Our 18-wheeler injury attorneys help people who have been injured in a semi-trailer and large truck accidents. The harsh reality is that over 4,000 people die every year in the U.S. due to large truck crashes. Accident victims and their family members deserve fair compensation for their losses.
Truck accident injuries can include head and neck injuries, back injuries, broken bones, and lacerations. Truckers normally suffer these injuries because of truck collisions, poor road conditions, inadequate training, and truck malfunctions.
Skilled 18-wheeler accident attorneys can file a truck accident lawsuit on behalf of a truck accident victim. These legal claims are often based on a variety of legal theories, including:
- negligence,
- products liability,
- premises liability,
- wrongful death, and
- governmental liability (for example, in accidents involving poorly maintained roads).
Not only can an experienced truck accident lawyer file a lawsuit on behalf of a client, but he/she can also assist injury victims by:
- managing their medical care and medical treatment,
- gathering evidence to identify all liable parties,
- filing personal injury claims with the insurance companies of at-fault parties, and
- filing a workers’ compensation claim (if applicable).
The Shouse Law Group is a California based personal injury law firm that represents people in 18-wheeler and semi-truck accident cases. Our experienced attorneys work tirelessly for all our clients and seek to get you the biggest settlement possible. Call today to get the legal representation you deserve.
Over 4,000 people die every year in the U.S. due to large truck crashes.
What are common causes of large truck accidents and common injuries in 18-wheeler crashes?
Unfortunately, truckers are involved in vehicle accidents every year across the U.S. In 2019, 118,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, a 5% increase from 2018.1 Further, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are over 4,000 large truck and bus accident fatalities annually.2
Large truck accidents can involve several different types of motor vehicles, including:
- 18-wheelers,
- semi-trucks,
- big rigs,
- large commercial trucks,
- tractor-trailers,
- moving trucks, and
- passenger vehicles.
Common causes of 18-wheeler truck accidents include:
- head-on truck collisions,
- hazardous road conditions,
- poor weather,
- inadequate training,
- mechanical failures,
- poor truck maintenance,
- pressure from a trucking company,
- motorists driving in a trucker’s blind spots, and
- driver fatigue or tired truck drivers.
Note that if a truck driver is hurt in a car accident, but was partly responsible for causing the incident, he/she can still likely recover compensation in an accident claim. However, the final payout will get reduced in accordance with laws on comparative negligence.
Truck accidents can lead to serious injuries (including catastrophic injuries). Common injuries that truck accident victims typically suffer from include:
- traumatic brain injuries,
- whiplash and other neck injuries,
- spinal cord injuries,
- back injuries,
- concussions,
- broken bones, and
- lacerations.
Who are common defendants in 18-wheeler accident cases?
18-wheeler accident attorneys typically name the following parties as defendants in these cases:
- negligent drivers (including other commercial vehicle drivers),
- truck manufacturers,
- manufacturers of truck parts,
- trucking companies,
- property owners,
- governmental entities, and
- members of the trucking industry.
Guilty parties in large truck accidents normally have to compensate injury victims for:
- medical bills and medical expenses,
- lost wages,
- lost earning capacity,
- property damage, and
- pain and suffering.
Injured parties can sometimes try to recover punitive damages if their injuries were caused by someone’s intentional or reckless acts.
If commercial drivers get killed because of a truck accident, their family members can likely file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for causing the accident. Damages can include (but are not limited to):
- burial and funeral expenses,
- amounts the deceased would have earned as income, and
- compensation for the loss of the deceased’s companionship and support.
Attorneys in truck accident cases help clients maximize the compensation for their losses.
What is the role of personal injury lawyers in 18-wheeler accident cases?
18-wheeler accident lawyers play a huge role in these cases.
For example, a truck accident lawyer interviews injury victims to learn the facts of a case and assess their medical needs. With cases involving serious injuries, attorneys can help clients manage their ongoing medical care.
A personal injury attorney can also assist clients in gathering evidence to prove liability. If necessary, a lawyer can appoint an expert to aid in presenting this evidence to a judge or jury.
If an at-fault party is insured, truck accident attorneys can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company and negotiate the claim with applicable insurance adjusters.
When truckers are hurt in the scope of their employment, an injury lawyer can also assist by filing a workers’ comp claim on behalf of the driver.
Finally, a trial attorney can file a lawsuit in a personal injury case and work to receive a favorable verdict on behalf of a client.
What are the benefits of an 18-wheeler accident lawyer?
Personal injury attorneys can help clients maximize the truck accident compensation for their losses.
Truck injury lawyers know how much an accident case is worth. Therefore, they will not accept lowball settlement offers.
Attorneys can also find hidden value in a case (for example, by identifying more than one liable party). As a result, they help increase a client’s payout.
Injured parties also benefit because a truck accident attorney takes control of a case from the get-go. Injury victims then can focus on their health and healing.
Almost all personal injury lawyers provide free case reviews. This means a victim can get all of his/her legal questions answered without spending a dime.
Note that the communications between a lawyer and his/her client are protected by the attorney-client relationship. The result is that a lawyer cannot disclose these communications without first getting a client’s consent.
For additional help…
Contact our law firm for a free consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a trucking accident, we invite you to contact our law firm at the Shouse Law Group. Our attorneys and legal team provide both free consultations and legal advice you can trust.
We work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation available for your case.
Legal References:
- National Safety Council website, “Large Trucks.”
- FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2015.