The trucking industry is essential to the development of a nation. Trucks handle a lot more cargo than planes, trains, or ships. There’s an absurd amount of pressure placed on truckers to deliver the goods on time.
It’s a sad dichotomy that this important industry is also the cause of many accidents. Statistics showed there were 4,842 fatal accidents involving large trucks in 2020. 107,000 trucks also got into crashes that resulted in an injury that same year.
Truck accidents are no laughing matter. The sheer size of these vehicles means any incident will involve a lot of damage and injuries. These accidents are rarely cut and dry. There could be mitigating factors that caused the accident. You’ll need a good Seattle truck accident attorney to help you wade through all the issues. They’ll also ensure you get fair compensation.
What is a Truck Accident Injury Attorney?
A truck accident attorney is a personal injury attorney specializing in truck accidents. A personal injury lawyer represents people who suffered injuries through neglect. These lawyers work within tort law. This legislation decrees that two parties can remedy a civil or private injury. This is often done via compensation for damages.
But some cases are more complicated. Trucking accidents are one of them. It’s why some personal injury lawyers specialize in them. Accidents involving trucks are often bigger. There could be a lot of victims and defendants.
Why You Need the Help of a Truck Accident Injury Attorney?
You need specialized representation for truck accidents. This is due to the scope of the damage. No one can say a truck hitting a car is a minor annoyance. It is not. Any injury caused by an accident is already complex. But it becomes more complicated when you add the legal ramifications.
It’s vital that you get yourself a trustworthy truck accident law firm fast. Here’s why:
· Trucking Companies Have Money to Burn
It doesn’t take a math major to see the outcome of a collision between a car and a truck. It’s easy to see why people would think that the trucking company won’t have any qualms about paying damages. But many trucking firms aren’t willing to do that. They also have more money to hire lawyers to help them with that.
There’s little chance you’ll receive compensation from the company by yourself. But a truck accident injury attorney will ensure that you do. They have the legal knowledge and skill to navigate these cases.
· The Insurance Company Might Ruin Your Chances of Compensation
Insurance companies are quite busy after an accident. Their lawyers will start getting information about the parties involved. They’ll secure copies of police reports and any evidence gathered. They’ll then compute how much compensation the accident victim should receive.
If you’re a victim of a car or truck accident, you will receive a letter offering you compensation for damages. But the amount is often determined by the insurance company. These firms have other interests other than yours. People without lawyers would sign off on the compensation. But any personal injury lawyer will tell you that signing anything won’t be good for you. You’re forfeiting your right to file a case against the truck driver or company if you do so.
A truck accident lawyer will tell you to wait. Some injuries take time to check and manifest. You want to see all the damages done to you before you decide on compensation. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting less than what’s due to you.
· Other Factors Could Have Caused the Accident
The driver is always the first person to become blamed for any accident. After all, they’re the ones controlling the vehicle. But there could be other factors that contributed to the incident. The trucking company might have been forcing its workers to drive non-stop. They might have foregone quality checks to save money. The truck could have malfunctioned because of a faulty product. In this case, the product manufacturer might be to blame.
There are many possible reasons the accident happened. The law states that you’re entitled to demand compensation. You have the right to do this against any and all parties involved. The best truck accident law firms know what to do to determine the cause. They also know how to show that a company violated its duty of care. You could end up filing lawsuits against more than one company or defendant.
· Truck Accident Lawyers Know How to Build a Strong Case
A good truck accident attorney has the experience to navigate this type of special case. They will investigate the accident and collate the relevant evidence. They can get access to police reports, accident scene photos, and videos. They can also get eyewitness statements and testimony from experts. Your lawyer will also ensure they have all the medical documents to support your claim.
Their investigation will help identify all liable parties in your case. There are many cases when the company or a manufacturer is the responsible party.
Your lawyer works on your behalf. So they can start negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. They also have the capability to take the case straight to court if the insurance company won’t settle.