The sheer size and scale of trucks mean that any accident involving them has the potential to be catastrophic, causing serious injury to passengers, and in many cases, totally destroying your vehicle. If you find yourself caught up in a truck accident, both your physical health and financial wellbeing can be negatively impacted, and the road to recovery can be a rocky one, filled with trials and trauma.

While you are working through the aftermath of a truck accident, it is crucial that you have a steady, experienced presence on your side, ready to advocate for your needs and ensure that you receive the justice that you deserve after such a traumatic event.

What Are The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents can help you to do your best to avoid them. The majority of accidents involving semi-automatic trucks include:

• Driving While Tired

One of the main things to remember while driving is that your attention needs to be on the road at all times. Many truck drivers will find themselves facing time and distance quotas, and they are required to do almost anything to hit these goals to avoid the wrath of their employers. This means that truck drivers can be on the road with minimal sleep, and this makes them dangerous drivers – this can be fatal in large trucks.

• Driving While Distracted

Distracted driving is another major danger facing drivers on the road, and this can be particularly dangerous when driving a truck. The most common forms of distraction include using phones while driving to text, email, call or browse the internet. Some drivers also drink or eat while driving, get distracted by the radio, or have their attention caught by other road users. When there is an enormous truck involved, distractions can be fatal.

• Loose or Unsecured Cargo

Many large trucks are carrying huge amounts of cargo, and if this is not secured properly prior to departure, it can become loose, slipping and falling from the truck. When traveling at speed on a crowded road, the consequences can be devastating.

• Dangerous Road Conditions

Sometimes, the fault can lie with the road that the truck is traveling on. If this is uneven or full of potholes or has inadequate shoulders or poor road markers, then it makes driving a lot more difficult. On occasion, this can be the perfect recipe for a very serious truck accident, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

Who Is At Fault?

Determining who is at fault during a truck accident is one of the most important factors to establish, and this is one of the primary goals of your attorney. When it comes to truck accidents, this is even more important, given that there can be multiple parties at fault in these situations, including the truck driver themselves, the owner of the truck, the trucking company, or the agency who is responsible for maintaining safe roads and highways. If you are seeking compensation following your accident, it is important that you name all parties who are liable for your injuries – this can have a large impact on the amount of compensation that you are awarded. For this reason, it is important to have a competent, experienced attorney on your side, who can work through testimonies, witness statements, accident scene photographs, and more to help determine who is at fault and will build a strong case to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

What Can I Receive Compensation For?

There are a number of reasons that you may be in need of financial compensation, and these include:

• Medical expenses – you may incur medical costs both immediately following the accident, and moving forward in the future – when it comes to truck accidents, many victims suffer from life-changing injuries. You may need financial assistance to cover hospital bills, surgical procedures, therapy, medication, and other ongoing treatment.
• Pain and suffering – this can include psychological injuries as well as physical ones.
• Adaptations to your home or vehicle if you become disabled as a result of your injuries.
• Loss of earnings both at the time of the accident and in the event that you are forced to change career or leave your job as a result of injuries obtained in the accident.

Should I Go To My Insurance Company?

It is worth noting that while your insurance company may offer you a seemingly generous settlement, you should be wary about accepting this. Ultimately, your insurance company is prioritizing profit and not your wellbeing. This means that they will do whatever they can to settle your claim as cheaply as possible, and you may even end up with nothing. Always speak to your attorney before making any agreements.

If you have been the victim of a truck accident, there is no need to worry. Our qualified, experienced team has the skills and abilities to navigate life post-crash and will do everything in our power to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Get in touch today, and see how we can help.