With their combined size and weight, semi tractor-trailers can cause an incredible amount of damage when involved in a motor vehicle accident.
In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that more than 3,600 of fatal motor vehicle accidents that occurred in 2014 involved a large truck or bus. In addition, some 472,000 nonfatal crashes involved these massive vehicles. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a truck crash, a truck accident lawyer can help you receive full and fair compensation.
When Semi-Truck Accidents Happen
No matter how cautious a driver is behind the wheel, things can go horribly wrong in an instant. Any motor vehicle accident has the potential to cause serious harm, and unfortunately the involvement of a large truck often increases the resulting devastation. Numerous factors can contribute to semi-truck accident cases, making them more complex than you might realize. For example, all of the following factors can play a part in a semi-truck accident:
- Driver fatigue
- Unreasonable schedules requiring drivers to work extended hours or skip breaks
- Defective or improperly maintained equipment
- Improperly loaded trucks
- Inadequate driver training or experience
- Driver intoxication or impairment
- Driver distraction or negligence
- Speeding
- Hazardous weather conditions that impair visibility or leave roads slick
- Defective roadways
Trucking companies and their drivers are expected to follow strict rules regarding hours spent behind the wheel, the size of loads, and equipment maintenance. While these rules are intended to keep everyone on the road safer, many companies will bend or break them to better their bottom lines.
Semi-truck accidents can have serious, and even deadly, consequences. Head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, amputations, neuropsychological injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and wounds requiring surgery are all possible. If you have been injured because of the negligence or reckless behavior of a trucking company or its employees, you have the right to demand compensation.
Working with a Truck Accident Lawyer
Traffic accidents are often complicated; in come cases, there may be multiple parties at fault. Convincingly determining who is liable and building a legal case for compensation requires considerable legal knowledge, skill, and resources. The Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave have considerable experience in this area.
Building a Convincing Case for Your Claim
Although you may be tempted to accept the settlement offer presented by the insurance company, remember that the insurance company will not keep your best interests in mind. Before you agree to anything proposed by the insurance company, schedule a free case review with an experienced truck accident lawyer to protect your rights and ensure that you are justly compensated for your injury.
A truck accident lawyer can review your case, educate you about your options and the amount of compensation that you can reasonably expect, and give you the facts that you need to make an informed decision regarding how you wish to proceed. A powerful ally, your truck accident lawyer will know how to build a convincing case for your claim by gathering the facts about the accident and investigating the trucking company. Your legal team will delve into the company’s maintenance records, its insurance coverage, and the accuracy of its records, study any past police reports involving the company and its fleet, and check to see if the company has a history of hiring unlicensed or untrained drivers. They may also scrutinize the loading of the truck and the qualifications and fitness of the driver.
At the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave, we pride ourselves on continually striving to secure the maximum compensation possible for deserving victims. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a collision with a large truck, let us put our experience to work for you. Contact our offices today to request a free case review.
