(Newswire.net — May 30, 2022) — A truck crash is one of the most dangerous types of traffic accidents that someone can experience. Depending on the severity of the collision, victims may experience injuries, paralysis, and even death.
Truck accidents tend to be more severe because 18-wheelers are considerably bigger than most other vehicles on the road. As a result, truck accident attorneys often have to deal with complex cases involving injuries, loss of life, and property damages.
Typical Truck Accident Claims
A typical truck accident claim involves an injured plaintiff who has been hit by a truck and a defendant who is accused of being responsible for the crash.
Due to their size, 18-wheelers present a challenge for other drivers on the roadway. If a car is coming up quickly behind a smaller vehicle, this often makes it difficult for the person driving that car to move out of the way and sometimes results in rear-end accidents.
Injuries Commonly Sustained in Truck Accidents
The most common injuries sustained by plaintiffs are:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Blunt force trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
Such injuries often result in a long and painful recovery period, with some people never fully recovering and others being unable to work again.
Determining Liability for a Truck Accident Case
The standard truck accident claim involves a semi-truck or large tractor-trailer. Due to their size and weight, semi-trucks often cause the most damage when involved in accidents.
The specifics of the crash will dictate the liability for the accident. Your lawyer can help analyze the facts and determine who is at fault. The following parties can be responsible for the collision:
- Any of the drivers involved in the crash
- The trucking company
- The truck manufacturer
It is also important to note that there can be multiple entities liable for the crash. An attorney can help you look beyond this shortlist into other parties that might have had a role to play in the events.
How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
A truck accident lawyer will help you seek compensation for any injuries and damages due to the crash. As with all personal injury cases, several factors will determine the amount of payment you will receive from the truck accident lawsuit. Some of the most important factors include:
- How much damage your vehicle sustained
- The cost of your medical bills
- The severity of injuries
- Recovery time
- Medical treatment
If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck crash, you need to contact an experienced New Orleans truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected. Your lawyer will fight to get you the maximum compensation.
Truck Accident Statistics
According to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT), from 2003-to 2007, truck crashes killed more than 5,600 people and injured more than 113,000 yearly. In five years between 2002 and 2007, there were 453 fatal crashes involving large trucks due to speeding.
According to the National Safety Council, in 2004, more than 5.3 million reported traffic crashes in the United States. These crashes resulted in more than 1.7 million injuries and almost 43,000 deaths. Nearly two out of every three people killed are in vehicles other than the truck.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2005, large trucks were involved in an estimated 138,000 crashes. Out of these, 686 were fatal. More than 860 deaths resulted from truck accidents in that year alone.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 40,000 people are killed in commercial truck crashes. Rear-end collision was found to be a significant cause of the crashes.
Final Thoughts
Transportation statistics have shown how widespread truck accidents are. What is more, a significant percentage of crashes lead to severe injuries and death. However, a truck accident lawyer can help victims seek justice against the at-fault party and receive the compensation they need to rebuild their life.
About the author
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.