Truck Accidents

Injured in an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident?

Truck accidents usually tend to produce more serious injuries than passenger-car accidents. This is due to the sheer size of these vehicles compared to a typical car. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 8 percent of all the fatal accidents in American roads involve big trucks.

18-wheeler accident cases are complex and involve numerous legal implications. Truck accidents involve both state and federal laws. Because of this, you’ll need to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in order to know what kind of compensation you can expect to receive.

Take Down Notes

Taking notes after a truck accident is vital. You should write down the names of witnesses as well as general details such as what you were doing and where you were heading. You should also take down the registration and phone numbers of involved parties as well as witnesses. Be sure to get information from both the cab, and the trailer (as they are often insured by different parties). Other notes like what you were feeling and what the weather was like may seem inconsequential, but they can go a long way in determining what your case is worth. The evidence you’re able to gather after an accident is crucial and can have a big effect on the outlook of your case.

What the Law Says

There are certain laws which govern truck drivers. These were put in place to protect both truck drivers and other road users from errant companies and drivers. One such law details the number of hours that truck drivers can operate before needing to rest. Additionally, federal law requires that truck drivers record driving information in driver’s logs in order to minimize instances of misconduct which may jeopardize other road users.

There are many reasons why truck accidents happen. However, the most common ones are:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Not following road rules
• Improperly loaded trucks
• Defective truck parts
• Not braking in time
• Lack of truck maintenance

Common 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries

There are countless injuries you can sustain from a truck accident. Some of the most common are:

1. A whiplash injury. This usually happens as a result of your head and neck being jerked forwards, backwards or sideways from the impact of the accident.
2. A soft tissue injury. This refers to any kind of damage to the body’s connective tissues such as the ligaments, tendons and muscles. This is the most common type of car accident injury.
3. Head injuries. This refers to any kind of blow to the head due to a change in direction or unexpected stop. Your head may come into contact with the glass on a side window causing scrapes, lacerations or concussions.

It’s important to go to the hospital immediately regardless of the kind of injury you may have sustained. This is because some of these injuries may lead to internal bleeding, brain injury or death a few days after the accident.

Discovery

• Your lawyer will look at the company’s trucking logs.
• They may also examine witness statements and observations.
• They’ll take a look at the truck driver’s safety record.
• They’ll also look at the trucking company’s safety record.

Damages

1. Economic damages: This covers things like medical expenses and loss of earnings due to being out of work.
2. Non-economic damages which covers things like pain and suffering, loss of spousal companionship and emotional distress.
3. Punitive damages are sometimes levied if it can be proven that the defendants acted in bad faith.