It seems that hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear of a horrific traffic accident involving an out-of-control big-rig truck that takes the lives or seriously injures the occupants of several cars, shoppers inside a retail store, or pedestrians on the sidewalk. Tragedy often strikes when the big-rig’s brakes are worn and can’t keep the big-rig from running wild down a hill. The big-rig’s driver is unable to negotiate a turn at the bottom of the hill, or unable to stop at a stop sign or red light at the base of the hill, resulting in the runaway truck crashing into everything in its way, causing deaths, critical injuries, and tremendous property damage.
In addition to big-rig accidents caused by brake failure due to improper maintenance, the tires may be worn and not have sufficient tread to stop the big-rig. In fact, the worn tires may even blow-out when the driver is braking hard. The driver may fall asleep or be driving under the influence or alcohol or drugs. Or the driver may be driving aggressively, speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and otherwise driving recklessly to get to his or her destination as soon as possible, so he or she can reload the truck for another trip and larger payday and be eligible for pay bonuses and compensation incentives.
Unrealistic schedules and expectations of trucking companies often encourage drivers to hurry, despite safety risks involved. Driver fatigue may result in up to 30% of truck accidents. Laws regulate how many consecutive hours a truck driver can drive, but those laws are frequently ignored and the driver falsifies his or her logbook or keeps two sets of books. Sometimes the truck is overloaded; other times it is incorrectly loaded, for example, making it top heavy and more likely to tip over when hit by a strong gust of wind.
Every 16 minutes a person is killed or injured in an accident involving an 18-wheel truck, tractor-trailer, or semi-truck. Approximately 5,000 persons are killed each year in big-rig—also known as “large-truck”) accidents. A “large truck” is defined as one having a gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds. Roughy 115,000 persons are injured in large truck-related accidents. One out of eight traffic fatalities result from an accident involving a large truck. Tractors pulling one semi-trailer are the most common configuration, accounting for about 60 percent of all large trucks involved in a fatal collision. When a big-rig gets into an accident, it is rarely the typical fender bender. Big-rigs are usually involved in multiple vehicle crashes.
Suppose the big-rig driver’s insurance company has been good about paying your medical expenses and car repairs, and tells you that you do not need to hire a lawyer, as the lawyer will just take a large chunk of my settlement and you’d do better without one. What should you do? An insurance adjuster is employed by the insurance company, and his or her only concern is settling a case as quickly and cheaply as possible. Studies consistently show that car or truck accident victims who are represented by a competent and experienced personal injury law firm end up with significantly more money in their pockets even after the lawyer’s fees are paid than accident victims who are not represented by a lawyer and try to handle their own claims.
One question you’re probably asking youself is, how soon after you’ve been injured or a loved one killed by a big-rig should you hire a law firm to represent you? If you have been seriously injured—or a loved one has been killed—in a truck accident, you should retain a lawyer as soon as possible. The insurance company will assign an adjuster to the case as soon as it is reported to the insurance company and usually the adjuster will want to take your statement as soon as possible. Do not give the adjuster a statement until you have talked with—and preferably retained—an experienced personal injury lawyer. The adjuster is trained to ask questions that are biased in favor of the insurance company and designed to trip you up. You should never give a statement to an insurance company adjuster or other representative without the consent and presence of your attorney.
If you have been injured in an accident and suffered a broken jaw, you should contact an experienced personal injury law firm as soon as possible. The law firm may want to send its own investigators to the scene of the accident to inspect and take pictures of the vehicles, the accident site, and any dangerous condition that caused or contributed to the accident, especially before there is a change in the condition of the area or vehicle. The attorney or his or her investigator will also want to talk to any witnesses to the accident as soon as possible while the facts are still fresh in their minds.
An experienced personal injury law firm can also help with seeing to it that you obtain appropriate and thorough medical care for your physical, emotional, and psychological injuries suffered as a result of the accident. The attorneys in the firm can also do everything possible to ensure that you obtain full compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, lost wages, and all of your other injuries and damages.
Call now for a free consultation by a lawyer: 310.882.6810 or toll-free 888.222.8286
