The larger a truck is, the more damage it will cause in a collision. 18-wheeler trucks are amongst the most oversized vehicles on the road today, and an accident with one can cause devastating damage to all involved parties.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident with one of these massive vehicles, do not hesitate to reach out to an 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer from Isaacs and Isaacs. Doing so could mean the difference between recovering minimum compensation and getting the total amount you need to pay for your accident-related damages.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents, including 18-wheeler truck accidents, are about as common as any other large vehicle accidents. Although commercial truck drivers generally have significant training that qualifies them to drive such vehicles, there is still an inherent risk involved in operating a massive truck. When things go wrong, victims can suffer severe injuries, sometimes even death.
Property damage is typical, too, as passenger vehicles are often no match for an 18-wheeler truck.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. If you were injured in an 18-wheeler truck accident, here are some potential reasons that the accident may have happened:
Fatigued Truck Drivers
Semi-truck drivers often work long, uninterrupted hours. Although there are laws regulating the number of hours they are allowed to work consecutively, some drivers break these rules to make their trips within a specific deadline. When this happens, they put themselves and others at significant risk.
The risk is derived from the fact that a sleepy, overworked driver will have decreased cognitive ability. With this condition comes the lowered ability to respond to situations that occur while they are on the road. Considering that 18-wheeler trucks and other semi-trucks are massive, the amount of time necessary to stop or otherwise avoid an accident can be very long.
Therefore, if something unexpected happens, it may be impossible for them to react appropriately in a reasonable amount of time.
Alcohol and Other Substances
Alcohol and other substances can severely impair one’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Unfortunately, countless drivers consume alcohol while behind the wheel of large trucks. They may do this to cope with the stress of long trips or to escape personal troubles.
Regardless of why they drink, the result of drinking while driving a large vehicle is often accidents. Drinking, much like fatigue, causes a decrease in cognitive ability. Other substances can have this effect too.
When under the influence, drivers lose their ability to act rationally, and their awareness is diminished. Under these conditions, otherwise avoidable accidents may occur. If you believe the driver who hit you was intoxicated, it may be time to contact an 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer.
Left-Hand Turn Crashes
Large vehicles typically have additional blindspots that are mostly present on their left side. When the drivers make left-hand turns, pedestrians and vehicles that are using crosswalks adjacent to them can easily be hit. If the truck driver is not precise with their turn, they may even collide with oncoming traffic in the lane they intend to turn into.
Such accidents cause considerable damage, and the truck driver may not even be aware that they hit anything.
Speeding
Truck drivers must often make their trips within a specific timeframe to receive maximum payment. This encourages irresponsible behavior, like speeding. While speeding is dangerous for any vehicle using a public roadway, large trucks amplify the danger significantly.
18-wheeler trucks and other semi-trucks require a lot of time to make a full stop, and speeding just increases the necessary time. If a large truck is speeding, there is nothing they can do if another vehicle or, even worse, a pedestrian suddenly enters their path. While accidents like this may not always be the truck driver’s fault, there are instances where you can hold them or their employers liable.
To find out if the truck driver that injured you owes you compensation, work with an 18-wheeler truck accident attorney.
18-Wheeler Truck Accident Liability
Who is liable in a truck accident varies depending on the circumstances of the accident. If the truck driver who hit you was blatantly negligent, it might be possible to hold them responsible for your injuries. In instances where other drivers were involved in the accident, they may be held liable.
Another factor to consider is the liability held by the truck driver’s employer. If they acted in an unreasonable way, liability could fall onto them as well.
An 18-wheeler truck accident attorney’s responsibility is figuring out who is responsible. With their support and legal expertise, you should be able to find out if the accident was caused by the driver’s negligence, another driver, or the result of poor management conducted by an associated trucking company. After finding out who is liable, you will know how to proceed with litigation.
Compensation for 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
Being hit by an 18-wheeler truck is often a fatal incident. In fatal incidents, the survivors of the deceased can also recover wrongful death compensation from the liable parties. Though, sometimes survivors live to collect compensation from the people that harmed them.
Victims can file a claim to collect economic and non-economic damages to afford their losses.
Economic Losses
A truck accident victim’s economic damage includes any monetary or tangible losses that they incurred due to the accident. The most common economic loss that people experience in truck accidents is property damage, though victims are often injured as well. When injuries occur, medical bills can be included as an economic loss as well.
Victims may also be unable to work, depending on the severity of the injuries. In those cases, the courts can award them income for lost wages as well.
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses are less tangible but equally as real as economic losses. These losses usually are more difficult to quantify as they are not directly tied to monetary losses. Examples of non-economic losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment in life, and emotional distress.
To calculate your non-economic damages accurately, help from an 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is recommended. Without proper guidance, you may risk settling for less than the full value of your total damages.
See a Lawyer to Discuss Your Case
An 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer can prove essential in the process of recovering compensation following an accident. To get the support you need without any hassle, choose Isaacs and Isaacs to represent you in your claim. You can reach us by using our contact form for a free consultation.
