Being involved in an accident with a huge commercial truck is not only a horrible experience, it’s also extremely confusing. Accident victims are often unsure of what their legal options may be. They know they weren’t to blame for the accident. And they’re having to deal with a mountain of medical bills and other expenses. But they don’t know how to go about obtaining the compensation they deserve to pay for those expenses.
The attorneys with Penn Kestner & McEwen are here to help. We have a vast amount of experience in this area of the law, and we also have a long track record of delivering positive results on behalf of our clients. Our team members will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and we will let you know exactly what to expect through every phase of the process.
The following information outlines many of the different reasons that you should get legal help as soon as you can. If you would like to schedule a free case review, please give us a call at (800) 732-3070 or use our online contact form.
Determining Liability in Truck Accident Cases
Determining who is at fault in a trucking accident is a very complex undertaking. The reason is that there could be several parties that play some sort of role. When this is the case, that means you might have to take action against many different people or companies at the same time. But if you have a skilled attorney working by your side, you won’t have to deal with all of the complexities.
These are just some of the many parties that could be held liable in your case.
Truck Driver
Most of the time, the driver of the truck will at least bear some responsibility when an accident occurs. Truck drivers can be hazardous for a lot of reasons. They could have been distracted due to using their phone while behind the wheel. Or they might have been driving aggressively because they were trying to make a deadline. The driver might have been exhausted as well, because the deadline their employer imposed on them was unreasonable. Some drivers even get behind the wheel of these huge machines while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Trucking Company
Not only do trucking companies often require their drivers to meet ridiculous deadlines. But they will also try to cut corners in far too many instances. Rather than do what’s right – and what’s required by law – they will often neglect to inspect a truck before allowing it to leave the company’s facility. This could result in a part failure that directly causes an accident.
Manufacturer
The company that made a defective part could also be held liable if that part’s failure played a direct role in causing the accident to occur. It could be the manufacturer of a defective tire that blew out, or the maker of a braking system that failed.
Cargo Loaders
Trucking companies will often outsource the loading of their rigs to other companies. Loading a truck is an incredibly important task. The freight needs to be securely loaded in a specific manner so that the truck can stay balanced. If this loading is performed in a negligent way, the load could shift. This can result in the driver losing control and the truck rolling over.
They Have Connections to Industry Experts that Can Help Build Your Case
Attorneys can also call upon expert witnesses who could provide powerful testimony on your behalf. These are just a few examples.
- Medical experts. Doctors can look at your medical bills, as well as your records, and testify that all of your medical expenses are legitimate. They can also explain how badly you’ve been hurt in a way that a jury will understand.
- Mental health experts. This type of expert can show how the accident has affected not only your quality of life, but also your emotional well-being.
- Accident reconstruction experts. An accident reconstruction expert can take the facts of the case – gathered from witness statements, the police report and other sources – and show a jury exactly how the collision took place.
They’ll Get You the Compensation You Deserve
Again, a trucking accident is incredibly complicated, since there are oftentimes multiple defendants. That means you’d have to fight all of them at the same time in order to get the money you have coming to you. Experienced trucking accident attorneys know how to deal with multi-defendant lawsuits.
How do they give you the best possible chance of maximizing your compensation? They gather the hard evidence needed to prove you played no role in causing the accident. If you hire an attorney, they will begin an investigation into your collision, collecting the proof needed to help you win. This can mean talking to witnesses, collecting footage from any nearby surveillance cameras that might have caught the accident, and much more.
The sooner you speak with an attorney, the sooner the investigation can start. Road conditions can change very fast, due to construction, weather and other reasons. If you wait too long to get legal help, that evidence could disappear for good.
They Have a Vast Knowledge of Trucking Regulations, Law, and Insurance Company Behaviors
Unfortunately, there are some attorneys who don’t know as much about federal trucking regulations as they should. That’s one of the reasons why you need a legal representative with in-depth knowledge of this area of the law.
Speak to an Experienced Group of Truck Accident Attorneys Today
At Penn Kestner & McEwen, our team of attorneys not only has that knowledge, we also have a great deal of experience helping clients. When you choose our firm, you can rest assured we will work incredibly hard to help you obtain every penny in compensation that you deserve.
Put our knowledge and experience to work for you by getting in touch with us for a free consultation. You can use our online contact form, or you can call (800) 732-3070.
