If you have been involved in a truck accident, such as those involving a truck weighing at least 10,000 pounds, you know they can cause significant damage. Often, the image that comes to mind is a semi-trailer truck, though smaller trucks can pose risks as well. Semi-trailer trucks (also known as semis, tractor-trailers, or eighteen-wheelers) are integral in the transportation of cargo shipments. These massive vehicles are capable of transporting incredibly large quantities of products. However, because of their size, they can also be very dangerous.
Serious Accidents
Even the largest passenger vehicles are small in comparison to transport trucks, such as semi-trailer trucks. As a result, accidents involving passenger vehicles and trucks often involve immense damage to the vehicle and serious or fatal injuries to the driver and passengers. Some of the ways that a truck driver may be at fault for causing an accident include, but are not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Distraction due to texting or other cell phone use
- Failing to maintain the truck properly
- Improperly secured cargo
- Driving too fast
If the driver of the truck was negligent, it is possible for you to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for the injuries you have sustained as well as the damage to your property, namely your vehicle. An injured person may seek recovery from the driver or the driver’s insurance company, as well as the company the driver works for or that company’s insurance company.
Compensation
These accidents may give rise to personal injury lawsuits claiming economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses, property damage (often significant to the vehicle involved), lost wages due to time missed from work, and, in the most severe cases, funeral expenses. If the accident causes someone to die, a wrongful death lawsuit may also be initiated.
Non-economic damages include claims for disfigurement, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Pain and suffering includes the pain and discomfort related to a person’s actual physical injuries, as well as emotional reactions such as mental anguish, emotional distress, fear, and shock. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant and may be significant. However, they are less often awarded.
It is important to keep in mind that any insurance company you make a claim against will be represented by experienced attorneys. It is common for them to attempt to reach a settlement agreement with you. With experienced legal representation on your side, you will be able to make an informed decision as to whether the settlement offer is fair in relation to the injuries you have suffered and the damage to your property.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a large transport truck, such as a semi-trailer, and would like more information about your legal options, you should speak with an experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney. The legal team at De Castroverde Law Group can answer all of your questions.
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