When part of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle, that is referred to as a side-impact collision. When these accidents involve a large semi-truck, the resulting damages can be catastrophic.
People injured in side-impact truck accidents in Johnstown should speak with a local attorney to determine whether they have grounds for financial recourse. If so, a Johnstown semi crash attorney could represent your best interests to ensure you receive full and fair compensation.
In Johnstown, side-impact semi wrecks are often differentiated between T-bones and sideswipes. Both types of accidents involve a collision with the side of a vehicle and run the risk of substantial harm.
Four-way intersections are one of the most common locations for T-bone accidents. If one vehicle proceeds through the intersection without the right of way, that driver could strike a vehicle that does have the right of way. These accidents involve the front of one person’s vehicle striking the side of the other person’s car.
T-bones can also occur at cross streets. For instance, if there is a two-lane road with an intersecting cross street, if a person tries to cross without having the right of way, he or she runs the risk of being involved in a side-impact crash. When a passenger vehicle is T-boned by an 18-wheeler, it can result in devastating or even deadly injuries to occupants on the side of the smaller vehicle that was struck.
Sideswipe accidents involve the sides of two vehicles striking each other. This often occurs when a smaller passenger vehicle is hidden in a tractor trailer’s blind spot, and the truck driver tries to change lanes, striking the side of the nearby car. These accidents can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicles, potentially causing a truck to jackknife or overturn.
Generally, people in Johnstown who have been injured by a side-impact truck collision can seek compensation in the form of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are quantifiable losses, such as lost wages, future lost earning capacity, medical bills, and property damage. Additionally, any liens that are being asserted by health insurance companies under a theory of subrogation could also be recovered. Subrogation is a concept through which an insurance company seeks reimbursement for covering bills that were incurred because someone else is at fault.
Non-economic damages account for all the intangible losses like pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of life’s pleasures, scarring, and loss of consortium. As these accidents often result in devastating injuries, the non-economic losses can be substantial and require a skilled attorney to fully prove.
Unfortunately, side-impact truck accidents in Johnstown are not uncommon, and they can result in severe injuries and property damage. If you or a loved one were sideswiped or T-boned by a negligent truck driver, you could have grounds for a civil claim. Contact the office of Marcus & Mack today to discuss your options for legal recourse. We look forward to speaking with you.
