If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident involving a semi-truck, you are likely facing a lot of questions and concerns. You want to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. However, taking the proper legal action while also recovering from physical injuries is almost impossible to handle on your own. Luckily, Grabb & Durando’s personal injury lawyers are here to help you through the steps immediately following your auto accident. It’s important to note that an accident with a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle is different than a regular car accident.
Here are 3 things that you should know about a semi-truck related car accident:
1. Injuries Are Often More Severe
Because of the sheer size and weight of semi-trucks, your injuries are likely much more severe. Many people involved in a vehicle crash with an 18 wheeler suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation and care. Compared to standard automobile accidents, a car accident with a semi-truck is 5 times more likely to cause serious injury or death.
Because injuries are more severe, your medical bills after this type of car accident will also be higher. This is one reason why it’s a good idea to hire an attorney as soon as possible. The truck driver’s insurance company may try to blame you for the accident, and this can leave you with hefty medical bills. A car accident attorney can help make sure you don’t need to suffer financially while you recover physically.
2. Determining Liability can be Complicated
When a commercial vehicle is involved in a crash, it can be harder to determine liability. This is because more parties contribute to the operation of a semi-truck than a standard motor vehicle. For example, there is the trucker, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, and the loader of cargo.
Truckers usually have larger insurance policies than non-commercial drivers. Because of this, insurance companies may try to find loopholes to prove that the accident was the fault of the injured party. However, there are plenty of Arizona laws you can use to your advantage to determine liability. For example, Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 28-709 limits the rate of speed for semi-trucks to 65 mph. If you can prove a higher speed, then you are more likely to be able to place fault with the driver and receive the compensation you deserve.
3. You Need to Act Quickly
When a semi-truck related car accident severely injures you, handling a personal injury lawsuit is probably your last priority. This is perfectly reasonable, as you need to focus on recovery to get back on your feet after such a serious trauma.
However, a trucker’s insurance company may not be as sympathetic towards your situation. They will likely act quickly to prevent you from getting the compensation you need to continue your life after your car accident. With so much going on after a car accident, you deserve to have someone your side to help you act quickly.
You need an experienced personal injury lawyer.
A car accident attorney with experience in semi-truck accidents will be able to walk you through every step of the process. At Grabb & Durando, our personal injury lawyers are experienced and aggressive in fighting for your right to compensation.
