Fatal Truck Accidents

Personal Injury Lawyers / Truck Accident Lawyer / Fatal Truck Accidents

If You Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Truck Crash, You Deserve Justice.

No amount of money can replace someone you love, but fair compensation can alleviate the financial burdens you may be facing, and provide future security for your family. And, the knowledge that those at fault have been brought to justice can provide some peace of mind. When a fatal accident is caused by a truck, you may not know what your next steps are. That’s why it’s important to speak with a lawyer who has the experience and the knowledge needed to get you compensation for your lost loved one.

Since 1959, bereaved families and individuals have turned to the truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for help. Our firm is unique in that we have developed a special focus on cases involving major fatal accidents.  We are ready to guide you through this difficult time. Fill out our email form, submit a chat, or call our office and we will review the details of your situation at no charge. There is never a fee unless we win on your behalf.

How Can Munley Law Help Your Family With a Fatal Truck Accident Claim?

Choosing someone to represent you following the loss of a family member is a big decision. You need someone you can trust to successfully resolve your case, protect your family’s rights, and honor the memory of your loved one.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have dedicated decades of our law practice to mastering this specialized type of case. No other law firm in the United States can match our level of experience, expertise, and compassion for clients. We are the only law firm in the country with two lawyers (Daniel Munley and Marion Munley) who have led the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, and we are among a handful of attorneys who have earned board certification in Trucking Law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

We know that that truck crash was one of the most significant events in your entire life. After all you’ve been through, you need to know your case is in the right hands. We want to relieve you of that worry and allow you to rest assured that we will do everything possible to ensure you receive justice.

Call or submit our contact form to begin the process today. The consultation is free, and we don’t get paid for our services until we win your case.

What is a Wrongful Death Claim?

When a person dies in a truck accident that was caused by the carelessness or wrongdoing of the truck driver, the trucking company, or someone else, the person’s family can file a “wrongful death action” to get money for the loss of their loved one. In personal injury law, “negligence” typically refers to behavior that is negligent, irresponsible, or fails to behave with due care. If someone else’s carelessness leads to the death of a person, the person’s family can file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or group at fault.

You may be qualified to bring a wrongful death claim if you were the victim’s spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or guardian due to someone else’s carelessness. An expert wrongful death attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation for:

• Medical and funeral expenses
• The deceased’s earnings and benefits
• Loss of companionship and caring
• Pain and suffering
• Financial security for those who rely on the deceased
• Punitive damages which are intended to punish the culpable party in circumstances involving gross carelessness

If the person who died didn’t have a spouse, child, or parent who is still alive, a personal representative of the family’s estate may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to get money for expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs.

While no amount of money can really compensate for the loss of a loved one, the goal of a wrongful death case is to obtain damages to help reduce a family’s financial burden in the aftermath of an accident. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys works to safeguard your financial future so you can grieve and begin to rebuild your family.

What Causes Fatal Truck Crashes?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), truck accidents have increased by approximately 52 percent in the last decade. The latest data from the United States Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows there are well over 4,500 truck crash fatalities per year. The increase in deaths related to semi-truck collisions is all the more remarkable considering that there has been an overall decline in motor vehicle accidents. Passenger vehicle occupants make up over 97 percent of tractor-trailer accident fatalities.

Every accident involving a large commercial truck is unique, but some common causes of catastrophic truck accidents that result in death include:

Driver Error

The FMCSA reports that driver error is 10 times more likely to be the cause of a crash than any other factor. Driver error includes distracted driving, driver fatigue, drug and alcohol use, speeding, tailgating, misuse of gears and braking systems, and other negligent behaviors.

 Truck Equipment Failure

When a truck’s engine, brakes, and steering system malfunctions, the consequences can be lethal for other drivers on the road. Truck equipment failures can be the result of flaws in design, manufacturing, installation, or maintenance.

Inclement Weather Conditions

When compared to cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and pickup trucks, large commercial tractor-trailers require more time and distance to slow down, stop, change lanes, make turns, and exit. Implement weather conditions like rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, fog, or ice making it even harder for trucks to safely perform these tasks.

