Should I Hire a Lawyer if I Was Injured in a Truck Accident?

There can be many causes of truck accidents. Whether the truck involved was an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, freight truck, tow truck, flatbed truck, garbage truck, or another type, the potential for serious injury increases considerably for those on the road occupying smaller vehicles.

Common reasons and contributing factors concerning truck accidents that can lead to injuries include:

•Driver fatigue/ drowsy driving
•Driving under the influence
•Jackknifing
•Poor road or weather conditions
•Disobeying traffic control devices
•Speeding
•Reckless or distracted driving
•Loss of control
•Equipment malfunctions
•Following too closely
•Cargo spills

Truck related accidents can also occur while trucks are unloading in the street. If cargo or materials are not removed with care, they may fall, roll, or fly into the street, and create hazardous conditions for other drivers.

If you were in an accident with a truck and suffered injuries, you may be entitled to compensation if another party's negligence caused your injuries. Depending on the type of accident and how it occurred, liability for a truck accident may fall on the truck driver, the truck manufacturer, the driver's employer, the cargo company, other drivers on the road, or another responsible party.

Every truck accident has its own specific facts and circumstances. To prove liability, a court may consider evidence such as eyewitness accounts, surveillance videos, and data from the truck's black box as well as documents including driver's logs, route information, maintenance logs, and time sheets.

There are numerous laws and regulations specific to trucks that may make these cases less straightforward than a typical car accident. Truck accidents can involve state law, as well as federal law under the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Truck companies and their drivers must follow various local laws in addition to federal regulations. In fact, there are certain roadways trucks may be required to use based on size restrictions. Truck drivers are also required to take breaks after driving a certain amount of time, hold a commercial driver's license, and adhere to numerous other restrictions.

Injuries in a truck accident case can range from mild to severe. They can require extensive medical treatment, cause you to lose time from work, and prevent you from engaging in your daily activities and hobbies. Although your no-fault insurance may cover a certain amount of medical treatment and lost wages related to the accident, it may not adequately compensate you. Accordingly, you may need to commence a personal injury action to recover your damages for pain and suffering, unreimbursed medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, out of pocket expenses related to the accident, loss of consortium, and punitive damages in some cases.

If you were injured in a car accident involving a truck, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately who can advise you of your legal rights. An experienced car and truck accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, and time lost from work.

The Popick Law Firm has over thirty years of experience in obtaining compensation for victims of car accidents involving trucks. Located in Fresh Meadows, NY, The Popick Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties. Contact The Popick Law Firm today for a consultation.