If you’ve sustained an injury in a truck accident, whether you were another vehicle’s driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, you might be entitled to receive injury compensation. You can file a legal claim against other involved parties, even if you might be partially liable.
Remember, accident liability can be very complex, so it might be in your best interest to retain an experienced attorney who’s conversant with truck accident cases.
Since truck drivers are frequently insured in the millions and different parties can be held liable for negligence, retaining a lawyer will help ensure they handle your case professionally. Here’s what you need to understand if you’re a victim of a truck accident.
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Determining Liability
Commercial trucking is a huge business, with more than 500,000 trucking companies in the United States. When it comes to looking into accidents, it isn’t merely about the truck’s driver. You must also consider the driver’s employer, the one who conducted truck maintenance, and the truck manufacturer.
Often, truck accidents involve numerous parties even if only two cars were involved. Beware that trucks are commercial cars, implying that liability frequently goes beyond the driver. Liable parties might include:
The driver’s employer
Employers are responsible for hiring qualified drivers. Therefore, they must ensure that all workers meet the legal prerequisites to drive a huge truck, undergo the relevant training, and are in good health.
Moreover, the employer should make sure that the driver doesn’t surpass the maximum driving hours and facilitate drug testing regularly. If the employer exhibits negligence or caused the driver to violate regulations, they might be accountable.
The parts or truck manufacturer
Common issues in a truck accident include brake problems, tire blowouts, and steering issues. Although some of these issues are due to poor maintenance, part and vehicle defects could result in an accident. When this occurs, the part or vehicle manufacturer might also hold financial responsibility.
Truck owner
The employer and truck’s owner might not be the same entity. At times, employers will lease or hire trucks from a different company. The company must therefore ensure the truck undergoes proper maintenance and is up to standard.
What Kind of Evidence Do I Need to Provide?
Evidence is a significant aspect of a personal injury case because it could help prove damages and fault. Some of this proof might be easily available at the scene, while other information might need cooperation from a 3rd party or a legal request. A personal injury lawyer from Oliveira Lawyers will have more access to data and information than you will. Some of the evidence your lawyer might request include:
Driver records
An incompetent driver is dangerous on the road. Criminal records, employment records, and DMV records could help establish whether the driver shouldn’t have been on the road.
Video surveillance
If there’s a question of fault, this evidence can be crucial. Traffic cameras or neighboring businesses might have a record of the accident.
Expert witnesses
At times, it’s useful to consult a professional in this field to elucidate injuries, an accident’s mechanics, and other factors. These professionals have restricted accessibility and impose charges. A personal injury lawyer can help locate competent witnesses and establish their worth to the case.
Medical Records
Your health records and those of the other driver can offer valuable information. An undisclosed medical condition might help explain the accident. Your former symptoms can also help explain post- accident symptoms.
If you’re contemplating whether you require a lawyer to process your lawsuit, it might be useful to comprehend what a lawyer does. While some vehicle accident cases can proceed without a lawyer, this is virtually never the case when it comes to truck accidents, which can be complex; they entail different regulations and frequently involve numerous parties.
Navigating this process alone can be burdensome and confusing. Moreover, accidents where trucks are involved can potentially inflict severe and life-threatening injuries. Hiring a competent and experienced lawyer will help you in these ways:
Proper Liability
Things can get complex with truck accidents, so you need a lawyer to help you establish the liable parties. If it’s an ordinary accident, the liable party will usually be the driver. With trucks, it could be the truck’s owner, driver, the vehicle’s manufacturer, malfunctioned parts, or even the leasing company.
Handling Negotiations
Liability can comprise numerous parties, which implies that your attorney will need to handle negotiations on various fronts to secure the deserved compensation. Hiring a lawyer who’s dealt with similar cases will help you win the case.
Proper Investigation
You wouldn’t want to hire an incompetent or inexperienced attorney to handle your investigation. You require somebody with the proper qualifications to perform a thorough investigation of all accessible evidence because that’s how you’ll receive proper compensation.
A professional lawyer from Oliveira Lawyers will conduct a background check, examine the insurance information, and inspect your car and the truck for any proof and other tasks that need experience and competence.
If you’re a victim of a truck accident, you need an experienced lawyer to take you through the litigation process and help you secure a deserving compensation. Contact us today for a consultation.