Not all auto accidents are created equal. Accidents involving large or commercial trucks are more complex than other types of automobile accidents. Filing a claim following a serious truck accident is more complicated than a typical car accident claim.
The sheer size and weight of these behemoth vehicles mean that it takes significantly longer for them to stop. A truck going 65 miles per hour tends to need at least 300 feet or the length of a football field to come to a complete stop. Fully loaded tractor-trailers can need as many as 525 feet to come to a complete stop, and that’s on dry pavement in ideal conditions. Factor in the driver’s reaction time, and it’s often too late for a truck driver to avoid a serious collision.
At Veron Bice, LLC, we have seen firsthand the tremendous impact that a truck accident can have on innocent victims. Devastating physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial instability: there are almost no aspects of a victim’s life that a truck accident doesn’t touch.
Severity of Injuries
One of the significant differences between large truck accidents and other types of accidents is the severity of the injuries involved. Fully-loaded commercial vehicles can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. These vehicles are powerful and difficult to stop. When they collide with smaller passenger vehicles, the results can be catastrophic. In fact, an IIHS report reveals that in 2019, 67 percent of those killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck were the passengers of the other vehicle.
Some of the most common injuries of semi-truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Other head, neck, or spinal wounds
- Amputation
- Broken bones
- Physical burns
- Chemical burns
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Lacerations
- Contusions
Those that survive a crash with a large truck can be left with devastating and traumatic injuries. These injuries can take months, sometimes years, to heal. Significant injuries can also cost victims thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, in medical costs and lost productivity.
Claims Are More Complex
Moving goods across the country is big business. With profits on the line, many trucking companies will fight tooth and nail to keep their money where it is: in their pockets. Many trucking companies have insurers and attorneys at the ready to help them aggressively fight accidents claims and pay victims as little as possible. While trucking companies have lawyers and insurers working on their behalf, victims often have no one protecting their rights. This dynamic puts victims in a vulnerable position and at a significant disadvantage when it comes to recovering the money they deserve.
Truck accident claims are more complex because commercial trucks are sophisticated machines. It can take a wealth of evidence to help establish why an accident occurred and who is liable for damages. Much of this evidence is difficult, if not impossible, for a victim to collect on their own. It can take legal intervention in the form of a spoliation letter to help preserve crucial evidence such as GPS and black box data. A spoliation letter can be drafted by an attorney and sent to the trucking company, instructing them to preserve this data before it is lost or destroyed. An attorney may also request cell phone data, safety inspection records, cargo loading data, and the operator’s driving record.
Trucking accident claims can also be more complicated because more than one party may be responsible for causing the accident. Parts manufacturers, cargo loaders, and other parties may have contributed to the cause of the accident, also making them liable for paying for damages. Holding these parties accountable can take thorough investigative work and legal intervention.
Talk to an Experienced Louisiana Truck Accident Attorney About Your Claim
You don’t have to take on a trucking company on your own. To get the money you deserve after a serious truck accident, consult with an experienced Louisiana truck accident attorney.
At Veron Bice, LLC, we know what it takes to build a compelling claim against a trucking company. We can investigate the cause of the accident and aggressively negotiate on your behalf to help you recover the money you need to move forward with your life. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, talk to a skilled truck accident attorney today. The consultation is free and can help you understand all your legal options.
To get started on recovering the money you deserve, call 337-310-1600 or contact an attorney with Veron Bice, LLC right now.
