Truck driving is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that truck drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than other motorists.
In addition to causing many deaths yearly, truck accidents can cause serious injuries like paralysis or brain damage. As a result, these accidents often result in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for the injured parties.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident because of another driver’s negligence or poor road maintenance, it’s important to know how much your case could be worth – and what kind of compensation you should expect if you file a lawsuit.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents are more likely than other types of accidents to cause severe injuries and property damage because they involve larger vehicles that weigh several tons. Injury victims may need extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation following an accident.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, you may be able to sue for compensation for your injuries. A truck accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options after an accident. An attorney can also assist you with recovering damages from the at-fault party that caused your injuries.
Many different factors can cause truck accidents, such as:
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers often work long hours on the road and must be alert at all times. Being tired makes it harder for drivers to react quickly in dangerous situations or avoid an accident altogether.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a common cause of car accidents across all professions, especially when combined with driver fatigue. In addition to being fatigued, some truckers may still be adjusting to having their hands back on the wheel after years spent driving automatic vehicles.
Poor Maintenance
If your truck wasn’t properly maintained before its last trip — or if it wasn’t inspected regularly — it could break down unexpectedly while on the road, leading to an accident with
Dangerous Conditions
There are a number of factors contributing to the high fatality rate among truck drivers. For one thing, trucks are much more difficult to operate than passenger vehicles which means it takes longer to learn how to drive them safely.
In addition, many trucking companies have strict schedules that require drivers to work long hours behind the wheel with little or no rest breaks in between shifts. This can lead to fatigue-related accidents or injuries like sleep apnea which can cause drowsiness while driving.
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How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You
Truck drivers work long hours behind the wheel, which makes them more vulnerable to injury and death from car accidents or other incidents that occur on the road.
In addition, truck drivers often ignore traffic laws because they’re trying to make up for lost time or because they don’t think they’ll get caught breaking them — which can lead to even more accidents and injuries.
If you’re involved in an accident with a truck driver who was speeding or breaking other traffic laws at the time of your crash, you may have a case against them if they were negligent or reckless while operating their vehicle.
A personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for medical expenses and lost wages resulting from your injuries as well as pain and suffering damages related to your emotional distress caused by:
- Physical pain associated with your injuries
- Emotional distress such as stress over mounting medical bills
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inability to work or perform daily tasks
What Are Your Options If You’ve Been Injured in an Accident With a Truck?
If you’ve been hurt in an accident with a truck, you should make sure that any doctors who treat you document their findings thoroughly before they release you from care — this will help them give accurate testimony later on if they’re called on as witnesses by either side during trial proceedings.
If the truck driver is at fault, you should also make sure that he or she has adequate insurance coverage to pay for your medical expenses. If they don’t have enough coverage and can’t afford to pay out of pocket, any money they receive from their insurer will be deducted from any compensation award you receive in a lawsuit.
Truck drivers are the backbone of the American economy. They keep the goods flowing from place to place and are often on the road for long periods. However, truck drivers face a number of dangers that make their jobs more dangerous than most people realize.
If you’ve been involved in an accident while driving a commercial vehicle, it’s important that you understand your legal options and how they could affect your future career as a trucker.
