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Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be overwhelming and stressful. Not only do you have to deal with damage to your vehicle, but you could also be suffering from serious personal injuries such as broken bones or bruising.
The larger the vehicle, the greater the potential damage it can cause in the event of a collision. When an accident involves a commercial truck, the fallout can be more challenging and devastating.
At Shapiro Law Team, we’re your local truck accident lawyer in New Mexico. We’ll go over the basics of how severe truck accidents can be, how filing a claim varies from other car accidents, and how proper legal representation can help you earn the compensation you deserve.
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Commercial trucks are massive pieces of metal machinery that can weigh multiple tons, even more if they’re carrying cargo. A fully loaded truck can weigh anywhere up to 80,000 pounds, almost 20 times the weight of an average passenger car.
This massive size means that truck collisions are much more devastating for all drivers involved. The weight creates a greater force of impact, potentially leading to catastrophic injuries or even wrongful death.
In many cases, accidents involving a commercial truck are more complicated to file a claim for than other vehicle collisions. This can stem from the fact that the truck is owned by a corporation that employs the drivers, as well as the severity of the injuries from the incident.
Farmington Truck Accident Lawyer
Some factors that can impact your personal injury claim after a truck accident and make the process more complex include:
As mentioned earlier, corporations own these commercial trucks and employ the drivers who operate them. This means that multiple parties could be found liable for the accident, ranging from the driver themselves to the corporation or another third party.
Multiple liable parties can make it more difficult to determine whose insurance will cover the damages. The trucking firm’s legal team will do everything in its power to try and push liability onto another party, and this can complicate the claim-filing process.
The trucking industry is heavily regulated at both the state and federal levels. These regulations help keep everyone on the road safe and ensure truck drivers have safe working conditions to complete their job.
In a truck accident claim, investigators need to do a complete assessment to see if the driver or trucking firm violated any of these regulations. This can slow down the claim-filing process and make determining who is liable for the damages more challenging.
Vehicle collisions involving passenger cars typically have one insurance policy per vehicle involved. However, this isn’t the case for truck accidents.
Truck collisions may have multiple, overlapping insurance policies. The driver will have their own personal policy, while the trucking firm will provide another one since the truck is a company vehicle.
This overlap, along with the complexities of determining liability, can make it tough to know which insurance policy is responsible for the damages.
Since filing a personal injury claim after a truck accident can take longer than other car collisions, crucial evidence must be properly stored and preserved. Without the proper steps, you risk losing or misplacing evidence that could potentially make or break your claim.
The more extensive and impactful the injuries, the higher the stakes of the personal injury claim. A claim for minor cuts and bruising is going to be less than a claim for an accident that caused traumatic brain injuries and permanent disability.
Because truck accidents are more likely to cause severe injuries, the claim is going to be higher stakes. The higher the stakes, the more complex the claim. Your compensation will need to cover your extensive medical care after the incident, leading to a higher payout.
Jurisdiction can play a role in truck accidents depending on where the trucking company is located and where the accident took place. If the company is located in California, but the accident happened in Arizona, it can be tough to know where you’re meant to file your claim.
In cases like this, you may need to follow state laws for both California and Arizona when you file. A qualified legal team can help you figure out the right course of action after a serious truck accident.
Truck accident claims are often high-stakes, making settlement negotiations complex and lengthy. You need a qualified and experienced legal team to handle these negotiations and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
The trucking company or their insurance provider may try to lowball your settlement or get you to settle quickly. The right legal help can make sure you don’t fall for these tricks, even if your case goes to litigation.
The right legal team can make all the difference. A licensed truck accident attorney knows the ins and outs of the industry regulations and what you need to do to secure your rightful compensation.
Our truck accident attorneys at Shapiro Law Team are skilled negotiators who know every trick in the book that insurance companies will use to try and lowball your settlement. We’ll handle all the settlement negotiations so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
We’ll guide you through the legal process and make sure everything is filed properly. That way, you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Yes, truck accidents can be harder to win. This stems from the fact that multiple parties are involved in the claim process, including the trucking company, cargo loaders, and the company’s insurance company. The complexity of these claims can also mean they take longer to properly settle.
Liability for a truck accident can vary depending on the circumstances. Multiple parties can be held liable for the damages, including the trucking company, the maintenance providers, and even the truck manufacturers.
Due to the complex nature of truck accident liability and the risk of serious personal injuries, thorough investigations are necessary for a proper claim. This often involves reviewing equipment maintenance records, examining black box data, and verifying the driver’s commercial driving record.
Compensation for a truck accident case can include medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and, in some cases, punitive damages.
Accidents involving commercial trucks can involve complex liability issues, intricate regulations, and more severe injuries. For these reasons, filing a claim can be more challenging than filing for other car accidents.
A truck accident can be devastating and leave you with extensive, long-term injuries. You deserve justice, and the parties responsible need to be held accountable for their actions.
If you’re looking for compassionate legal help in the Farmington area, look no further than Shapiro Law Team. Our truck accident lawyers will work with you to make sure you get your rightful compensation.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us a thing unless we win your case. Give us a call today or visit our website to schedule a free consultation and get on the road to recovery.