SEMI TRUCK COLLISIONS: COMMON CAUSES AND NEXT STEPS FOR VICTIMS
Most of us believe that we're excellent drivers. However, our highly developed skills behind the wheel can't always protect us when another motorist makes a poor choice on the road. And in many personal injury cases, especially those involving semi-trucks, the outcomes can often be devastating.
Being a defensive driver and learning more about the most common causes of these kinds of accidents can help you be more alert when sharing the road with large vehicles. That said, you may not always be able to prevent being involved in an accident with a semi-truck -- which is why we're also sharing what you should do if you're injured as a result of such a collision.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENTS?
Driver Fatigue
Distracted Driving
Lack of Driver Training
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Excessive Speeding
Bad Weather/Visibility
Improper Cargo Loads
Alcohol or Drug Use
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A TRUCK COLLISION?
Large truck fatalities increased by 9% between 2016 and 2017, which indicates that truck-related collisions may be a growing problem. As we become more dependent on speedy and convenient online deliveries, the potential for truck driver fatigue, speeding, distraction, and other harmful behaviors is likely to increase. And while all kinds of vehicle collisions can result in serious injury or death, crashes involving trucks and semi-trucks are that much more likely to have severe outcomes.
If you are fortunate enough to survive a traffic collision involving a truck, you may still have to face astronomical medical bills due to major injuries. You may be forced to miss work or may even sustain psychological damage as a result of the accident. And although you might be able to work directly with the other driver's insurance company in the case of a regular automobile accident, the stakes become a whole lot higher when your crash involves a truck driver.
It's important that victims of truck-related collisions pursue legal help with their personal injury cases. In the event that the truck driver was legally responsible for the crash, you need an experienced team to protect your rights and fight for your cause. Trucking companies will have the wherewithal to hire attorneys to protect their brand and won't have much incentive to provide you with the compensation you deserve -- unless you work with a reliable truck accident attorney in Omaha. With help from qualified lawyers, these kinds of personal injury cases can often come to a successful resolution.
If you've been involved in a collision involving a semi-truck or other large vehicle, you should first receive medical attention and file a police report. If you're physically able to do so, you should document any evidence you can at the scene. But regardless, your next step should be to contact a lawyer who practices personal injury law and who has experience working with semi-truck accident victims. Although not all road crashes turn into personal injury cases, any negligence on the part of a semi-truck driver may warrant the filing of a claim on your behalf.
Have you been involved in a collision involving a semi-truck or large truck? Our firm is here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.