is why these cases tend to cause a much bigger mess than any other car accident.
One of these regulations forbids drivers from being on the road for more than 11 consecutive hours, which could cause fatigue and terrible accidents. Still, many companies force their drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines, so they end up ignoring this rule.
Moreover, other key aspects of truck accidents are the following.
Several parties can be held liable for the accident, unlike car accidents where only one or two parties are involved. Some possible liable parties other than the drivers are the trucking company, the truck manufacturers, and the loading company.
Insurance companies may try to save much more money, as truck accidents involve much larger expenses, so victims are prone to be manipulated by them.
Victims tend to suffer more severe injuries that can cause permanent disability and even wrongful death.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident Case
Since truck accidents involve several liable parties, one of the first things that need to be done is to identify who is at fault for the accident. This is going to determine who is going to be held accountable for their actions and who should pay for the victim's losses.
One common scenario is trucking companies not paying attention to their contractors and vehicles, which makes them ignore federal regulations and causes accidents. Moreover, the truck can also break down on the road due to manufacturing errors or lack of maintenance. In those cases, all liable parties must pay financial compensation to both the truck driver and the other vehicle's driver. Otherwise, they could face legal repercussions.
Building a Compelling Case
In order to win a truck accident claim, the plaintiff must create a strong case against the other party. However, doing this isn't easy, and only experienced truck accident lawyers know how to do it properly by following these steps.
The first thing that needs to be done is collect all relevant evidence, such as police reports, the numbers of eyewitnesses, photos, videos, and anything else that could help the case.
Truck accident victims must also gather all their medical records and bills, as this is going to help them determine fair compensation for their losses.
The attorney then must identify all liable parties and exchange insurance information with them.
Then, the negotiation process may begin. In the best-case scenario, the claim may be easily settled by both parties involved. However, in other cases, the case may have to be taken to court.
This is a tiring process that truck accident lawyers should manage, especially if the victims are facing other issues such as injuries or rehabilitation.
Proving Your Truck Accident Case
Proving liability for these cases is crucial for truck accident victims to get the compensation they deserve. However, this can be a bit complicated, as the plaintiff is going to have to prove the following aspects of negligence.
The liable party must owe the victim a duty of care. One example is the duty of care to drive carefully or follow federal regulations.
Then, there must be proof that the duty of care was breached and caused physical or material losses. These losses can be economical or not, which is why victims must speak with a lawyer from a truck accident law firm in St Louis who knows how to calculate fair compensation for all of their losses.
How Can Truck Accident Attorneys Help Me With My Case?
Hiring reliable truck accident injury attorneys can help make the whole legal process much more straightforward, as they have the needed knowledge and expertise to take care of the case. They can collect all information and conduct investigations to gather evidence and strengthen the case. Moreover, they can also take care of all tedious processes and paperwork while negotiating with the other party's insurance company.
Therefore, all victims should hire an experienced law firm that can intervene quickly and efficiently. Powell Law Firm offers free consultation services for all truck accident cases.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
An interesting perk of hiring a Florissant truck accident lawyer is that they work on a contingency fee basis, meaning the victim must only pay if they win the case. This makes it possible for anyone to get reliable legal representation, no matter their social or economic status.
Truck accident cases are devastating, especially if the victim got hurt or suffered wrongful death. Therefore, Florissant truck accident lawyers are there to help them seek justice for their injuries and losses.
What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Several things can cause truck accidents, but all of them can cause terrible injuries and other consequences for the victim. Big trucks can be deadly due to their height and weight, so it is essential to be aware of the following common truck accident causes.
Negligent or reckless driving
Putting an unqualified truck driver behind the wheel
Ignoring federal and state laws
Lack of training for the truck drivers
Forgetting to do maintenance to the trucks
Unsafe roads
Manufacturing errors
How Is Compensation Determined Following a Truck Accident?
Another essential aspect of truck accident cases is determining how much money the victim should get. An experienced lawyer can easily calculate this by adding up all the injuries and losses suffered by the victim. Some things that need to be considered are lost wages, permanent or temporary disability, medical bills, and possible funeral costs.
However, these damages can be classified into the following categories.
Economic damages include all financial losses experienced due to the accident, such as medical expenses, repair costs, funeral costs, and lost wages.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, refer to the pain and suffering, mental anguish, and any other emotional loss that the victim may suffer.
Punitive damages are rare but may be awarded if the defendant acted maliciously. These damages are meant to punish the defendant and prevent them from doing something similar in the future.
The truth is that insurance companies rarely cover all of these losses, so it is essential to hire a qualified lawyer who can negotiate with the other party and settle the claim as quickly as possible.
Truck Crashes Due to Unlawful Hiring Practices
Truck accidents are extremely common in Florissant, MO, so federal and state governments demand strict regulations to be followed by trucking companies. These regulations include several hiring and driving procedures that must be followed to prevent accidents. Moreover, hiring a personal injury lawyer who knows how to use these regulations to prove the other party's negligence is key.
When reviewing these regulations, some things to consider are broken tire treads, breaks or axles, the driver's background, criminal record, and employment history.
Nationwide Truck Crash Statistics
Truck accidents in the US are deadly due to several factors, so it is crucial to know how much it affects people nationwide. The following are stats from a study conducted by the American Department of Transportation and Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
Most wrongful deaths caused by trucking accidents are suffered by people in the passenger seat.
