If you have been in an accident with a commercial truck, especially a semi-truck, then you need to seek out an attorney with experience and knowledge with these types of cases. There are significant differences between an accident involving only cars and one the involves both trucks and cars. The following are three differences and how having the right attorney can you.
Laws regarding maintenance
Commercial trucks have laws regarding the upkeep of the truck. It is possible that the accident was caused by some form of maintenance neglect. It can even be something as rudimentary as the tires on a truck not being taken care of. Although it is possible for a bad tire to cause an accident with a car, unlike cars, commercial trucks must change their tires periodically. There will be records of when this last took place. Of course, there are many laws regarding truck maintenance, but a truck accident attorney will know what the laws are and know what specific aspect of maintenance may need to be examined with your particular accident.
Laws regarding operation of a truck
There are federal and state laws that regulate how many hours a driver may operate a truck without taking a certain amount of time to recuperate. There are log books that must be maintained for this reason. Sometimes this information may be noted in a police report, but this is not always the case. A truck accident attorney will know when the circumstances of an accident indicate that fatigue may have been to blame.
Who is liable for damages
There are many independent truck drivers on the road, but there are many trucking companies too. There are also companies who have a fleet of trucks to transport their products from distribution centers to retail stores. In either situation, there may be liability on the part of the company and not simply the driver. Knowing when the driver or a company is responsible for damages is fundamental to getting the compensation you are entitled to. In addition, truck accidents often involve more than one car. It is possible that another car, along with the truck, is liable for your damages. An attorney with experience in accidents involving a truck will know how to sort this out.
If you have been in an accident with a truck, you should speak to an attorney about the accident and any injuries you have sustained before agreeing to an insurance settlement. Most importantly, you should seek out a personal injury attorney who has had extensive experience litigating accidents involving commercial trucks. For more information, contact local professionals like Brownfield law office.
