18 Wheeler Litigation
You may be tempted, when you've suffered serious injuries in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, to accept an offer of settlement. However, it's not always beneficial for you.
Truck accidents require legal expertise in chemistry and physics, medical science, biology and federal trucking regulations, the rules of driving, and other areas. In court is the most effective way to ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation.
Negligence
18-wheelers are large and are often involved in accidents that result in serious injuries or deaths. When this happens, lawsuits against trucking companies are commonplace and can easily be worth millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.
A skilled attorney can identify the responsible parties for your accident, and ensure that you receive compensation for all your losses. This includes medical expenses and lost wages, as well as damages to property, attorney's fees as well as other non-economic damages such as pain and discomfort.
In many cases, a trucking company may be found negligent for not following federal safety regulations or failing to supervise its drivers. This may include letting employees drive when they are tired and allowing them to take over-the-counter medications that interfere with driving, and not having sufficient training. Drivers may also be negligent when they fail to secure their cargo or if they drive recklessly. These mistakes can cause devastating accidents that cause damage to other vehicles and their occupants. A successful lawsuit would demand that the trucking company compensate damages for these injuries. This money helps victims recover from their injuries and get back to normal life.
Damages
A large truck accident will take longer to resolve than usual due to the severity of injuries. It may also take time to determine the source of the incident and who is liable.
Trucking companies usually have lawyers on staff all day and night to minimize claims. They may even make low-ball offers to convince injured victims to settle. A knowledgeable 18-wheeler accident attorney will be able to even the playing field with insurance companies and secure you an acceptable settlement.
A New York 18-wheeler lawyer can also collect the medical evidence needed to prove your damages. This could include doctor's notes as well as physical evidence from the accident scene or other evidence of financial and non-financial damages.
Plaintiff attorneys also are paid on a contingent fee basis. This means that they are not paid until the case is settled or won. To pay for their expenses plaintiff attorneys have to spend money for things like court fees, depositions and hiring expert witnesses.
Insurance
The medical bills for the victims of a collision with a truck will be huge and they could face financial difficulties. A collision caused by an 18-wheeler also likely to involve multiple responsible parties. Each of the parties that are involved in a collision, including the driver, the owner, and the insurance company, could have policies that apply. In this way, proving liability in a crash involving a truck will take longer than an ordinary car crash claim. A knowledgeable Indiana big rig accident lawyer can help in proving the responsibility of each negligent party in a crash.
18 wheeler accident attorney gresham for the plaintiff in 18 wheeler litigation also face expenses to win the case, including court costs, investigative expenses and travel expenses, depositions, and hiring experts. Plaintiff attorneys can often be in a position to recover their contingency fees from the settlement, but this can take months or even years after winning a case. To speed up the process plaintiffs can make use of post settlement funds to receive an advance of the contingency costs they are due. This allows them to pay their bills. This can be a lifesaver for many injured victims of 18-wheeler crashes.
Settlements
The majority of truck accident cases settle, avoiding the expense and time of a trial. Certain cases do go to trial. A knowledgeable New York 18 wheeler lawyer can help you prepare your case for trial. It is essential to avoid stale or lost evidence, witness testimony and fading memories.
Truck accident settlements can reach millions of dollars, and even set records. This is due to the seriousness of the injuries and the perceived negligence on the part of the trucking company.
Plaintiff lawyers who handle these cases typically work on a contingency-fee basis. It means they don't have to pay their legal costs out of pocket, however it may take a while before the client receives any money. During this time the attorney is accountable for the cost of court fees as well as travel costs and other expenses. In this regard, many plaintiff attorneys choose to submitting settlement advances (also called settlement cash advances) to pay their contingency fees sooner.
Trial
In general, settlements for truck accidents are much higher than those involving any other motor vehicle. It is not uncommon for victims and their families to receive hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
Accidents involving trucks can cause serious injuries, and even death. Trucks are also extremely large and can cause a lot of damage when they collide.
Additionally, 18 wheeler accidents have multiple parties at fault, including the trucking company and its insurance provider. They are all on the line and will fight hard to shield themselves from liability for your injuries.
It is crucial to contact a New York truck accident attorney as soon as possible after a collision. This will allow us to gather evidence, such as driver's licence documents and safety inspection reports, footage from the onboard camera and much more. In addition, we will also need to have a medical professional evaluate your injuries and confirm their severity. This information will be used to calculate your damages for purposes of negotiating the settlement.