Sometimes, no matter how careful we are, accidents happen. And while car accidents are always scary, accidents involving large commercial vehicles such as semi trucks can be a particularly devastating nightmare. If you live in the Harlingen area and have recently been in an accident with an 18 wheeler, you may already be looking for an attorney, and you may have a ton of questions. The Harlingen trucking accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw have provided the following trucking collision overview to help you through this scary process.
Trucking Accidents Are DevastatingThe difference between a crash among passenger vehicles and a crash involving an 18 wheeler can be major, because trucks are so large. That is why trucking accidents lead to so much death and catastrophic injury: in 2017, there were 450,000 accidents in the United States involving 18 wheelers, and 5,000 of them were fatal. Another 116,000 of them led to serious injury.
In addition, large trucks only represent 8% of highway traffic yet account for 11% of all fatal crashes. And worst of all, over 80% of the deaths in these types of accidents were passengers in non-commercial vehicles.
The First Step To TakeThe first thing you need to do is seek medical attention. This is because you need to make sure that your injuries are seen to, as well as documented by an official third party (this will be important evidence in the case that you claim goes to court). If possible you should also try to document the scene with photographic evidence, and cooperate with police.
Finally, it is extremely important to be honest and upfront with your Harlingen 18 wheeler accident attorneys about the situation, as they will interview you thoroughly to understand the circumstances of the crash. These details will help your Harlingen accident lawyers prove liability and get you the most compensation for your damages.
Establishing LiabilityTrucking accidents are complicated because truckers have to comply with FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) laws, which govern specific aspects of the job; for example, how many hours a truck driver can go without taking a break, or how much cargo a truck can carry. In addition, each state has its own transportation laws.
Because of this, a particular aspect of trucking accidents is that there may be multiple parties found liable. In some cases, the truck driver will be held liable; for example, if it is found they were driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving distracted (for example, by texting), or fatigued (if they have driven more hours then they are legally allowed to). In addition, if they didn’t follow the rules of the road—driving recklessly, speeding, or not obeying stop signs, for example—they will be held liable.
Settlements Vs. Going To CourtEvery case is different, but a qualified lawyer will be able to help estimate the value of your accident claim. In doing so, they will be able to advise if you should take a settlement offered by the trucking company, or if you would be leaving money on the table. Remember that their lawyers and insurance companies working on behalf of the commercial trucking company do not have your best interest in mind; rather, their focus is to make sure they pay you as little as possible, and that their company takes as little blame as possible.
That’s why you need experienced and tenacious Harlingen trucking accident attorneys to fight for you on your behalf, to get you the compensation you deserve.
The Harlingen 18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys at Carabin Shaw are On Your SideWe hope this trucking collision overview has helped you get your bearings after an accident. Because while any accident on the road is scary; accidents involving large trucks are especially terrible. Carabin Shaw has been helping accident victims like you for over twenty years, and we have recovered over $500 million for our satisfied clients. Call our Harlingen office at (956) 664-7255 to speak with an attorney today.