18 Wheeler Litigation
If you've suffered severe injuries in an 18 wheeler accident, you could be tempted to accept the settlement offer. However, it's not the best option for you.
Truck accidents are complex and require legal expertise in physics, chemistry biology, medicine, federal trucking regulations, driving standards, and much more. Fight for your case in court is the best way to ensure you receive the maximum compensation.
Negligence
Because 18 wheelers are huge and heavy, they often get involved in accidents that result in fatal injuries or even death. When this occurs lawsuits against trucking companies are common and can easily amount to millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.
An experienced lawyer can pinpoint the responsible parties for your accident, and ensure that you receive compensation for all your damages. This could include medical expenses as well as lost income, property damage, legal fees and other non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.
In many instances, trucking companies may be found negligent if they fail to follow the federal safety rules or if they fail to supervise their drivers. It could be that employees are permitted to drive when exhausted or taking over-the-counter medications that affect driving. The driver could also be liable for failing to secure their cargo or driving recklessly. These errors can cause catastrophic accidents that can destroy other vehicles and their occupants. A successful lawsuit will demand the trucking company be compensated damages for the injuries. This money will help victims recover from their injuries and return to normal activities.
Damages
A large truck accident will take longer to resolve than usual due to the degree of injuries. It could also take a while to determine the source of the incident and who is liable.
Teams of lawyers are typically employed by trucking companies in order to reduce claims. 18 wheeler accident lawyer west valley city might make low-ball settlement offers to convince injured victims to settle. An experienced attorney who specializes in 18-wheeler collisions will know how to make sure that the playing field is level and negotiate an appropriate settlement with insurance companies.
A New York 18 wheeler lawyer will also be able to gather the medical evidence needed to prove your damages. This can include doctor reports and physical evidence at the accident scene, or other documentation of non-financial and financial damages.
Plaintiff attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they will not be paid until the case has been settled or won. In order to pay for their expenses during the process of a lawsuit, they have to spend money on things such as court costs as well as depositions and experts as witnesses or courtroom graphic experts.
Insurance
The medical costs for the victim of a truck crash will be substantial, and they may face financial difficulties. In addition, a crash that involves an 18 wheeler is likely to have multiple parties at fault. Each of the parties involved in a crash including the driver, the owner and the insurance company, might have policies in place. It takes more time to prove liability in an accident involving a truck than it would in an injury claim in a car accident. A knowledgeable Indiana big-rig accident lawyer will discover and prove the responsibilities of each party who was negligent in a crash.
Attorneys representing plaintiffs in 18 wheeler litigation must also pay costs to win a case, such as costs for court fees, investigative expenses such as travel, depositions, and the hiring of experts. Settlements can take months or even years to cover the contingency fee of plaintiff attorneys. To reduce this delay the plaintiffs may use post settlement funding in order to receive an advance of the contingency fee they are due. This lets them begin paying their bills. This is a lifesaver to injured victims in 18-wheeler accidents.
Settlements
The majority of truck accident cases settle with the goal of avoiding the time and expense of going to trial. Certain cases do go to trial. A New York 18-wheeler lawyer who is experienced can help you prepare for trial. It is important to work within a specific time frame to avoid the loss of evidence, stale witness testimony, and the fading of memories.
Truck accident settlements can reach millions of dollars and even set records. This is due to the seriousness of the injuries, as well as the perceived negligence on the part of the trucking company.
The attorneys who represent the plaintiff in these cases usually operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that they don't have to have to pay for their legal expenses out of pocket, but it could take a long time before they receive any money. In that time the attorney must pay for travel, court costs, and other costs associated with the case. A lot of plaintiff lawyers use post settlement advances, also referred to as lawsuit advances or settlement cash advance to get their contingent fees paid faster.
Trial
In general, settlements for truck accidents are greater than those that involve any other motor vehicle. It is not uncommon for the families of victims to receive hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
This is because truck accidents result in very serious injuries, sometimes life threatening. This is due to the fact that trucks are massive, and can cause huge amount of damage in the event of a collision.
Furthermore, accidents involving 18 wheelers involve multiple responsible parties including the trucking company and its insurance provider. They are fighting to avoid liability and have a lot on the line.
It is important that you speak with a New York truck accident attorney as soon as you can after a collision. This will allow us to collect vital evidence such as driver's license records and safety inspection reports, footage from the camera onboard and more. We will also require an expert medical professional to assess your injuries and verify the severity. This information will be used in order to determine the amount of damages you are entitled to receive in order to negotiate an agreement.