Did you know that an overwhelming 70% of products arrive at their destination after getting transported via trucks? The trucking industry has never been in the spotlight as much as it has been throughout this pandemic, and all of us have grown to have a new appreciation for those truckers.
Truckers do face significant risks on the job, though, as they’re constantly on the road and at risk of enduring an accident. Even worse, a truck versus passenger vehicle accident rarely turns out well for individuals in a much smaller car. Have you recently found yourself in that exact situation?
If you suffered injuries and property damage after a trucking accident, then it’s a good idea to consult with a Raynham truck accident lawyer as soon as you can. Not only will a lawyer protect your rights, but they’ll also help you secure your rightful compensation, too. Learn everything you need to know to handle your trucking accident like a pro below.
What You Need to Know About Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Massachusetts
When you’ve been in a crash and you pay for an insurance policy each month, you’d expect it to cover each and every loss you suffer. The good news is that if you pay into a policy, then you likely will get some compensation. The bad news is that your insurance provider might not provide enough compensation to cover the extent of your losses.
If you’re a law-abiding citizen, then you pay for PIP insurance. That’s because this type of coverage is required by law. PIP protection can help cover medical costs and lost earnings after an accident regardless of fault. There are limitations to these policies, though, and they often don’t cover the extent of the losses you’ll suffer after an 18 wheeler accident. If you need more coverage, then you’ll want to seek out a personal injury lawsuit.
What You Need to Know About Comparative Negligence in Massachusetts
If you’re considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, then fault will come into play unlike with your PIP insurance. Massachusetts works on a comparative negligence standard, which means that each party will be held liable for their share of the accident based on their percentage of fault in the crash.
For instance, if you were 25% responsible for the accident because you were talking on your cell phone but the other party was 75% responsible because they were speeding and ignoring traffic laws, then you could still collect up to 75% of your losses from that other party. In order to get compensation, though, the other party must be at least 51% at fault.
The Most Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accident injuries are often much more severe than typical car accident injuries. Why? For one, trucks are massive. Even without cargo, these trucks are way bigger than a passenger car. Now, imagine there are hundreds of pounds of cargo loaded in the back! All that weight getting smashed into a car isn’t a good situation. For another thing, most trucking accidents happen on rural highways. In these situations, it can take longer for authorities to respond. Among the most common types of truck accident injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Sprains, strains, and fractures
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Loss of limbs
- Fatal injuries
Never make the mistake of forgoing treatment after you get involved in a truck accident. While you’d assume severe injuries, like a traumatic brain injury, would be obvious, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, chemicals like adrenaline can hide your wounds until later.
Top Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck drivers are very well-trained. These skilled professionals don’t make as many mistakes as your typical driver.
The Most Common Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often more unique than your average crash. Certain factors, like a truck’s cargo or the vast number of miles driven, can contribute to the type of accident a trucker might experience.
The most common type of truck accident is a jackknife collision, which happens when a trucker’s brakes lock up. This can happen when a trucker brakes too quickly or when the brakes simply stop working. At that point, the trailer behind the main truck compartment ends up barreling forward and ending at a 90-degree angle to the main compartment. As this happens, the trucker loses control. Ineffective braking can also lead to rear-end crashes when a semi rams into the backside of a passenger car.
Another common type of semi truck accident is a wide-turn accident. Due to the size and weight of trucks, they must swing to the left before going right. When truckers go to make this maneuver, it can cause other motorists to react and crash.
Improperly loaded cargo or cargo that’s too heavy can cause a truck to rollover. Underride accidents happen when passenger cars get crushed or pinned under commercial trucks.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Collect for Your Injury?
Due to the severity of truck accident injuries, injured drivers often collect a wide range of damages. These damages might include things like:
- Medical bills: You can recover all the medical costs related to your truck accident injuries, including hospitalization, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, medication, and more.
- The cost of future medical care: If you need long-term care or will require future surgeries, you can recover those costs as well.
- Lost wages: You can get compensated for the wages you lost while you were out recovering from your injuries. If you can’t return to work, you might be able to collect disability benefits.
- Loss of future earnings: If your injuries have caused you to become disabled and you can no longer work, you can recover the wages you would have earned over the course of your lifetime.
- Pain and suffering: You can be compensated for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced because of your truck accident injuries.
- Loss of consortium: If your injuries have strained your relationship with your spouse, you might be able to receive damages.
- Punitive damages: In some cases, a judge might order the at-fault driver to pay punitive damages. These are meant to punish the driver for his or her negligence and to deter future negligent behavior.
- Property damage: You can recover the cost to repair or replace any property that was damaged in the accident.
- Wrongful death: If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you might be able to file a wrongful death suit. This would allow you to collect damages for your loved one’s death, like medical and funeral expenses.
The type and amount of compensation you can collect in your specific accident depends on what you lost as a result of the crash. Every trucking accident is different, so you may need to consult with a lawyer to determine the exact extent of your losses. Your lawsuit is meant to fully reimburse you, and you don’t want to end up accepting a settlement that’s less than what you deserve.
How Can a Raynham Truck Accident Lawyer Help You
One way to ensure that you include all your losses when you value your claim is to hire a quality truck accident attorney to help. A good, experienced lawyer knows what types of losses to look for, and they know how to find the documentation to prove what you’ve lost as well. That’s far from the only advantage you’ll receive by hiring a good lawyer, though.
A lawyer will also help you understand your legal options. If they don’t think your claim will be successful, then they’ll be honest with you. If they do think you have a case, then they can guide you through the process one step at a time. They’ll help you fill out the right paperwork, negotiate with the responsible party, and secure the compensation you deserve. In the best cases, they’ll help you win your claim!
Are You Ready to Speak With a Truck Accident Expert?
Getting involved in a trucking accident is often devastating. Your car might be completely totaled, and your physical injuries are likely substantial, too. On top of all that, your losses might start to compound as a result of not being able to go to work, fulfill obligations you normally do or foster your relationships in the way you could if you weren’t injured.
The good news is that our legal system provides recourse for people just like you.
If you were involved in a truck accident, then you need to focus on your physical recovery. Despite that, time is of the essence when it comes to pursuing a claim in court. Let our highly skilled and experienced Raynham truck accident attorneys take care of the legal aspects of your case while you focus on healing.
Are you ready to speak one-on-one with a Raynham truck accident attorney? Contact our office now to discuss your situation in more detail.
