Accidents involving trucks are more likely to lead to serious car damages and personal injuries -- even death -- so if you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, you'll want to speak to a truck accident attorney. Here are five good reasons why:
Immediately following an accident, trucking companies will send investigators out to determine what happened. If possible, they will want to pin the accident on the driver of the car the truck hit.
It's important that you do not give any statements to the trucking company's investigators or sign off on any medical or other releases. The trucking companies will have their own lawyers. When you have a trucking accident lawyer, he can preserve your rights, so you can pursue the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
Trucking laws are complicated. Because trucks often travel across state lines, both state and federal laws govern truck safety. For example, federal laws dictate how much insurance a truck must carry depending on the type of materials it hauls. They also require drivers to keep sleep logs so you can find out how much rest a trucker gets before driving an 18-wheeler.
State laws govern how fast trucks may go and also how much sleep a driver must get.
Truck accident lawyers are versed in all the laws that dictate how a truck operates. Having a lawyer who has represented other victims of trucking accidents can be the smartest thing you do following a truck accident.
Besides the driver, the trucking company may be to blame if it overworked its drivers or didn't maintain the trucks according to state laws. Or, the company may claim the driver was not on company time or was merely a contractor, not an employee.
Further still, if a part on the truck failed, your lawyer may be able to prove the part's manufacturer was to blame in a product liability lawsuit.
With all these different parties assigning blame to others, it's important to have a truck accident attorney to sort it all out and go after the person or company most responsible for your injuries and car damages.
Having a knowledgeable accident lawyer means you have someone who knows where to look for evidence to show you are a victim deserving of compensation. For example, your lawyer could examine:
Most truck accident lawyers are willing to discuss your potential lawsuit at a first meeting called an initial consultation. They often will not charge for this meeting. Learn more about questions to ask your truck accident attorney.
At an initial consultation, you can discuss the circumstances and facts of your accident. The lawyers you meet will offer feedback about the strength of your case and how likely it is that you will prevail.
You can also use this time to decide whether this is the right truck accident lawyer for you.
Because many personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning they will take a percentage of any settlement or award you receive, you can be sure they will only recommend a lawsuit if it makes financial sense for both you and the attorney.