Help from a Muncie Truck Accident Attorney
Injured in a semi truck accident? Call us today for a FREE consultation
The types of damages you can recover after a serious truck accident through a personal injury claim include but are not limited to:
Medical expenses
This includes medical bills that are an immediate result of the accident, future medical costs, and physical therapy. One of the reasons truck accidents are different from regular car accidents is because the injuries tend to be so much more severe.
In a minor car accident, you may be able to walk away without going to the hospital. However, that’s very unlikely in the event of a semi truck accident. Seeking medical treatment is not only good for your health, but also good for your personal injury claim. If you put off seeing the doctor, the insurance company may try to argue that your injuries aren’t related to your accident. By seeking treatment, you’ll be documenting the extent of your injuries and your efforts to heal them.
Lost wages
You likely won’t get paid to stay home and heal after your accident. You may not even be able to do the same amount or type of work as before the accident depending on the extent of your injury. You deserve to be compensated for lost wages and any lost earning capacity caused by the accident.
Pain and suffering
Semi-truck accidents victims can develop depression, anxiety, and psychological aversions to being inside a vehicle. Sometimes these psychological damages can be treated, but the impact never really goes away. You can’t put a price tag on suffering but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be compensated for your pain.
You can always start a personal injury claim on your own, but if you are struggling with injuries or loss of a loved one, the stress of fighting with insurance companies may be too much to handle.
Let a Muncie personal injury lawyer fight for you. We want to make the legal process as easy as possible for you and your family. Together, we can make a difference with your truck accident claim.
Who is At Fault in a Semi-Truck Accident?
Who can be held responsible for your injuries after a Muncie truck accident? There are several parties who could be liable or share liability for the accident.
The Truck Driver
The most obvious person who might be responsible for your semi truck accident is the truck driver himself. If the truck driver broke any laws, you’ll probably seek compensation from their insurance company. For example, if the truck driver was texting or drinking while driving or didn’t adhere to the Hours of Service regulations, you can hold them responsible for the accident.
However, many truck drivers get into semi truck accidents through no fault of their own. They could have been driving perfectly and following every law and still gotten into an accident. If you’re not at fault either, who else can you hold responsible? What else could have caused your accident?
The Truck Manufacturer
Something could have been wrong with the vehicle itself that caused the accident. Maybe the brakes were faulty or the steering wheel was stuck.
Truck manufacturers have a responsibility to make their trucks meet specific standards. If the truck malfunctioned due to the trucking company’s negligence, you may be able to hold them responsible for your accident.
The Company That Loaded the Truck
If a semi truck is loaded improperly, its cargo may move around during the trip. Sliding cargo may throw weight to one side of the trailer, leaving the truck unbalanced and prone to tip over.
It’s a good idea to look into how the truck was loaded if you were injured because a semi truck tipped over. The company that loaded the truck may be held responsible for your injuries.
The Company That Maintains the Truck
Everything degrades over time, and trucks are no exception. Such massive vehicles need constant maintenance to ensure that they run at peak performance and adhere to safety standards.
The company that maintains the truck may be different from the trucking company or the company that loads it. If you were injured in a semi truck accident because parts of the truck were not maintained correctly, you may be able to seek compensation from this other company.
The Trucking Company
In all of these scenarios, you may also be able to hold the trucking company responsible for your injuries. They’re the ones who employ truck drivers, choose the trucking manufacturer, and hire companies to load and maintain the truck. You may be able to argue that they were negligent if they knew these drivers, companies, or manufacturers weren’t qualified and still hired them anyway.
The trucking company itself might also be negligent if it encourages or incentivizes truckers to ignore the Hours of Service regulations.
Get Help From a Muncie Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
At Hensley Legal Group, we understand how hard it can be to get back on your feet after a semi-truck accident. We know how difficult insurance companies can be to deal with, especially those hired by trucking companies.
You don’t have to go through it alone. Our truck accident lawyers are on your side, whether we are able to reach a settlement or if we need to take the trucking company to court to get what your case is worth. We will not be intimidated out of getting justice for you and your family.
Please call our Muncie injury lawyers to get started on your semi-truck accident claim. Call us at (765) 284-2085 or chat with us online for a free consultation about your case.