Huntington Truck Accident Lawyer
Semi-trucks have an important role in our economy, transporting everything from food and clothing to hazardous materials across New York and the country. However, because they carry cargo, these trucks are usually larger than your average passenger car. So, when they are involved in a traffic accident, the results can be even more disastrous.
A Huntington lawyer could help you prosecute negligent parties and demand compensation for your immense damages. A hard-working attorney could put their energy into recovering your losses with a personal injury claim, leaving you to focus on healing.
Common Causes of Semi-Truck Crashes
While some semi-truck accidents are caused in similar ways to an auto crash, others are unique to the trucking industry. One cause every motorist could fall victim to is driver fatigue. Truck drivers are on tight deadlines to get their cargo to its destination as quickly as possible, often working long hours on little sleep, putting themselves and others on the road at risk to achieve their goal. Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of semi-truck accidents in Huntington.
A common cause of accidents specifically for truck drivers is improper training. Driving a commercial truck takes an extra level of skill to handle due to the vehicle’s size. If an employee does not receive proper training before they get behind the wheel, they could lose control of the truck and the heavy cargo load they are towing. With many semi-trucks weighing around 35 tons, losing control often means disaster. Other common causes of truck accidents include illegal drug use, poor maintenance, and poor trailer load balance.
Trucking Accidents and Liability
Like all Huntington vehicles, semi-trucks need to have liability insurance to operate legally on state roads and highways. However, trucking accidents rarely result in only a minor fender bender. Many victims suffer major vehicle damage, as well as serious bodily injury that requires medical treatment. This is when a victim, or their family, should consider hiring a truck accident attorney to help them file a personal injury lawsuit. Determining who is responsible can be a bit tricky. Depending on the facts of the incident, the driver, the trucking company, the truck’s manufacturer, or the company performing maintenance on the vehicle could be held partially or fully liable for the accident. An attorney could help hold the correct party accountable and demand compensation for the victim’s losses.
Recoverable Damages After an Accident
If a plaintiff does decide to file a negligence lawsuit after a trucking accident, they could be entitled to recover damages from two categories. The first category is known as economic damages, which include recovery for medical bills and treatment costs, lost wages, and property damage. The second category is non-economic damages, which allows victims to receive payments for losses like pain and suffering, mental and emotional trauma, and loss of earning capacity.
If the worst comes to pass and someone dies from a trucking accident, their family could be entitled to the above compensation for their terrible loss, as well as receive payments for funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
Seek Legal Help from a Huntington Truck Accident Attorney
If you are injured in a semi-truck accident, you could benefit from the assistance of a Huntington truck accident lawyer. An attorney with experience in semi-truck crashes can help you form a legal strategy, deal with insurance companies and other attorneys, and be your advocate while you go through the recovery process. Call to schedule a consultation today.
