Americans rely on trucks to deliver a majority of our goods. The services truckers provide help to transport hundreds of billions of dollars of goods every year, making their services invaluable. This is why it’s so devastating when something goes wrong.
While accidents between two cars can cause a life-altering level of damage, accidents involving one or more trucks almost always cause catastrophic damage to both body and property. Due to the sheer force involved in stopping a fully loaded truck, injuries are rarely minor. Unfortunately, truck accident cases are often wrongful death cases. When we are hired for truck accident cases, we are prepared to fight tooth and nail to hold the trucking companies accountable.
The Company vs the Driver
In truck accident cases, we often find it more productive to hold the company accountable, since they are the ones responsible for letting an irresponsible driver on the road, or letting a dysfunctional truck out of the lot. While the truck driver may have been able to avoid the accident, they rarely have the insurance liability to cover the extent of the damage. Our years of experience have shown us the value of knowing who is responsible and ensuring they fully compensate our clients.
What Causes Truck Accidents
Trucks are complicated vehicles to operate. They have long stopping distances and wide turn radiuses. This means that even the most adept truck driver could be involved in an accident given a sudden, unpredictable change in traffic patterns. But if an adept driver can end up in an accident given the wrong circumstance, an inept driver can get in an accident even in ideal circumstances. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents are:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to follow traffic rules
- Drug/alcohol use
- Improper cargo loading
When a shipping company allows, or even encourages, their employees to drive while impaired, they are risking the lives of everyone on the road. It is their responsibility to ensure that their employees are acting in a safe manner and that their equipment is functioning properly.
Damages That Can Be Compensated
The compensation available in any personal injury case falls into the same general categories. These are property damage, emotional damage, and physical injury. A list of common physical injuries can be found on our personal injury page, but there are countless other ways in which a truck accident can upend a life, including a wrongful death.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death claims are made when a person is killed as a result of preventable circumstances. Family members of victims can make wrongful death claims, with considerations such as age, income, medical bills, and lost benefits influencing the determined amount. Often included in the wrongful death settlement are funeral expenses.
Wrongful death claim payments and compensation are usually paid for by the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurance company won’t cover the full amount, the remainder is left to the individual to pay to the victim.
Get the Help You Deserve
Commercial trucking accidents have the ability to cause catastrophic and far-reaching damage. If you or a loved one has been impacted by a commercial truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation.
The attorneys at Skinner Accident and Injury Lawyers are experienced, skilled, and ready to fight for your best interests in court. For help with your case, contact us today at 304-725-7029.
