The number of car accidents involving Americans is close to three million annually. 8% of these incidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, involve big rigs. The annual death toll is about 4,000. Since 18-wheelers are so much larger than typical cars, collisions with them frequently result in more serious injuries than those caused by car accidents. Since they are subject to both state and federal laws and involve a number of legal factors, these cases are complicated. Because of this, speaking with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney is crucial if you want to be compensated for a collision.
What causes crashes involving 18-wheelers?
True mishaps do occur in some 18-wheeler accidents. On the other hand, some of them involve risky driving practices and negligent behavior on the part of the trucking company, indicating that they could have been avoided. There are numerous reasons why these accidents happen; some of the most common ones are:
– Driver fatigue
– Distracted or impaired driving
– Defective parts
– Lack of maintenance
– Speeding
– Improperly loaded cargo
– Adverse weather conditions
– Tailgating
– Lack of familiarity with the route
Common 18-wheeler accident injuries
You could get hurt in one of these crashes in a variety of ways. Some of the most common include:
The most common cause of whiplash injury is when your head and neck are suddenly jerked forward, backward, or sideways due to the force of the blows.
Soft-tissue injury: One of the most frequent types of injuries, soft-tissue injuries happen when the body’s connective tissues—such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles—are damaged.
A sudden stop can strike you in the head, resulting in concussions, lacerations, or scrapes. Your head may also hit a window.
Internal harm and bone injury: More serious injuries, such as amputations, broken bones, knee injuries, internal body damage, and even death, are all possible outcomes resulting from these incidents.
Damage to one’s mental health: Colliding with a big rig can also result in physical and psychological harm. The incident may leave victims with a psychological aversion to driving in general or leave them unable to forget it.
It is crucial that you visit the hospital right away after the incident, regardless of the kind of injury you may have suffered. While you might feel well enough to go home, some injuries can cause internal bleeding, brain damage, and even death in the days that follow the incident.
Discovery
Due to the complexity of these collisions, a truck accident attorney is required to conduct the investigation and develop a strong case to increase your chances of successful outcomes and fair compensation. During the discovery stage of the lawsuit, they typically do the following:
– Look at the company’s trucking logs
– Examine witness statements and observations
– Examine the driver’s safety record
– Review the company’s safety record
Damages
As part of your overall damages, you may be eligible to receive a variety of compensations under the law. Your truck accident lawyer can provide you details on the following damages:
Economic damages: These include expenses like health care costs and lost wages from missed work.
Damages that are not quantifiable in money: These include things like emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of spouse’s company.
Punitive damages: These may be awarded if it can be shown that the defendants acted in bad faith.
It is crucial that you seek medical attention right away if you were hit by a big rig before contacting a truck accident attorney. They can assist you in taking the necessary actions to file a claim against the operator for damages you may have sustained.