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Top Reasons to Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
What Are The Top Reasons for Hiring a truck accident attorney?
When you’re in an accident involving trucks or tractor-trailers (18 wheelers), the bad news is that your journey back to normalcy has just begun. On top of your pain and suffering from the accident, you’ll need to go through a series of steps to get the compensation you deserve. For most people, this process is long and difficult, especially when trucking companies are involved. So why go through it alone?
Below, we’ll walk you through a few reasons to hire the best available truck accident lawyer and the circumstances when you might want to consider.
DO I EVEN NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER?
While it’s possible to represent yourself, in these circumstances, we recommend hiring truck accident attorneys. While you focus on recovery, the lawyer will be able to deal with the ins and outs of the compensation process so you don’t have to.
1) TRUCK ACCIDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH
You will most certainly need to hire a truck accident attorney if you or someone else was injured in the accident. If your loved one was killed in an accident with big rigs, you should also hire truck accident attorneys. While continuing to pursue justice after the accident can be emotionally difficult, you need to protect yourself from insurance companies and legal teams that represent the trucker or the trucking company.
Losing someone close to you is arguably one of the toughest challenges a person or family can experience in life. When a life is lost prematurely, at the hands of another person’s negligence, then dealing with this loss can be all the more difficult. Truck accidents, when ending fatally, generally result in the loss of life to the victim in the smaller passenger vehicle. The physical characteristics of large semi-trailer trucks make it very difficult for victims to survive these tragic accidents.
Large Trucks are powerful vehicles that are a common sight on our roads. Their drivers are trained and certified, so they are held to a higher standard of driving. The addition of a trailer leads these commercial vehicles to be even more dangerous to other motorists on the road. Large vehicles with trailers or hazardous cargo take longer to stop and add to the vehicle’s already large mass. On average, a fully loaded truck pulling a semi-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000lbs. Compare this to the average weight of a typical passenger vehicle, typically 2,000 – 3,500 pounds and it becomes clear why so many of these accidents end tragically.
2) TRUCK ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S ACTIONS
If you feel as if the accident was caused by something other than normal truck drivers’ actions, contact a truck accident attorney immediately. Gathering evidence at the scene of the accident can help significantly with this, so carefully document your observations as notes and pictures following the accident.
Many trucking accidents are caused by negligence, breaches of federal motor carrier safety laws, and driving under the influence. If you feel like you have been the victim of any of these causes, don’t waste time. You can use the help of a lawyer right away.
3) COMPENSATION: Will INSURANCE COMPANIES TREAT YOU FAIRLY?
It’s possible the compensation offered by the insurance company isn’t reflective of your needs for medical bills or other damages. When you’re on your own, it’s nearly impossible to stand up to the large insurance companies to get what you deserve. That’s where accident lawyers come in.
Instead of fighting for your voice to be heard, hiring truck accident attorneys will prevent you from being taken advantage of by insurance firms.
Essentially, the only time you shouldn’t hire an attorney is in the case of a minor accident where there was no damage to your motor vehicle or injuries to any person involved. However, the nature of most accidents with commercial trucks and smaller vehicles make minor issues rare. In the end, if you’ve been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, you’ll most likely need to hire truck accident attorneys.
Other Considerations:
A Trucking Accident Attorney is needed for WRONGFUL DEATH legal REPRESENTATION
Here at Wettermark & Keith, our top truck accident attorneys represent each and every client’s wrongful death case with the utmost respect, compassion, and employ the thorough legal expertise needed to make their case a success. We realize that this is likely a difficult situation for you and your family. We are here for you.
If you have lost someone close to you in a fatal truck accident, seek the service of our lawyers here at Wettermark & Keith, today. We are experienced in dealing with cases just like yours. Our compassionate attorneys understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for you and your family. They will be here to guide you through the legal process and help however they can. We know your case matters to you and you matter to us. Therefore, we will help you get through this and get you and your family the compensation you need and deserve to recover.
TRUCKING FATAL ACCIDENT STATISTICS
Data compiled by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) shows that for the year 2017, there that almost 5,000 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. This number increased by 9% from 2016. Within these fatal accidents:
- The number of large trucks involved in property damage increased by 3% from the previous year.
- The number of injuries increased by 5% when large trucks were involved from 2016 to 2017.
- Only 2.5% of large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.
IF Our Attorneys don't WIN YOUR CASE, YOU DON’T PAY ANYTHING
When selecting clients to represent in court, our firm operates on a contingency fee basis. What this means to our clients is simple: if we don’t win your case, you won’t pay anything. We choose to operate this way for the sole benefit of our clients, we want to see you obtain a successful recovery so that you can continue to carry on with your life.
The Best Truck Accident Lawyer
To contact our law firm today if you have lost a loved one, simply fill out the free case evaluation form on our web site and we will get back to you promptly. If you wish to speak to us directly, feel free to call the law offices nearest you:
If you’re in Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee, there’s no better truck accident lawyer firm for large truck accidents than Wettermark Keith. Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers is well-equipped to win your case and get you the proper compensation.
Contact the Wettermark Keith office closest to you and get a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Alabama, the statute of limitations for filing a truck accident lawsuit is generally two years from the date of the accident. It's crucial to initiate legal proceedings within this timeframe, as failing to do so may result in the dismissal of your case.
In a truck accident case, you can typically claim various types of damages, including:
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for past and future medical bills related to your injuries.
- Lost Wages: Reimbursement for income lost due to the accident, including future earning capacity if your injuries impact your ability to work.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Property Damage: Coverage for repairing or replacing damaged property, such as your vehicle.
- Punitive Damages: In some cases involving extreme negligence or misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the at-fault party.
Yes, you can often sue both the truck driver and the trucking company for your injuries. Trucking companies can be held liable for the actions of their employees, including truck drivers, under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability. Additionally, if the company's negligence, such as improper maintenance or scheduling, contributed to the accident, they may be directly responsible.
If the insurance company offers a settlement that you believe is insufficient to cover your damages, it's advisable to consult with a truck accident attorney. They can evaluate the offer, assess the true value of your case, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to seek a fairer settlement. In some cases, it may be necessary to proceed with a lawsuit.
Most truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don't have to pay any upfront fees. Instead, your attorney will only receive a fee if they successfully win your case or negotiate a settlement. The fee is typically a percentage of the compensation you receive, making legal representation accessible to those who need it without the burden of upfront costs.
Ready to work together? Contact us today for a free consultation.
HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you or a loved one have been injured and think you might have a case, call us now for a free consultation.
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