Being hurt or losing a loved one in a truck accident can be life changing. Although you may be entitled to compensation for damages after a crash, it’s important to understand that truck accident cases are more complex than those involving passenger vehicles. At Thomas, Conrad & Conrad, our truck accident lawyers in the Lehigh Valley understand how to identify all liable parties, prove fault, and fight to help injured victims recover the full amount of compensation they may be entitled to receive. We explain the ins and outs of truck accident cases and why they can be particularly complex.
Determining Liability
Unlike most car accidents, multiple parties may be liable after a crash involving a commercial truck. Professional relationships between drivers and trucking companies can be complicated, leading to each party attempting to place blame on the other. In some cases, the parts or vehicle manufacturer, maintenance provider, lading company, or other motorists involved in a crash may be liable as well. Identifying all potentially liable parties and establishing their degrees of fault can be challenging and requires the experience and knowledge of a seasoned commercial truck accident lawyer.
Battling Insurance Companies
Commercial truck policies usually have higher insurance coverage limits than passenger vehicles do. Because these policies have high limits, insurance companies work extra hard to deny claims and minimize payouts, which can leave injured victims and their families in a precarious financial situation. In addition, an injured party may have to navigate multiple truck accident claims with different insurers, which can be extremely challenging. A tenacious truck accident lawyer knows how to handle contentious negotiations with insurers and fights to help their clients recover the maximum amount of compensation they need and deserve.
Catastrophic Injuries
Commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, which means they often inflict serious damage when involved in a crash. Catastrophic injuries such as amputation, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injury can have long-term effects that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Injured victims may be unable to work and require lifelong medical care, which can be a significant financial burden. It’s critical to properly calculate the full extent of current and future damages, including medical expenses, long-term care, wage loss, pain and suffering, and other losses.
The extent of a victim’s catastrophic injuries and their physical, emotional, and financial impact must be proven to recover compensation for damages. A truck accident attorney must gather evidence such as medical records, x-rays and other diagnostic test results, and the testimony of health care providers and those close to the injured victim. The best truck accident attorneys in the Lehigh Valley know how to use this evidence and other facts of the case to properly calculate damages and demonstrate why an injured victim deserves a certain amount of compensation.
Investigation and Evidence Collection
Gathering evidence in truck accident cases can be much more challenging than it is in passenger vehicle collisions. Trucking companies and their insurers often send representatives to the scene of the accident immediately, which gives them the opportunity to look for evidence that may absolve them of fault. Obtaining evidence such as driver logs, black box data, cell phone records, and maintenance records may require subpoenas if a trucking company or driver refuses to turn it over. An experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to secure this evidence and use it effectively in court.
Specialized Knowledge
The trucking industry is heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state laws. A truck accident attorney must be familiar with these regulations and understand how to apply them to issues like driver qualifications, driving time limits, maintenance requirements, and securing loads.
To establish liability, prove fault, and demonstrate the extent of damages, truck accident cases usually require testimony from expert witnesses such as medical professionals, financial professionals, accident reconstructionists, and engineers. Personal injury attorneys have access to these types of witnesses and are well-versed in the effective presentation of their testimony, which can mean the difference between winning or losing a truck accident lawsuit or wrongful death claim.
Contact a Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer in the Lehigh Valley
At Thomas, Conrad & Conrad, our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping victims and their families hold negligent parties accountable so they can move on with their lives after a crash. Our team includes some of the best truck accident attorneys in the Lehigh Valley. To schedule a consultation with an eastern Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer, contact us online or call us at 610-867-2900. We offer several locations for your convenience.