It should shock no one that getting in an accident with a big rig represents a greater danger of encountering damage. The severity of an accident is more serious when contrasted with crashes with smaller vehicles. So, if you experience damage in a wreck with a business truck, your best option to consider is retaining an attorney with a track record of winning large settlements from trucking lawsuits.
Most likely, you will not just be going against the truck driver but also the trucking company and the commercial insurer of both. Finding the right attorney should be high on your to-do list after being injured by an 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle.
1. It’s Harder to Prove Liability When Compared to Normal Automobile Accidents
Commercial vehicle operators such as 18-wheelers are subject to more stringent rules and regulations than simply family car drivers. Several different entities may have legal responsibility for a crash. These entities would include the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance company, and others. Typically, jurors are asked to apportion fault for an accident to determine who should pay the damages, if any.
It is not unheard of for defendants to play hide the ball on responsibility for a crash. Also, insurance companies will look for any excuse they can to avoid having to cover the accident. Finding an attorney who is experienced in the shell game advanced by defense attorneys can be critically important to your case.
2. Master Truck Attorneys Know Legal Rules and Regulations
Finding the best attorney for your case is a critical first step. You certainly do not want an inexperienced attorney learning on the job with your case. Lawyers can have specialties and subspecialties for their practice, which gives those practitioners an advantage in many cases that fall within their specialty. Truck accident litigation is one of those areas.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations apply to regulate the conduct of truck drivers and trucking companies to reduce the number of truck accidents in the United States. These safety rules include driver training, required maintenance, special rules regarding driving, and adverse conditions and obligations on the part of the truck driver and the motor carrier. So, contracting a specialist truck accident attorney who routinely handles truck accident litigation is a good first step after an injury accident.
3. Professionals Will Pick the Right Legal Strategy
Generally, the earlier you retain an attorney for your accident with the big rig, the better for your legal claim. While it is difficult to deal with selecting the appropriate attorney after you have lost a loved one or are recovering from a significant injury, it is an important step that must be undertaken.
Recently, the defense interest has sought to repair the vehicle and put it back in service as soon as possible to prevent inspections by expert witnesses hired by the attorney for the injured parties. Such things as a black box or event data recorder can show the speed of the vehicles and whether or not appropriate braking activity was used. Additionally, critical evidence such as skid marks, debris from the wreck, and other telltale evidence should be documented as soon as possible. If you do your homework to find the most reputable and skilled attorney for your case, let your attorney decide the strategy and steps needed to protect your interests.
