If you suffered injuries and financial damages in an accident with a negligent truck driver or trucking company, you could have the right to sue. A Clearwater personal injury lawyer can advise you on your legal rights and the next best steps. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today and speak to one of our team members about your truck accident.
Types of Truck Accidents
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), accidents with trucks often happen due to driver error and driver-related causes, including:
- Driving intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
Other reasons for accidents with trucks can include vehicle defects, incorrectly loaded cargo, or lack of vehicle servicing and maintenance.
While there can be a number of different types of truck accidents, one thing they have in common is that those in passenger vehicle cars are at a distinct disadvantage in crashes with large and powerful vehicles. Most of the fatalities in truck accidents are those of passenger vehicle occupants, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Accident types can include but are not limited to:
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Side-swipe and T-bone accidents
Determining Negligence in Truck Accidents
Truck accident cases can be much more complex and challenging than car accident cases. While those who experienced an accident with a truck may think the driver is always to blame, responsibility for a truck accident can potentially fall on several parties. While this can complicate matters for those seeking legal recourse, truck accident victims could potentially pursue several avenues for compensation.
A truck accident lawyer knows how to get to the bottom of a truck accident and can find out who is responsible. Negligent parties in a truck accident can include, among others:
The Truck Driver
Truck accidents can frequently happen due to the carelessness or negligence of a driver. Hence, the driver typically plays some part in an accident and may at least be partly responsible. A driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving at excessive speed, could be at fault for your accident.
The Trucking Company
The trucking company tends to have overall responsibility for vehicles, drivers, and other operational aspects. If a company has been conducting negligent hiring practices or failed to service and maintain trucks to an adequate standard, you could potentially hold them to account for your damages. In some cases, companies may be negligent when falsifying logbook entries, encouraging drivers to forego mandated rest times, or pressuring drivers into unrealistic schedules.
A Vehicle Manufacturer
If your accident happened due to a defective truck, a manufacturer could be responsible. This can be the case when a defective truck part caused an accident.
A Third-Party Contractor
Some trucking companies outsource parts of their business operations, such as the maintenance of vehicles, driver training, or cargo loading. Therefore, in some instances, a negligent third-party company could be responsible for a truck accident.
Since truck accident claims can be complicated and tricky to understand, having a lawyer by your side can be advantageous. A truck accident lawyer knows the laws and regulations for companies and drivers and can determine all the liable parties in your accident. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for legal advice.
Protecting Your Rights After a Truck Accident
If you were involved in a truck accident, the most important thing to do afterward, other than getting medical help, is to start protecting your legal rights at once. Some steps that can help with protecting your rights can include:
Seeing a Doctor
If you did not get any medical attention at the accident scene, consider seeing a doctor as soon as possible. You may wish to do so even if you are only suffering from minor symptoms such as a headache. There are conditions, some of which can be serious, that may not show symptoms in the days after an accident. You will also need a medical report detailing your injuries and treatments if you want to hold the at-fault party to account for damages.
Collecting Evidence
Pictures or videos of the accident can provide excellent evidence if you intend to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. If you collected any other material, such as witnesses’ contact details, accident reports, receipts of any expenses, and medical reports, keep the documents safe and provide them to your truck accident lawyer.
Hire a Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer
Ultimately, if you are thinking about suing the negligent party, hiring a lawyer can be a great choice for protecting your legal rights. It is never too early to seek legal advice and guidance from a personal injury lawyer who can get to work right away and help you in several important ways:
- Protect your legal rights and offer advice
- Prevent any insurance companies from taking advantage of you
- Assess your damages and losses comprehensively
- Gather important evidence
- Arrange for expert witness testimony
- Build your case against the responsible party
- Represent you in court
Truck accidents can be challenging to handle, and there could be several liable parties, making such claims potentially lengthy and complex.
Results of Truck Accidents in Clearwater
Truck accidents often result in severe consequences for everyone involved in the collision. However, drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles—or pedestrians walking on the road—generally take the brunt of these accidents.
Our team works to help you handle:
Injuries Caused By Truck Accidents
In many cases, truck accidents leave you dealing with serious injuries. We recommend that you seek healthcare immediately after an accident. In some cases, you may even need to call an ambulance to get the care you need.
These accidents often cause:
- Head and brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Back or spine injuries, including paralysis
- Internal injuries, such as damage to your organs
- Broken bones or fractures
- Cuts, burns, and soft tissue injuries
Depending upon the severity of your injuries, you may need extensive medical care, including rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Time Off at Work
In many cases, you may be unable to return to work due to the severity of your injuries. In this situation, we monitor the amount of time you have to take off, focusing on the pay that you miss during your recovery.
Severe accidents may even leave you with a disability that prevents you from returning to your prior career. In this situation, we may help you secure damages to cover your lost earning capacity. Find out more by reaching out to us today.
Damage to Your Vehicle
A large commercial vehicle could damage or even demolish passenger vehicles in Clearwater. We can assess the losses associated with having your vehicle repaired or replaced, helping you get back on the road again.
Get Professional Help and Protection After a Truck Accident
You don’t have to try to handle a truck accident claim in Clearwater on your own. Our team believes in offering you responsive care throughout the entirety of your case. We provide you with regular updates and offer answers to any questions you have.
Let Us Deal with Insurance Agents
Insurance agents often reach out to drivers after truck accidents. Representatives for the trucking company or the trucker may try to blame you for the accident or underestimate the severity of your injuries.
Allow us to handle communicating with insurance agents to protect the strength of your claim. We also review all offers made by insurance agents to ensure they cover your losses in an appropriate way.
Your Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer Can Handle Your Claim
Why struggle with a complicated and stressful lawsuit on your own when you could have the legal protection and help of a truck accident lawyer? The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can go the extra mile and take care of your claim while you can concentrate on getting better.
If you suffered injuries and material damage in an accident with a truck, you should not have to deal with the consequences and expenses on your own. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review to determine whether you have a claim at 1-800-747-3733.
We Can Help.
