Nothing can prepare you for a truck accident. A collision with a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or big rig can have devastating consequences for a victim. A truck’s size and weight usually results in a far worse outcome than a car-related collision. Worse still, the process after a truck accident is complicated, involving many layers of investigation and liability.
If you are unfortunate enough to experience a truck accident and serious injuries, there is still good news — a truck accident attorney can pursue compensation from at-fault parties in a lawsuit.
You may not even realize why you need a truck accident lawyer, believing the liable party’s insurance company should simply compensate you for your damages. Sadly, this is rarely the case.
Insurance companies are powerful, have more money and leverage than you, and can make life unpleasant for any claimant. For this reason alone, you need an experienced player in the game. Hiring a Somerset truck accident attorney means you don’t take on the case yourself, which is a big mistake if you have no truck accident or legal experience.
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The truth is there are more trucks on our roads than ever—the number has more than doubled in the past decade, judging by recent figures. For example, Pennsylvania alone has over 6.5 million trucks registered, and this is not even close to the top state in the U.S.
Truck accident fatality statistics are also concerning. The number of deaths caused by large trucks each year has mirrored the rise in truck numbers. When victims survive, they often have devastating injuries that change their lives in many costly ways.
Truck accidents happen for various reasons, and the damages sustained might be enough for a lawsuit, especially if the insurance company doesn’t offer a just settlement amount.
When you hire a truck accident attorney, they will build your case by investigating and gathering all the evidence possible to prove liability and your losses. Victims must have supporting evidence of their losses for defendants to agree to pay a settlement or for a jury to award them damages at trial.
The following damages might apply to any lawsuit where a truck driver, the owner, or the company in charge of the vehicle is negligent:
Vehicle or property damageExpect defendants in a lawsuit to undervalue your losses. They might challenge the severity of your injuries or their effects on your life to pay you less. When a defendant makes a pretrial settlement offer during the lawsuit process, your truck accident attorney can review it and advise whether it is adequate in light of your losses. If not, they can keep negotiating and pushing through the litigation process toward trial.
Wrongful death applies to those who lose a close family member in a truck accident. If you can prove another party’s negligence caused the truck crash, you can seek wrongful death damages in a lawsuit.
Each state has its own set of laws regarding wrongful death, though it typically applies to spouses, children, or parents. In some states, the representative of the estate must file the lawsuit on behalf of the family members.
In a truck accident-related wrongful death lawsuit, you might sue for:
Damages in a wrongful death claim can vary from state to state, so always consult a truck accident attorney near you.
What Damages Can I Win from a Truck Accident?
Under personal injury law, a victim of negligent truck driving is entitled to economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. A truck accident attorney will know the types of damages that apply to your case and identify the possibilities for your lawsuit.
Economic damages refer to tangible, measurable damages like injuries, medical expenses, and vehicle damage. Meanwhile, non-economic damages are intangible, including emotional or psychological losses, decline in quality of life, and permanent effects of injuries. Punitive damages are rare but apply when a victim can demonstrate the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious and intolerable, requiring additional financial penalties.
Medical expenses:
All emergency medical careLost income:
Property damage
Transportation
This category is less considered, though no less significant to the victim. Going through a life-altering truck accident leaves invisible scars that may continue for many years. These damages might address:
Once you have received the necessary medical attention, consult a truck accident lawyer right away. The sooner you arrange a free consultation, the sooner your truck accident attorney can start building your case. They can preserve key evidence you need to prove liability, which is necessary to pursue a lawsuit.
Robert S. Marcus, Somerset Truck Accident Attorney,
If you have suffered losses from a truck accident, be sure to contact a truck accident lawyer near you. Many people hesitate due to concerns about legal fees, but these worries are misplaced.
Thankfully, Somerset personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning case evaluations are free, and you pay nothing upfront to hire them. You only pay legal fees if they obtain compensation for you, which also means they will only take the case if it looks winnable. The fee comes from the eventual settlement, so you never need money from your own pocket.
Marcus & Mack
