Edwardsville Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, causing a massive catastrophe. Because trucks can weigh between 6,000 to 80,000 pounds, they can cause serious damage. The injuries you sustain after a truck accident can prevent you from working, and you may even suffer a permanent disability that forces you to find a new occupation. Worst of all, your medical bills will be extraordinarily high because of your truck accident injuries. When your damages heavily impact your life and cause serious injuries, you can speak to an Illinois truck accident lawyer to get compensation for your losses.
When you are not at fault for the truck accident, you are owed compensation to help you overcome your damages. Even if you were partially at fault for the trucking accident, you could still receive a percentage of the compensation. A semi-truck accident lawyer is knowledgeable on these matters and can help guide you. To find out how this works, call Hipskind & Mcaninch LLC today for a free consultation regarding truck accidents.
Common Causes Of Trucking Accidents
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, it’s important to understand exactly how the crash happened and who was responsible. Similar to car accidents, one of the most common causes of truck accidents is driver error. Some ways truck drivers can cause serious truck accidents include the following:
Distracted Driving
To prevent a truck accident, semi-truck drivers must pay attention to the road and avoid distractions when they’re behind the wheel. Distracted driving, especially in a large vehicle like a truck, can be extremely dangerous and puts people in passenger vehicles and everyone on the road at risk of injury. When truck drivers cause accidents due to distracted driving, the trucking company’s insurance is responsible for paying damages to personal injury victims.
Reckless Driving
Truckers are expected to follow speed limits and make safe passing maneuvers. Reckless drivers often operate in lanes not designated for them, speed, cut people off, and make other careless mistakes that result in truck accidents.
Improperly Loaded Vehicles
Many large trucks have an attached trailer that needs to be loaded properly to avoid shifting while in transit. When trailer loading is done improperly due to negligence on the part of the carrier or driver, this can result in the truck losing control or overturning. In these situations, your attorney will work to identify who was responsible for this mistake and how it may have contributed to your injuries. It may not have been the truck driver’s fault, but the warehouse suppliers or their employees.
Fatigued Driving
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set regulations limiting how many consecutive hours semi-truck drivers can work without taking a break. Unfortunately, some truckers choose to ignore these rules. They keep driving when they’re too fatigued or drowsy to be on the road safely, which can cause semi-truck accidents. If you were in a traffic accident with a trucker who was driving while fatigued, an accident lawyer in Edwardsville would investigate the personal injury case.
Intoxicated Driving
Truck drivers are regularly tested for drugs to prevent truck accidents. However, they sometimes drive under the influence of illicit substances or alcohol. Truckers must follow traffic laws and avoid driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. When they fail to do this, they are more likely to cause truck accidents that can result in the loss of lives.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer in Edwardsville Can Help You
The truck accident lawyer’s duty is to ensure you are fairly represented and that you receive maximum compensation for your personal injury. Truck company insurers may be unfair and provide less than you are owed. An Edwardsville personal injury lawyer from our legal team has years of experience handling complex truck accident cases. We can help you in the following ways:
Calculation Of Damages
Truck accident lawyers can help you obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other costs related to your injuries. Surviving family members can seek wrongful death damages that may have resulted from catastrophic injuries in passenger vehicles. Your medical expenses can include any cost resulting from your car accident. For example, you may require expensive x-ray and imaging scans to help identify your personal injury. Surgery may even be necessary.
Ongoing costs will be a part of your settlement total. Pain and suffering make up most of your settlement but are often left out by insurers. This includes any emotional turmoil you experienced due to the accident. You’ll also receive compensation for wages you missed while at home recovering. If your vehicle were damaged, the cost of repair or replacement would also be included.
Investigation Of Evidence
Truck accident lawyers can help you find the proof necessary to prove who was at fault. They’ll use photographs, traffic surveillance footage, your police report, and eyewitness testimonies. Attorneys will also include evidence such as lab tests, subpoenas, driving records, and other information that supports your claim.
Negotiation Before Trial With Trucking Companies
Instead of immediately filing a lawsuit, your attorney will help you obtain a fair settlement outside of court. A lawsuit can take a very long time for you to receive a settlement because both parties have to take many steps. Your attorney will negotiate with the other party until they agree to a fair settlement. If they refuse to settle, then your attorney will represent you in court. The judge will decide how much you should receive and issue a judgment.
Get Help From Experienced Edwardsville Truck Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident due to another driver’s negligence, you need a zealous and diligent Edwardsville truck accident lawyer on your side. Our law firm has years of experience handling complex damages caused by semi-truck accidents. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and more. We work on a contingency fee basis. Contact Hipskind & Mcaninch LLC today for a free consultation to start working with a truck accident lawyer in Edwardsville.