Truck accidents are a workplace safety issue. Unfortunately for all the vehicles on the road today, it’s also a public safety issue. The rules governing trucking and over-the-road driving have been changed and there is now technology in place that can help people drive safer and see fewer accidents on the road. However, they do still happen and when they do, they can impact a lot of people.
Do you need legal representation if you’ve been involved in a commercial truck accident in Downey? If you're wondering why hire a truck accident lawyer for a traffic incident, here are the benefits to think about when considering your options.
Trucking Companies Are Prepared for Legal Action
A trucking company is required to have certain types of insurance in place to operate their business legally. They are also backed by their own legal team ready to defend the company in the event of an accident by a truck driver they employ. It’s an eventuality, not a “what if?” to them, and they’re going to do everything to protect themselves from every possible outcome. Liable parties of truck accident injuries may involve the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer
These companies have more than enough money to compensate you for injuries or damages, but they don’t want to pay unless they have to. Naturally, that causes them to lose money and can increase their insurance rates. So, they will fight any truck accident lawsuit filed against them. And many of them will fight to the very last detail with some of the best legal representation out there today.
Truck Accident Attorneys Know the Law
Truck accident victims might not be familiar with trucking industry laws, like hours of service limits and break requirements. The Department of Transportation has set these requirements to increase safety on America’s highways and if truckers are driving outside of their allowed times, they are breaking the law and should be held accountable. Tired and distracted driving accidents happen frequently with commercial trucks. Some of that can be attributed to driver fatigue. Driver qualifications and drug testing are also a concern for potential causes of fault, but when you hire an experienced accident lawyer, they will ensure that the driver is properly licensed and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. CDL drivers who are caught driving while impaired are held to a higher accountability than those driving passenger cars, including the potential to lose their job and have their license revoked.
An insurance company will generally try to offer a settlement to avoid going to court, hoping it’s enough to get you to gloss over all these details or skip hiring a truck accident lawyer in the first place. In some cases, it may seem “fair” to them and it may even cover the damages and injuries. However, that doesn’t mean that victims have to accept those early offers. Hire a knowledgeable truck accident attorney and get rid of the uncertainty for good.
Truck Accidents Are Less Common But Severe
Because trucks are massive and often carry a lot of heavy cargo, they are far more likely to cause serious damage and fatalities as the result of an accident. Commercial trucking accidents happen less frequently than passenger vehicle accidents, but when they do occur, it’s usually catastrophic:
- 4,119 truck accident deaths were reported in 2019
- Only 16% of those victims were truck occupants, and the rest were pedestrians or occupants of the other vehicles
- The total number of deaths is up as much as 36% since 2013
- 47% of all large truck crashes involved a rollover
- 55% of the deaths in 2019 were the result of single-vehicle crashes
And when you consider that the average commercial truck weighs 25,000-35,000 pounds when it’s holding an empty trailer, and the maximum legal weight is as much as 80,000 pounds, it’s no wonder they’re more deadly. It’s nearly impossible to avoid an accident or correct a mistake in a 65,000 projectile that’s flying down the highway at 68 MPH.
If you’ve lost a family member or loved one as a result of a truck accident, a lawyer can make sure that the right person is held accountable and that you get the justice and compensation that you deserve.
The Benefit of a Skilled Truck Accident Lawyer
If you take the time to find the right lawyer to assist you in your truck accident case, you’ll have no trouble getting the outcome that you deserve. There are so many considerations, but you’ll ultimately want to choose a lawyer with experience, good reviews, and most importantly, a personality that matches yours and that makes you feel comfortable and confident in your case. Before you settle, talk to an experienced truck accident attorney to find out what the benefits are to having one assist you and what kind of recourse you may have for your truck accident claim. The odds might be more in your favor than you think.