Commercial vehicle accidents have the potential to cause serious damage. Major injuries such as head trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and even death can occur as a result of a truck crash. In addition to personal injuries, these accidents often cause extensive damage to property, including the vehicles involved. The aftermath of a truck accident can linger for months and years following the collision. In the case of a fatal accident, the damage done is permanent.
Following a collision, victims and family members often wonder what legal rights they may have. In this situation, it is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible. While you may have rights, you can make certain mistakes during this time that can be very costly when it comes to your case. When an accident involves multiple vehicles, there are frequently questions involving liability. Determining fault in a multi-car crash is complicated and often involves a thorough examination of the crash scene and the other elements surrounding the collision.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a commercial truck accident, our nationwide commercial truck accident attorneys can help. Here at Burg Simpson, we bring decades of legal experience to your case. Give us a call today to see how we can be of assistance.
With millions of commercial vehicles on the road, accidents are unfortunately quite common. According to the most recent statistics, approximately 500,000 commercial vehicle crashes take place each year. As a result of these accidents, about 150,000 people are hurt while more than 5,000 will lose their lives. The odds of being injured in a commercial vehicle crash are far greater than in a collision involving a car or other passenger vehicle.
Additional statistics tell us that a truck accident is most likely to occur on a non-interstate road, during the daytime hours, and in an urban area. While truck accidents can take place at any time, they are statistically more likely to occur during the fall and early winter months, perhaps due to reduced visibility and poor weather conditions.
A truck crash can occur for a variety of reasons. In most instances, however, the accident could have been prevented by at least one of the drivers involved. The following are the most common causes of truck crashes:
While there are several possible causes of a truck accident, there is normally one person at fault. Determining liability is the key to making a legal claim for compensation.
Truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles. When a crash takes place on an interstate highway the area is normally crowded, thus leading to the possibility that multiple vehicles will be involved. In the case of a multi-vehicle truck accident, authorities must carefully investigate the scene in order to determine the cause and who should be held responsible.
A multi-vehicle truck accident requires a complete investigation. Among the things to be examined are:
All of these factors and more will be closely examined following an accident. While many drivers will attempt to avoid liability, a thorough investigation by an accident reconstruction expert is usually the best path to determining what happened.
There are two different ways in which liability is established. In the first system, adopted in only a few states, the court follows a concept known as contributory negligence. Under the contributory negligence system, injured victims cannot recover if they are even 1% at fault for the collision.
The second system, adopted in a large majority of states, is comparative negligence. Under a comparative negligence system, liability is apportioned based on the respective percentages of fault for a crash. This is especially relevant in cases of multi-vehicle accidents. In these types of collisions, there can be more than one cause and multiple drivers may be at least partially at fault.
In cases of multi-vehicle crashes, liability is often a disputed issue. Insurance companies will contest liability in order to avoid having to pay legitimate injury claims. Due to the complicated circumstances of multi-vehicle accidents, it is sometimes necessary to utilize the services of an expert witness.
An expert witness will review the crash scene and all relevant data. An expert may be an engineer or simply a person who has expertise in crash reconstruction. Utilizing their experience, the expert witness will analyze the scene and give an opinion on the series of events that led to the accident.
In the case of multi-vehicle collisions, expert opinions may play a vital role. In close cases, the opinion of an expert can sway a judge or jury to decide the case a certain way. Where liability is an issue, engaging the services of an expert is important in order to help obtain the compensation that you deserve.
Being the victim of a truck crash is scary and devastating. Truck accidents can lead to serious injuries or death, and achieving justice is important. Proving the negligence of a truck driver, trucking company, or third-party manufacturer has many challenges. Before you talk to the insurance adjuster, you should speak with an attorney who has experience handling these difficult cases.
At Burg Simpson, we offer the following:
If you were injured in a nationwide commercial truck accident, you should not delay in protecting your legal rights. Having an attorney by your side at the soonest possible time is essential to preserving your claim. To schedule your free consultation with our national truck crash attorneys, please contact us using our online intake form or call us at any time at (888) 895-2080.