If you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident involving a commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact Burg Simpson for compassionate legal advice during your free consultation.
With so many goods being transported from one place to another, as well as many people in our country in need of transportation, commercial vehicles are a necessity on our roads in the United States. No matter where you go, you are bound to see plenty of commercial vehicles on the roads around you.
One of the main reasons why commercial vehicle accidents are so devastating is because these vehicles are some of the largest on our roads. Being involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle can turn your life upside down. Having help from a truck accident lawyer can help you get back on your feet after such a catastrophic experience.
If the vehicle meets any of the following criteria, it can be classified as a commercial vehicle:
Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies how many commercial vehicle accidents occur on our roads in the U.S. In 2020, it was reported that 4,998 fatal bus and truck crashes took place in the country. Many other vehicles classified as commercial vehicles, such as box trucks and large vans, were also involved in injury and fatality crashes. Some of the most common types of commercial vehicles involved in accidents with serious injuries include the following:
It is important to differentiate a commercial vehicle from a passenger vehicle, because the way we handle the claim will be different for each. If you have been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident that was not your fault, you should have an experienced law firm on your side who has experience handling claims like these. Our personal injury attorneys at Burg Simpson are here to help you get back on your feet.
Commercial vehicle accidents, especially truck accidents, have been increasing on our roads over recent years. Research is being conducted to investigate why this is, but we know one reason is simply because there are more commercial vehicles on the road. Over recent years, more and more truck drivers have been registered to operate in our country.
There has also been a major increase in the need for goods, which means that more commercial vehicles will be traveling from one destination to another to distribute those goods to the towns and cities all across our nation. With an increase in commercial vehicles, crashes involving large trucks and other vehicles are increasing as well. These crashes are usually preventable, which is why someone must be held liable when they occur, especially if serious injuries result.
Because commercial vehicle accidents tend to be incredibly severe in nature, it is imperative that we understand how to prevent them. There are many common reasons for these accidents, which include some of the following:
Driver Fatigue: An everyday truck driver or any other type of commercial vehicle driver will likely face a lot of pressure from their employer to get the job done. This means that they could be working long hours that cause them to become more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Many truck crashes and other types of related accidents occur each year due to driver fatigue.
Intoxication: Those who hold a commercial driver's license have to deal with stricter regulations on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Because many injurious and fatal crashes happen each year due to driving under the influence, it is absolutely illegal for any truck or commercial vehicle driver to do so.
Distracted Driving: Truck drivers specifically are more likely to become distracted than other drivers on our roads. This is because drivers who travel long hours in tractor trailers are more likely to text while driving or get distracted in other ways when they get bored during long road trips. Unfortunately, this means that a truck accident caused by distracted driving could occur in the blink of an eye.
Lack of Driver Training: Commercial truck accidents can be prevented when companies invest enough time and money into making sure that drivers obtain proper training before they are permitted on the road.
Time Constraints: Truck drivers, as well as many other commercial vehicle drivers, have immense pressure to make it to a destination on time. Many truck drivers will drive too fast to reach their assigned goals, so speeding is becoming an increasingly common reason for truck accidents leading to serious injuries.
Blind Spots: Due to the sheer size of commercial vehicles, especially large tractor trailers, blind spots are prevalent. You must always remember one thing when traveling close to a commercial vehicle: if you can't see the truck driver in their mirror, they will not be able to see you or any nearby cars.
If you have been injured in a truck accident or any other type of commercial vehicle accident, even if you aren’t sure who was at fault, it is in your best interest to seek legal advice. Our dedicated truck accident attorneys understand that accidents happen in the blink of an eye with life-altering consequences for everyone involved. Don’t delay in speaking with our attorneys at Burg Simpson after a commercial vehicle accident.
Fatigued driving is one of the major causes of truck accidents in America. To prevent these accidents, Hours of Service requirements are issued in every state. These regulations are provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to prevent drivers from driving while exhausted, with the goal of preventing as many truck crashes as possible. In 14 hour windows, drivers are only permitted to operate their vehicle for 11 hours. This period of time only begins after a driver has had a 10 hour break. If a driver has a seven day work week, they are only permitted to work a total of 60 hours.
When passenger cars are involved in accidents with large commercial vehicles, the results can be injurious or even deadly. Many catastrophic injuries occur in these accidents, leading to ongoing medical expenses that many people are unable to afford on their own. On top of this, severe injuries can cause a patient to require long-term care. Some of the most common injuries in these accidents include the following:
There are also many other injuries that are also prevalent in commercial vehicle accidents. Those who are hurt in commercial vehicle and truck crashes often wonder what options they have if they have sustained life-altering injuries. These accidents happen daily, which is why it is important to know where you can turn. Our catastrophic injury attorneys at Burg Simpson are here for you in your time of need.
Determining liability in a commercial vehicle accident can be one of the most difficult things that you face in your accident claim. There are many parties who could individually be at fault or several who could be liable for your accident. These include some of the following:
When you are unsure about who is responsible for your truck accident, you need a law firm on your side who has success in handling these complex cases. It is important to act quickly so that you do not miss any deadlines or lose opportunities to collect vital evidence which you will need when bringing your claim.
When any type of commercial vehicle is not being properly maintained, an injury collision could occur. A trucking company has a duty to maintain its vehicles so that accidents can be prevented on our roadways. If a maintenance issue is discovered after a tractor trailer accident, the trucking company can be held fully liable for the collision. A mechanic could also be liable if they were the last individual to maintain a vehicle and made a mistake in doing so.
Accidents involving large trucks and other commercial vehicles can affect you emotionally, physically, and financially. If you choose to move forward with a claim due to the extent of your injuries and damages, you will need solid evidence to hold a party or multiple parties liable for their negligent actions. Some of these types of evidence include the following:
On top of the above mentioned evidence, black box data is a special type of evidence that can make or break your personal injury claim. Most commercial trucks manufactured in the U.S. will have black box data, which means that it is equipped with an electronic box of data that shows valuable information about a truck accident, similar to that of airplanes. These boxes can show when a truck's brakes were used, the average speed of the truck, if the airbags were deployed in an accident, and more.
After a collision, truck accident victims are urged to seek immediate legal assistance. If you believe that a commercial truck accident was caused by driver error or any other form of negligence, speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney is in your best interests.
Our attorneys at Burg Simpson believe that you should never have to handle the complicated matter of a commercial truck accident or any other type of commercial vehicle accident claim on your own. These accident claims are known for being highly complex matters, and the insurance companies may try to prey on your lack of specific understanding of these matters in order to pay you as little as possible.
Even though it seems obvious that a large business has enough money to satisfy your damages, they will do anything it takes to lessen the amount of compensation that you receive, or attempt to deny your claim altogether. Even though the insurance company might try to entice you with an offer, you should never sign off on this offer without first receiving the help of an attorney. It may be for far less than we think you are entitled to receive.
You may find that you qualify for many types of damages after a commercial vehicle accident that is not your fault. When drivers violate the law and cause an accident, you may be able to hold them liable for the following damages to help you recover both physically and financially:
Sometimes, a loved one's life is unfortunately lost due to a commercial vehicle accident. When fatal injuries are caused by a commercial vehicle driver's negligence, you may be eligible to bring a wrongful death claim against a company or its driver. Family members are permitted to bring these claims on behalf of a loved one for some of the following damages:
If you have experienced the tragic loss of a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident, it is crucial that you speak with a compassionate and experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Fatal crashes and their accompanying claims require highly specialized knowledge to move forward successfully. You and your family have options, and we want to help.
