Truck drivers are operating large and heavy vehicles – vehicles that can easily ride over traditional passenger vehicles. When a passenger vehicle collides with a large truck or bus, the occupants of the passenger vehicle will usually suffer more and worse injuries than the truck driver.
If you suffered injuries in an accident with a truck driver and it was not your fault, you might seek and obtain damages for your injuries. Your legal rights are hard to determine, and the insurance companies are not on your side or helping you recover as much as possible. They are working for profit and hope to pay you as little as possible. This is why you need a legal professional to advocate for you.
An experienced truck accident attorney is here to answer any questions you might have and is standing by to evaluate your situation and a possible injury case. Read on to learn more about rear-end truck accidents and how a truck accident attorney can help you make the most of your settlement.
Common Causes
A major cause of rear-end collisions with trucks is speeding. Speeding killed 9,478 people on the roads of the United States in one recent year alone. Speeding is a major issue in accidents because when speed is a factor, the risk of severe injuries can increase. When a vehicle travels at high speeds, it is harder to maneuver and stop.
An extremely heavy and large truck needs more time and space to stop. Greater weight adds more momentum to a speeding object, making it harder to stop. When truck drivers speed, can’t stop quickly and are more likely to rear-end other drivers.
Outside of speeding, distracted driving is another leading cause of rear-end collisions with trucks. A driver must follow the rules of the road and pay attention to their driving to maintain safety and awareness of the road conditions. If a driver is not paying attention to the road, they can run red lights, miss sudden stops ahead of them, and otherwise miss out on opportunities to avoid rather than cause accidents.
Distracted driving is engaging in any activity while driving that takes the driver’s attention away from the road. This can include using your smartphone while driving, talking with a passenger, or even driving while fatigued.
Knowing whether or not the truck driver in your rear-end truck accident was following the rules of the road and paying attention to their driving can be difficult, if not impossible, for you to determine personally. It often requires an extensive investigation, which an experienced truck accident lawyer can perform.
Even Slower-Speed Collisions Can Cause Serious Injuries
The speed at which a truck moves can contribute to a crash, but high speeds are not essential for a truck accident to have ruinous effects. A truck is both higher and much heavier than a traditional passenger vehicle.
Whether the truck moves at 10 miles per hour or 100 miles per hour, the truck can ride over a motor vehicle and crush it, injuring or killing those within. If a truck rear-ended your car in any circumstances, you may seek damages to cover your medical bills, lost earnings, and any long-term medical needs you might have from your injury, whether the truck driver sped or not.
Liability for Rear-End Crashes
When you are in an accident, the party that caused the accident should be liable for your injuries. Often, when you are in a rear-end collision, the driver behind you is responsible for the damage from the accident. This will depend on the unique facts and circumstances of your situation and how the law applies to it, which is something your truck accident attorney can discuss with you.
Knowing how much your rear-end truck accident is worth can be difficult, given that you are not a medical or occupational expert. Understanding and claiming for the full short and long-term costs associated with your injury is essential to obtaining your full compensation and recovery, and an experienced truck accident lawyer will know what to look for and what evidence to collect in support of your case.
The Importance of Contacting a Truck Accident Lawyer Right Away
When a truck accident happens, you can expect the trucking company to have representatives at the scene of the accident as soon as possible, gathering information to use against a liability claim.
You need your own representative to gather evidence to support your injury claim and begin determining the cause of the crash. Evidence that trucking companies gather can disappear without the right legal communications from an attorney, so the sooner you call a truck accident attorney, the better.
A truck accident lawyer can put together the best case possible for your claim and assemble the evidence the insurance company needs to not only approve your claim but pay out full damages. Calculating damages is a complex task, and too many people undervalue their claims or accept less money than they deserve. Having the right legal representation can help to avoid this.
Connect With a Truck Accident Lawyer Near You Now
Have an experienced attorney by your side to negotiate with the insurance companies and ensure that your settlement is as full as possible. The insurance company has attorneys and claim specialists working full-time to deny your claim or reduce the amount they pay, and your attorney will work in the opposite direction, supporting your interests. Reach out to a local truck accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation to discuss options on your case and get on the path to full recovery.