A semi-truck is larger than most of the other vehicles on the road and far heavier. If you get into an accident with one and get seriously injured, you could be looking at a huge stack of medical bills and a long road to recovery. Our Sussex County truck accident lawyers can help you hold a negligent driver and anyone else who contributed to your accident responsible. We’re ready to help you fight for maximum compensation.
What Should I Do After a Semi-Truck Accident?
If you are physically able to, you should do everything that you can to begin gathering evidence in the immediate aftermath of a semi-truck accident. You should:
- Call the police so that they can make a report
- Talk to any witnesses
- Look for cameras that may have caught the crash on tape
- Avoid saying anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault
- Take photos of the damaged vehicles and accident scene
- Schedule a doctor’s appointment, even if you don’t feel injured right away
You should also keep a journal, noting how you feel and how your injuries are affecting you each day. Do they interrupt your sleep or affect your ability to work? Are the injuries getting worse or better? This journal can serve as valuable evidence when compensation is calculated.
Who Could Be Held Liable For a Semi-Truck Accident?
In many semi-truck crashes, it can be difficult to pin the blame on just one person. Multiple parties can contribute to accidents like these, and all of them should be held accountable when someone gets injured.
A good example of this would be if a driver caused a crash because they were falling asleep behind the wheel, but it’s revealed that their employer has encouraged their drivers to ignore rules about hours of service and rest breaks. Both the driver and their employer should be liable parties in this kind of situation.
Potential defendants in a case like this include:
- The truck driver
- The employer of the truck driver
- The owner of the cargo
- Truck mechanics that put a dangerous semi-truck back on the road
- The manufacturer of a faulty part
- The driver of another vehicle
These cases can get complicated, which is why we recommend talking to an attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you identify all liable parties and ensure that you don’t leave a bunch of money on the table.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Win?
You should be awarded economic and non-economic damages in a semi-truck accident case. Economic damages are meant to reimburse you for the obvious monetary costs of the crash, like your medical bills, missed paychecks, and the cost of having to modify your home to accommodate your injuries.
Non-economic damages compensate you for those things that are harder to calculate. Mental anguish, pain from disability or disfigurement, and other suffering related to the accident should all be considered when compensation is calculated.
Contact Our Law Firm
So if you or a loved one were seriously hurt in a semi-truck accident, we want to help you. Contact Laddey Clark & Ryan, LLP to schedule a consultation and learn more about what our seasoned attorneys can do to help you secure the compensation that you deserve.
