Semi-truck Accident Lawyer
Transporting goods by truck is one of the most efficient ways of getting goods to market, with about 70 percent of all U.S. products reaching their destination by truck.
With the increasing number of trucks on the road, there’s an increase in the number of truck accidents. Between 2009 and 2017, there was a 52 percent increase in truck accidents. Between 130,000 and 160,000 people are injured each year in truck accidents. Roughly two-thirds of those injured are occupants of passenger vehicles.
It would be wrong to assume that truck drivers are to blame for all these accidents. At the same time, truck-driver error is the leading cause of these accidents, particularly driver drug or alcohol abuse and/or fatigue, which can:
- Significantly reduce the driver’s ability to control the rig;
- Impair truck drivers’ judgment;
- Reduce their reaction times; and
- Prevent the driver from making safe driving decisions.
Tractor trailer equipment issues may also contribute to these accidents. Regardless of the cause, the injuries resulting from these accidents are often severe and debilitating. They include broken bones, back and neck injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding and others.
What happens if the accident wasn’t your fault, and nobody is willing to compensate you for your medical and car repair expenses as well as lost work time?
If the at-fault driver or their insurance company is unwilling to pay, you will likely need the assistance of a semi-truck accident lawyer. Under most state laws, it’s up to accident victims to prove that the guilty party was negligent and thus responsible for compensating victims. Proving negligence is especially tricky in truck accident cases, because multiple parties could be negligent, including:
- The truck driver;
- The trucking company that owns the tractor;
- The other company that owns the trailer;
- The truck manufacturer;
- Companies that manufactured truck parts; and
- Cargo loading companies.
Truck accident lawyers are often particularly adept at conducting investigations to identify the guilty parties and compensating accident victims. They interview accident witnesses, review police reports and collect evidence that gives you the best chance of being compensated. Their knowledge of your state’s personal injury laws makes them great advisors, and they can help you avoid deadlines or paperwork errors that could jeopardize your case.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident? If so, there are many issues for you to consider, as an attorney, like a semi-truck accident lawyer from a firm like Cohen & Cohen, can explain.