What to do after an accident involving a commercial truck
Accidents involving commercial (big rig) trucks occur on average 11 times a day across the United States and result in over four thousand deaths a year. Most of these accidents are caused by driver error, fatigue, or mechanical problems.
A typical commercial truck can weigh at least 25 times more than a regular car. Therefore, most big rig truck accidents with other vehicles often result in more serious physical injury and property damage than an accident between two personal cars.
As with most personal injury cases involving vehicle accidents, the main point of legal liability in commercial truck accident cases is to prove negligence. An individual injured in a commercial truck accident must show that:
- The driver, or the company he represents, owes the plaintiff a legal duty of reasonable care to avoid injury under the circumstances,
- The driver failed to exercise reasonable care, and
- This breach of reasonable care was the cause of injury suffered by the plaintiff.
A personal injury lawyer can help establish each of the stipulations above and can take you through the entire process of claiming what is rightfully owed to you.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a truck accident, you should consider having an attorney evaluate your claim at no charge. A consultation could make all the difference in whether you collect on your claim.