Truck collisions happen all the time. In Texas, they happen more often than most other states. So, it is likely you have a lot of questions about accidents involving commercial trucks. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about these crashes and answers to help you navigate this concern on the road.
A total of 4,136 people died in large truck crashes in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. It’s no secret truck accidents result in fatal consequences and that a truck accident lawyer is needed. But how exactly does one know when to hire one? There are a few key items to determine if you need an attorney for your truck accident. * Keep in mind that if something like this happens to you, you should be completely informed about the legal procedure that you need to conduct. However, it would be very challenging to do this by yourself. Instead, it would be the wisest decision to focus on your recovery and leave this task to the experts in tomenybest.com or any other law firm. In that way, you will have peace in your mind knowing that someone will support your interests and put an effort to reach a fair settlement that will be the best outcome for you in that stressful situation.
Read below to find out if you need to hire a truck accident lawyer.
Q: What classifies a vehicle as a “commercial” truck?
A: Commercial trucks are large vehicles used for business, such as transporting commercial goods to be sold in stores. Delivery vehicles, cement trucks, 18-wheelers, and other freight trucks fall under the umbrella term of commercial trucks. In order to drive these vehicles, drivers must have a commercial driver’s license.
Q: How many motor accidents involve a truck every year?
A: Of all the collisions that happen annually on the road, it is estimated that approximately half a million (500,000) accidents involving commercial trucks happen every year.
Q: What is the cause of most truck accidents?
A: There are many factors that can influence and contribute to a collision on the road. When an accident involving a commercial truck happens, a majority of them are caused by mechanical failures involving tires, brakes, and other crucial systems. Other leading causes include driver fatigue and error, confusion about the route, and external pressures, such as job deadlines and aggressive driving.
Q: How many people are killed by trucks every year?
A: Tractor-trailer trucks (also known as 18-wheeler and semi-trucks) kill about 5,000 people every year, though the exact number is not known. That adds up to one fatality every 15 minutes.
Q: How many fatal accidents involve a commercial truck?
A: The risk of an accident resulting in immediate death or a fatal injury is higher in crashes involving large, powerful vehicles like 18-wheelers. Approximately 1 in 9 traffic-related deaths involve a big rig or large truck worldwide. That comes out to about 11% of all accident fatalities.
Q: Why are accidents involving trucks more dangerous?
A: The risks associated with truck accidents are primarily due to the difference in vehicle size. Commercial trucks loaded to capacity can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds. Passenger vehicles/cars typically weigh around 3,000 pounds. The connection here is intuitive: a larger, heavier vehicle can cause serious damage to a smaller vehicle with much less effort. This results in cars being destroyed, serious injury to the car’s occupants, and death.
Q: How many truck accidents are caused by car drivers?
A: Whenever an accident occurs, insurance agencies must decide who or what is at fault for the crash. This determines who pays for the damages caused by the accident. The drivers of passenger vehicles are found to be at-fault for car-truck collisions more than 80% of the time. This is why it’s so important for car drivers to drive safely around commercial trucks and give them plenty of room when merging, turning, and changing lanes.
Q: How many “backing-up” accidents involve commercial trucks?
A: Accidents caused by one vehicle backing up into another can result in a range of minor damages to devastating consequences. Having a large, powerful truck back into your car can potentially be fatal. Because trucks have a blind spot up to 30 feet behind their trailers, 70% of backing-up accidents involve semi-trucks or mid-sized trucking vehicles.
Q: How long does it take to settle the truck case accident?
Whenever an individual thinks about the time to settle the truck accident case, it may depend on the insurance company and court decision. The insurance company finds it convenient to pay your claims as soon as possible for their benefits. However, once they are aware of the attorney you hire, they will change their way of working. It is because hiring a lawyer will help you get more money than any insurance company can give.
Q: What parties can I sue after a truck accident?
Whenever we think to sue the parties for a truck accident, the following list comes in mind:
- Vehicle owner
- Careless driver
- You can sue the liability insurance of the driver’s spouse and any resident relative
- The agency for which the driver works
- The company under which the driver works
- Parents of the driver if they have signed the application
- Tire company
- Repair shop
- The contractor
- Other first-party benefits
Q: Who covers the damages caused in a truck accident?
With the prevailing law, for example, in Texas, the government allows both parties to claim damages in a 50-50 fault position. The compensation gets covered under the Compensation Act if you are partially at fault. Else, your insurance company will come forward to assist you and help you recover from losses.
Q: Role of insurance when you get into a truck accident?
As soon as you file a claim for the accident, the insurance company assigns you an insurance adjuster who will help you quickly settle the requests. The person will gather the necessary information and give you an estimate. The insurance company then decides to pay the half amount or claim the full amount from the other parties’ insurer.
Q: What is the role of a lawyer during the truck accident?
Without a doubt, trucking accidents can be costly. In case of severe accidents, the injury might lead you to be jobless for your entire life. The main aim of the truck injury lawyers is to determine the whole scenario and file for compensation. He will suggest you take the right decision at the right time. Also, the lawyer will act as quickly as possible to help you get the right amount of money if you have severe injuries. No matter who is at fault, your lawyer will do the best to help you get the right amount.
Talk to an attorney if you’ve been in a truck accident. You will get the best assistance from the members. You can also contact your insurance company to file the claim for the injuries the accident caused. You can check out Baumgartner Law Firm to see if they can help you with the demands.
