Truck drivers have a great responsibility to other motorists, but not all truck drivers follow the laws and regulations. As a result, semi-trucks are responsible for thousands of accidents every year. Some semi-trucks carry hazardous materials that increase the risk of severe injuries if an accident occurs.
With so many people relying on the roads to commute to work, it takes only one negligent or overworked truck driver to cause an accident, instantly changing your life. If you were injured in an accident, our Hialeah semi-truck accident lawyers can handle your case. You just focus on getting better.
Types of Damages a Lawyer May Recover for You
If a lawyer can prove that the other party was liable for the accident, you can recover various damages, such as:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Lost wages
- Loss of consortium
How Our Hialeah Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a semi-truck accident in Hialeah, you want to ensure that your case is in the best hands possible. Since semi-trucks are usually insured in the millions, and their accidents can involve more than one liable party, having a Hialeah truck accident lawyer by your side ensures that your case is handled professionally.
The following are some of the legal services that we provide during your case:
- Gathering and analyzing all the necessary documents that can help the case, including police reports, medical records, medical bills, and insurance policy information
- Reviewing camera footage and interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining data from the semi-truck driver’s Electronic Control Module (EMC)
- Examining the available evidence to determine the cause of the accident and establish liability
- Filing an insurance claim on your behalf
- Negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance companies
- Representing you in court if your case goes to trial
What to Do After a Semi-Truck Accident in Hialeah
Understandably, many people find themselves in a state of shock and confusion. However, immediately after a semi-truck accident, it would be best to call the police and emergency medical workers to the scene to help with injuries and burns. When the police arrive at the location, they will record statements from all the people involved, including witnesses.
The police will also take pictures and gather any other materials used as evidence in the case. If you’re not severely injured, you’ll also want to document all the essential details about the accident. If you have a camera, it would be best to take pictures and record videos of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle. This way, you’ll document everything the police might have missed.
After getting a copy of the police report, you should proceed to contact a Hialeah semi-truck accident lawyer. Your lawyer will investigate and gather all the relevant evidence regarding your case. This way, your lawyer can begin working on your case immediately. The lawyer will also advise you on the steps to take after the accident to protect your rights.
How Semi-Truck Accidents Differ From Other Auto Accidents
Since semi-trucks are to-heavy, the accidents they cause are pretty different from other auto accidents in various ways. Some differences to be aware of include:
Larger Insurance Policies
Semi-truck drivers’ insurance policies are much bigger than your typical car insurance policy. In many cases, semi-truck drivers’ insurance policies tend to be 50 times more prominent than small car insurance policies. This puts the total value of insurance of most semi-trucks you see in Hialeah in the millions.
Therefore, insurance adjusters will do anything possible to ensure that the liability of the accident falls on your shoulders or is significantly reduced. These insurance adjusters will even go a step further to offer you a seemingly-large payout, especially if they know your claim is worth much more.
Liability
When an accident involving two cars happens, determining liability is usually straightforward. For instance, if one car rear-ends another, the driver at the back is responsible for the accident. This is not the case with semi-trucks.
When a semi-truck accident happens, there could be multiple liable parties, including a negligent truck driver, trucking company owner, the people who loaded the vehicle, and the semi-truck manufacturer. If more than one party is involved, it means that you might also have to deal with several insurance companies. This ends up complicating the claim process if you lack legal representation.
Severe Injuries
Due to their massive size and weight, semi-truck accidents usually result in severe injuries that require intensive medical care. A semi-truck accident can easily lead to whiplash, broken bones, severe lacerations, head injuries, brain trauma, among other injuries.
Greater Chance of Death
An accident involving a semi-truck is more likely to result in fatalities than that involving passenger vehicles. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were over 4,000 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2019.
The Cost of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Semi-Truck Accident Claim
Our semi-truck accident lawyers in Hialeah work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t have to worry about raising money to pay us up front. This makes it possible for anyone involved in a semi-truck accident to hire legal representation without risking further losses.
Common Injuries Caused By Semi-Truck Accidents
Victims of semi-truck accidents suffer from various injuries that may impact their daily lives. Some common injuries include:
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns and scarring
- Head and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Contact The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to Learn More
If you’ve been injured in a semi-truck accident in Hialeah, you deserve to be fairly compensated by a liable party. Reach out to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to learn more about your legal options and the types of compensation you may be eligible for. Call us for a free consultation to learn more about your options.
We Can Help.
