What Does It Mean to Be Involved In a Commercial Truck Accident and What Can I Do About It?

What Does It Mean to Be Involved In a Commercial Truck Accident and What Can I Do About It?

Commercial truck accidents can be some of the most serious and deadly accidents that occur on the roads. These types of accidents have the potential to be so serious because commercial trucks are so much larger than your average car on the road. Commercial trucks are frequently carrying various freight items and can weigh around 80,000 pounds, sometimes, even more, depending on the weight of the freight being transported in the trailers attached. The average car weighs just about 3,000 pounds. The sheer size and weight of these trucks could cause significant damage to anyone traveling in a non-commercial vehicle if a collision were to occur.

If you or a loved one was injured in a collision with a commercial truck, fortunately, there is a way to recover your damages. This typically involves bringing a claim against the at-fault commercial trucking company. Since the claim will be against an established company rather than just the individual driver, the corresponding insurance policy tends to result in more funds available for settlements or awards. This will help you to be fully compensated for your damages. Damages is a term that simply refers to that which would make you whole, meaning, to return you back to the position you were in before the accident occurred. You can seek damages in the form of reimbursement for any medical bills you incurred for treatment related to the accident, lost wages for time you were off work due to the accident, and also a sum for the pain and suffering that you went through. In some states, if you are married, your spouse may also have a claim for what is called loss of consortium. This refers to the loss of companionship your spouse suffered while you were injured as a result of the collision. These kinds of claims can be complex and time-sensitive, so it is always best to speak with a personal injury lawyer in your area before proceeding to handle the claim on your own.

Commercial trucking accidents can involve a number of different factors and have multiple causes. One way a commercial trucking accident occurs is through jackknifing. Jackknifing occurs when a commercial truck with one or more trailers attached suddenly has the cab portion of the truck (where the driver sits) fold over to the side, becoming adjacent to the trailer behind it. This typically occurs when the driver of the truck loses control of the vehicle. Depending on the facts of the incident, there could be a claim for negligence on the part of the driver and also the commercial trucking company itself.

Another way commercial trucking accidents occur is via a brake malfunction or failure. The cause of this can be anything from faulty trucking equipment to just plain driver error on the part of the truck driver. Either way, it is possible to make a successful claim for negligence against the truck driver and/or the commercial trucking company.

Some of the most serious and deadly types of commercial trucking accidents involve the truck rolling over. The cause for the rollover can be due to negative road conditions or driver error, but it can also be caused by improper loading of the trailer or other malfunctions related to the truck itself. These kinds of causes can be a result of the negligence of the trucking company.

Whether it was the negligence of the driver of the commercial truck or the negligence of the commercial trucking company that led to the collision if you were harmed in an accident as a result of that negligence you may be entitled to significant compensation and should consider hiring an attorney to prosecute your claims.


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