Truck accidents with cars often end in tragedy. Even if the car driver or passenger does not die, they may suffer serious injuries, including broken bones, internal organ damage, and severe burns. Often, it takes months to recover. If you were hurt in a crash with a semi-truck, you may be left with expensive hospital bills and car repairs. You may also have to take time away from work for physical rehabilitation and other treatment.
Not only do truck crashes usually result in more severe injuries than a car crash, there are other factors that make truck accident personal injury claims different from car accident claims.
Why Truck Accidents Are So Serious
The average weight of a fully loaded tractor-trailer is 80,000 pounds, and many truck drivers, especially those licensed to take over-size loads, may be carrying far heavier cargo. When a semi-truck rolls over or hits a passenger vehicle, the results can be devastating and often life-changing.
Semi-truck accidents are very different from ordinary car crashes. While you might think that the truck driver is the only person who can be held responsible for the crash, this is not true—especially if negligence can be traced back to their employer’s policies or a bad mechanical part.
If you were hurt by a semi-truck, you may be able to hold one or more parties accountable: the truck driver, their employer, and possibly a parts manufacturer or cargo loading facility.
Each party will try and place blame on someone else, making it difficult to get the money you need to recover from your injuries.
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
Trying to recover a fair settlement after a semi-truck accident can be difficult without the help of an experienced attorney. This is because semi-truck accident claims and lawsuits require a lot of work, as well as an in-depth understanding of not only the trucking industry but the rules that govern it.
A lawyer can help you:
Investigate and gather evidence related to your crash.
Even if the truck driver admits fault, their insurance company may try to say that your injuries are not as serious as you claim. You will need to be prepared with evidence to support the extent of your damages, which may include hospital bills and mechanic estimates. An attorney can help collect evidence from many different sources to put together a strong case.
Determine liability.
Any time you file a personal injury lawsuit, you need to know who was responsible for your injuries. In truck accident lawsuits, you may need to pursue more than one potential plaintiff. To do this successfully, you will need to understand how the trucking industry works, their insurance, their employer policy, and the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Calculate your damages.
An insurance company might offer to cover the cost of your hospital stay, especially if they know you have a strong case. However, this sort of offer will rarely account for the totality of your future expenses such as physical rehabilitation and the money you will lose taking time away from work. A lawyer can calculate your damages using legal formulas to get you the best recovery possible.
Negotiate with the insurance company.
Insurance companies prefer accident victims without lawyers because they often get away with low-ball settlement offers. But an attorney knows what is and isn’t possible under Missouri law and can pressure the insurance company into a fair settlement.
File a lawsuit.
If the trucking company or their insurer is not willing to offer fair compensation, a truck accident attorney can and will take them to court to get you the recovery you deserve.
Have You Been Injured In A Missouri Commercial Truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a Missouri truck accident you should speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 314.470.4928 to schedule a free consultation. We help accident victims throughout the state of Missouri including Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis, Kirksville, and Cape Girardeau.
