Accidents involving large commercial trucks are some of the worst on the roads and can lead to devastating consequences, including severe injuries and wrongful death. If you or a loved one was a victim of a truck accident, you have the right to hold those accountable and seek reparations for the losses you have sustained. A truck accident lawyer can help you know your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
A Philadelphia truck accident lawyer from the team at Rand Spear can help you support your case by providing years of experience in accidents like yours. We know that all cases are unique and will ensure the details of your case are treated with care. If you are thinking about pursuing legal action, it is important to know how a truck accident lawyer can help.
Understanding Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can present complex legal issues that may be difficult to navigate alone. This includes potentially multiple at-fault parties, difficulties with insurance claims, and necessary detailed investigations. A personal injury lawyer from Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer can help you through these legal complexities and recover your fair compensation.
Unlike typical motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents often can have multiple liable parties. Some examples of where negligence can be established include the driver, the trucking company, any loading dock workers who packed the cargo, and the manufacturer of the truck itself.
Trucking companies typically have hefty insurance policies that will do everything possible to minimize payouts. These challenges require a detailed investigation to prove fault and a strong claim to back up your requested settlement. Building this strong evidence can help negotiate a good settlement and often avoid taking the case to court.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Commercial trucks can weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger vehicles, not including their heavy and sometimes hazardous cargo. Because of this, truck accidents are some of the most severe on the road, causing devastating injuries and a high rate of fatalities. Here are some truck accident statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from 2021:
- 494,000 police-reported large truck accidents
- 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, an increase of 18% from 2020
- 117,000 large trucks were involved in crashes, causing injuries, an increase of 11% from 2020
- 401,000 large trucks were involved in property damage-only crashes
Non-fatal crashes often leave victims with severe issues like traumatic brain injuries, permanent disabilities, broken bones, internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, and chronic pain. Many of these are life-changing for the victim and their family and require long-term medical care. This can cause a devastating financial burden, and you deserve fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional and psychological trauma, and other losses.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Taking the next steps with legal action after a truck accident can help you recover compensation and get back to normal life. Your truck accident attorney will work to investigate the accident, gather evidence to support your claim, calculate an appropriate settlement, issue a demand letter, negotiate with insurance, and provide representation at trial if necessary.
A skilled lawyer will use their knowledge of state laws and precedent cases to advocate for their client. When choosing a truck accident lawyer, you should look for one who has extensive experience handling similar cases and their success in obtaining a fair settlement. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, we have 30 years of experience and have collected over $750 million for our clients in personal injury verdicts and settlements.
Investigating a Truck Accident
Your truck accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident to gather evidence and establish liability. We start by evaluating all available evidence including police reports, CCTV footage and photos of the accident scene, and medical records. We will consult with our accident reconstruction experts, who can provide a more technical perspective on the accident and the factors involved.
Once we have a good view of the accident, your legal team will put together supporting evidence against the party or parties who are responsible for your injuries. Establishing negligence requires showing duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Some examples of negligent behavior in truck accident cases include:
- A truck driver driving under the influence, reckless driving, or ignoring traffic laws
- A trucking company forcing their drivers to violate regulations, failing to maintain their trucks and equipment, or not providing adequate training for their drivers
- Loading dock workers who failed to load and secure the cargo properly, which caused the accident or resulted in further harm to the victim during an accident
- The manufacturer of the truck or equipment if a part caused an accident or was defective
Calculating Potential Damages and Settlement Amount
The damages or settlement amount you may be entitled to depends on many factors that your truck accident lawyer can help you calculate. These damages will include both economic and non-economic damages, which represent tangible and intangible losses. Some of these losses might include:
- Medical bills and hospital expenses
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Lost wages and lost earning potential
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Physical losses such as your car or personal property
An experienced truck accident lawyer will calculate your rightful settlement amount and support your claim with documentation such as bills, receipts, previous pay stubs, and invoices. They may also consult with a financial expert to calculate projected future costs for your recovery. A favorable settlement will look at your current expenses as well as the long-term consequences of your injuries that could cause decreased earning potential and life-long medical bills.
Negotiations and Settlements
After a settlement is calculated, a demand letter will be sent out to the insurance company and at-fault party(s). This begins the negotiation process. An attorney is a powerful advocate for you as their experience will allow them an edge in fighting for your maximum compensation.
Insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize their financial responsibility for your injuries. They sometimes will outright deny a claim. Our truck accident lawyers have extensive experience with negotiations and will have your back navigating through the red tape and legalese.
Most truck accident claims are settled out of court, but sometimes, negotiations with insurers will not be able to reach a settlement. This is when your legal team will file a lawsuit on your behalf. If your case goes to trial, your lawyer will provide comprehensive legal representation, raising your chances of a favorable outcome.
Get Help from Rand Spear after Your Truck Accident
A truck accident lawyer will be your legal advocate through every step of the process as you pursue justice in the aftermath of your accident. We treat every client like family and will not settle for less than what you deserve. Contact our office for a free case evaluation today.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