Only 16% of the total deadly victims in 2019 were truck drivers, 67% were people in other vehicles, and 15% were pedestrians.
Truck crashes cause 11% of motor vehicle deaths in the country.
Most truck crashes happen on major roads, interstates, and freeways.
Truck accidents cause 27% of fatal work accidents.
What Is the Truck Black Box?
Many people aren't aware of the existence of truck black boxes. These databases contain all relevant information about the crash, such as the truck's speed, tire pressure, etc. This is meant to be used as evidence to confirm a party's liability, which is why lawyers must act fast enough to obtain this data.
Still, "black box" is a term for electronic devices that recollect this information. All commercial trucks must report this information to the NHTSA, which is why they must have some sort of device to preserve technical data.
5 Reasons to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
Hiring a truck accident lawyer is essential for victims who just suffered a truck crash, especially if they were injured and wish to get well soon. However, the following are the main reasons anyone should hire a lawyer after a truck accident.
Trucks and Trucking Companies Are Huge
Trucks are up to 20 times bigger than regular cars, and truck crashes cause terrible consequences to everyone involved, which is why trucking companies tend to be appropriately insured to avoid being sued after an accident. However, insurance companies are experts in negotiating, so they tend to persuade victims into accepting a much lower settlement than they should.
You can avoid this by hiring an expert lawyer who knows all of these tricks and isn't afraid of confronting the insurance company's lawyers.
The Insurance Company Might Not Offer a Fair Compensation
Victims must be aware that anything they say or do can be used against them, which is why they must prevent themselves from talking to the other party's lawyers or signing anything. Insurance companies know how to gather the needed information to avoid paying as much money as they should.
In most cases, these companies are going to send a settlement amount to the victim for them to sign and accept. However, victims mustn't do this without first talking to their lawyer and ensuring they've properly negotiated their settlement.
Lawyers Know What to Say at All Times
Victims are going to have to talk with many people after a truck accident, which can get a bit overwhelming considering the entire situation. Sometimes traumatic events make people forget details of the events, which is why it is crucial to hire a lawyer who knows everything about the case and isn't going to hesitate when talking to the other parties.
This is going to prevent the victim from getting manipulated by the other party and may give them peace of mind, as they are going to be able to take care of their injuries without worrying about tough calls and conversations.
There Might Be More to the Story Than Just a Mistake by the Truck Driver
Truck drivers can be the cause of the accident if they act recklessly or negligently, but in most cases, there's something else behind that story. This is why lawyers must investigate all aspects of the case before determining liability. That way, they can build a strong case against the party at fault, which can sometimes be the trucking company or the truck's manufacturers.
Still, only professional lawyers can gather the needed evidence to prove this while also ensuring they meet all deadlines, so they don't miss the chance of getting financial compensation. Moreover, in some cases, victims can file claims against several parties at once.
A Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Can Help Recover Non-economic Damages
Sometimes, the trucking company is going to try to be fair and pay for the victim's medical bills, but this is only part of the damages they should be compensated for. Most people fail to measure how badly they were affected, and a Florissant truck accident lawyer can help them calculate their losses.
In most cases, the final amount is much higher than the money offered by the insurance company, as they consider other factors such as disability and lost wages. Moreover, plaintiffs can also get compensated for non-economical losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and emotional distress. However, the amount that can be awarded for non-economic losses is usually capped in most states.
Qualities to Look for in a Truck Accident Lawyer
Finding a good attorney can be tough, as there are several inexperienced lawyers out there. However, victims who want to put their justice in good hands should look for the following characteristics when searching for a lawyer.
Experience in Handling Truck Accident Claims
A good truck accident lawyer must have an extensive background in similar cases. They may also handle other cases, but it is important to find a lawyer who has previously worked in truck accident claims.
This means they thoroughly understand everything needed to build a solid case and win it. Moreover, they are going to be able to explain the whole process to their client and manage themselves with confidence.
They must be familiar with the statute of limitations, so they don't miss the chance of getting compensated. If they've worked in simial cases before, this shouldn't be a problem.
Success Rate
Another great indicator of good truck accident attorneys is their success rate. Most of them keep track of this to tell their clients about it to gain their trust. It is usually calculated by how many cases they win and lose. Still, another great way to ensure the lawyer is reliable is by asking for references from previous clients.
Willingness to Work Toward a Settlement
Lawyers must work hard and not accept the insurance company's first offer. It is their job to help their client get a much higher settlement. Therefore, it is a huge red flag if they insist on taking the first low-ball offering.
Car accident cases take time, and personal injury lawyers must be willing to dedicate enough time and effort to each case.
Trial Experience
In some cases, the truck accident claim is going to be taken to court, which is why the lawyer must be willing to defend their client's claim no matter what. Moreover, if they have previous trial experience, they are going to know how to confidently manage themselves in the courtroom and convince the jury.
Caseload
The final aspect that needs to be considered is the lawyer's caseload, as they must dedicate considerable time to each case. Therefore, finding a lawyer with a moderate caseload is going to ensure they can put enough time and effort into each case, especially if they need to go to trial.
Other Florissant Practice Areas
Bottom Line
Victims who suffer truck accident injuries already have enough on their plates to worry about legal procedures and paperwork. Therefore, the Powell Law Firm and its fantastic attorneys are always happy to help anyone who needs to bring justice to a situation.