Improper Loading or Overloading

Federal and state governments heavily regulate size and weight limits for truck cargo as well as how that cargo must be secured and loaded. An overloaded or improperly loaded truck presents an increased risk of a rollover, unsafe wear on truck breaking systems, and accidents caused by unsecured cargo spilling onto highway roads.

An experienced lawyer will understand how to determine which of these factors is at play and how to work with industry experts to ensure that trucking accident victims get the awards they deserve.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Fatal Truck Accident?

When determining who is to blame following a fatal truck accident, there is a possibility that more than one party could be held responsible for your loved one’s passing.

• Truck Driver: This one is self-explanatory, as the truck driver may have been directly responsible for the truck accident. From fatigued driving to speeding and reckless driving, the truck driver’s actions may have caused your loved one’s serious injuries.
• Trucking Company: If the trucking company was negligent in the hiring of the truck driver, it may be held accountable. The truck company is in charge of keeping track of driver’s information, including background checks, limiting scheduling for rest breaks, and other responsibilities.
• A Third Party: Many commercial transportation companies engage a third-party broker to connect them with drivers and trucks to convey their cargo. Your attorney will want to know if the third party did their due diligence in hiring the company to carry the load, as well as how much control they had over the driver’s schedule and other factors.
• Truck Manufacturers: If the truck accident was caused by a technical malfunction or another issue with a truck item, the truck manufacturer may also be held liable. Furthermore, if the employer or independent truck driver does not have the truck inspected and fixed on a regular basis, they may be held liable for a faulty part as well.

Trucking accidents can be tricky, and you’ll want to know if one or more of the aforementioned parties can be held accountable. All truck drivers, employers, and brokers have their own insurance coverage. This means you could be entitled to compensation from multiple sources. Hiring Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is the best method to ensure that you receive the most compensation for your truck accident injury.

Someone I Love was Killed in a Truck Accident. Do I Need an Attorney?

If your loved one was killed in a truck crash, your family has the right to hold the at-fault party accountable and to seek compensation for the losses you have suffered as a result. However, transportation companies and their insurers have legal teams on their side who will minimize or deny your claim. It is almost impossible to bring them to justice without an accident lawyer on your side who knows the industry regulations and can obtain and analyze company records, black box data, and more.

When it comes to truck accident cases, especially those involving a loss of life, experience counts.  Our fatal accident lawyers have more than six decades of experience handling these complex cases. Our truck accident attorney will get to work right away to investigate the circumstances surrounding the truck crash and begin to build a winning case on your family’s behalf. This includes collecting evidence and working with engineers and re-constructionists, investigators, and other experts to pursue all possible sources of recovery. You can depend on Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to fight relentlessly for the justice you deserve.

We understand the vulnerable position you are in, and we believe that financial hurdles should never stand in the way of justice. That’s why we do not charge a fee unless we win your truck accident case. You will never owe our trucking accident lawyer anything upfront or out of your own pocket.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fatal Truck Accidents

Q: Should I Accept an Insurance Company’s Truck Accident Settlement?

A: Never accept an insurance company’s settlement offer before speaking with an expert at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. Unfortunately, an insurance company’s settlement offer is frequently a fraction of what you would obtain with the assistance of a truck crash lawyer. In most situations, accepting a settlement offer waives your right to seek extra compensation, even if the deal proves insufficient. You may also unwittingly relinquish, or severely limit, your capacity to claim compensation from other parties who may have been at fault.

As a result, it is critical that the surviving family initially speak with a personal injury lawyer. Allow the insurance company or the irresponsible party to force you into accepting a deal too soon.

Q: How Much Will Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

A: Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys exclusively charges on a contingency basis. This means that we only get paid if we win your case and earn compensation for you. In addition, the contingent fee agreement protects you from financial risk if your case is unsuccessful. Furthermore, we do not charge for our initial consultation, so meeting with us to discuss your possible case will not cost you anything.

A Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer Will Hold Negligent Trucking Companies Accountable

Truck accident cases are what we do. We have obtained multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts from negligent trucking companies to provide security, closure, and justice for victims’ families. Let us put our experience to work for you.

Contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today for a free case evaluation.