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Truck accidents are different from car accidents purely based on the damage those large trucks can cause to passenger vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), semi-trucks, tractor trailers, big rigs, cement trucks to name a few, weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars. Those trucks are higher off the ground, meaning they operate differently, and can lead to passenger vehicles driving beneath the truck and result in a fatal accident.
When you consider the catastrophic damage trucking accidents can cause, the first component to review is the size and weight of semi-trucks.
A semi-truck has an engine that is is six times larger than a passenger car. The average semi-truck has up to 2000 feet per pound of torque and 600 horsepower.
Other factors that differentiate a semi-truck from a car include:
The federal law regulates the legal size and weight of semi-trucks, so when trucking companies or driver does not follow these regulations or carry insurance, and an accident occurs, the company and/or driver can be held liable.
Because of the size and weight of trucks, an accident may lead to severe accidents and injury, especially if the victim is in a passenger car. Traumatic injuries that occur during and after a truck accident include:
While the impacts of these injuries may be apparent immediately following the accident, they can become permanent impairments that have financial ramifications. This is one of the many reasons why a truck accident victim hires an experienced attorney who specializes in truck accidents to seek compensation for damages.
While you may think that the cause of a truck accident may be obvious, the reality is that there is often more than one cause. Because these cases are complex, it makes proving liability more difficult. A truck accident lawyer can help investigate the cause of an accident and establish liability.
In Washington, DC and Virginia, drivers must carry no-fault insurance. This means regardless of who caused the accident, personal injury protection (PIP) or “no-fault” insurance will be used to cover medical expenses and lost wages.
However, Maryland is actually a fault state meaning that the at-fault driver must cover the victim’s expenses. But to do so, you must prove all criteria of negligence.
The criteria used to establish negligence against a driver include proving:
Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to follow strict safety regulations. Some of the findings for negligence in truck accidents include:
Whether the trucking company acted negligently or the driver themselves, when you suffer serious injuries as a result of a tractor trailer accident, intense legal battles are possible. Once negligence has been established, you and your attorney may seek compensation for the damages.
Following a truck accident, the insurance companies of the victim, the truck driver, and the trucking company will conduct investigations to determine the cause of the accident and who is the at-fault driver.
Because the goal of the insurance adjuster is to settle outside of court, the insurance adjuster may try to settle at a lesser cost.
However, this early settlement may not meet your needs. A passionate truck accident attorney can help you build a case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common forms of financial recovery include:
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a trucking accident, talk to a knowledgeable attorney of Regan Zambri Long to understand your options. Because we work on a contingency-fee-basis, you don’t pay until we win.
Do not deal with an aggressive insurance company alone. Schedule your free consultation by calling (202) 960-4596 or by completing our online form to begin an attorney client relationship for legal advice.
