If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a truck accident, it helps to have an experienced truck accident attorney in your corner. An Easton truck accident lawyer from Munley Law can help your case in several ways.
A truck accident is often more catastrophic and traumatic due to the sheer size and mass of large commercial trucks, and it is also more legally complex to litigate.
Here’s how:
- Calculating Damages: Munley Law attorneys have over 60 years of experience calculating damages, including current and future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We work with top PA medical experts and financial professionals to ensure all relevant costs, including future medical treatments and ongoing care, are accounted for.
- Maximizing Your Settlement: Munley Law attorneys are skilled negotiators who will aggressively advocate for your rights during settlement negotiations with insurance companies. We know how to leverage our knowledge of Pennsylvania and federal truck law and the specifics of your case to push for the maximum settlement amount possible, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Countering Insurance Company Tricks: Insurance companies often employ tactics to minimize payouts or deny claims altogether. Munley Law attorneys will handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf, protecting you from intimidation or manipulation tactics and ensuring your rights are upheld.
What Do Easton Truck Accident Attorneys Do?
Easton truck accident attorneys play a critical role in helping individuals navigate the complexities of truck accident cases. We bring many skills to your truck accident lawsuit, including:
- Initial Consultation: Meet with you so we can understand the details of your truck accident. At the initial consultation, we will assess the extent of injuries and damages incurred by the injured victim.
- Investigation: Gather evidence from the accident scene, including police reports, witness statements, and photos. Obtain any available surveillance footage or black box data from the truck. Review medical records and consult with medical experts to understand the full extent of injuries.
- Identify Liability: Using the evidence gathered, we will determine all parties potentially liable for the accident, including the truck driver, trucking company, manufacturer, or other entities. We will analyze factors such as driver negligence, vehicle maintenance, and adherence to safety regulations.
- Insurance Communication: Our truck accident attorneys will communicate with insurance companies on your behalf. We will negotiate with insurance adjusters to ensure fair compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Litigation Representation: If a settlement cannot be reached, we will represent you in court proceedings, including hearings, trials, and appeals.
How are Truck Accidents Different From Car Accidents?
Commercial trucks are the most massive thing on the road. If you have ever been alongside one on the highway, you know that familiar feeling of anxiety until they pass. According to an article by J.D. Power, the weight of an 18-wheeler (that means the tractor with a trailer attached) can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds while hauling freight.
Even an empty semi-tractor trailer can weigh up to 35,000 pounds.
It is easy to understand why truck accidents result in far greater damage to passenger cars, and the injuries sustained by accident victims can be far more severe, even life-threatening or fatal.
Truck accidents and car accidents differ in several other significant ways due to the size, weight, and other characteristics of the vehicles involved, such as:
- Severity of Injuries and Damages: Truck accidents typically result in more severe injuries and damages than car accidents. This is primarily because of the massive size and weight disparity between trucks and cars. The force of impact in a truck accident can cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities.
- Complexity of Investigations: Investigating truck accidents is often more complex than car accidents due to various factors, such as multiple potentially liable parties, federal and state regulations governing the trucking industry, and the need to analyze truck maintenance records, driver logs, and black box data. Car accidents, while still requiring investigation, generally involve fewer complexities in terms of liability and regulations.
- Regulatory Compliance: The trucking industry is subject to extensive federal and state regulations to ensure road safety. Truck drivers and trucking companies must comply with regulations regarding driver qualifications, service hours, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and more. Failure to adhere to these regulations can significantly impact liability in a truck accident case. Car accidents typically do not involve the same level of regulatory oversight.
- Insurance Coverage: Trucking companies and commercial truck drivers typically carry higher insurance coverage limits than individual car owners. This is due to the potential for greater damages and liability in truck accidents. Dealing with trucking company insurers can be more complex and challenging than dealing with individual car insurance companies, requiring specialized knowledge and negotiation skills.
- Ownership and Maintenance: Trucks are often owned and maintained by commercial entities, such as trucking companies or logistics firms, whereas individuals typically own cars. Determining liability for a truck accident may involve investigating the actions of the truck driver and the trucking company, maintenance contractors, and other parties responsible for ensuring the vehicle’s safe operation. In contrast, liability in a car accident is usually straightforward and involves the at-fault driver.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in an Easton Truck Accident?
Truck accident liability can extend beyond just the driver of the truck. Responsible parties can also include:
- Truck Driver: The truck driver can be held liable for the accident if their negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, contributed to the crash.
- Trucking Company: The trucking company that employs the driver may also be held responsible for the accident. This can occur if the company fails to properly train the driver, enforce safety regulations, maintain the vehicle, or monitor driver hours to prevent fatigue.
- Vehicle Owner: Suppose the truck is owned by a separate entity from the trucking company, such as a leasing company or individual owner. In that case, they may bear liability if their negligence, such as failure to maintain the vehicle properly, contributed to the accident.
- Maintenance Contractors: Companies or individuals responsible for the truck, including servicing brakes, tires, and other critical components, may be liable if inadequate maintenance contributed to the accident.
- Cargo Loaders: Entities responsible for loading and securing cargo onto the truck may be liable if improper loading or insecure cargo contributed to the accident.
- Manufacturers: Suppose a defect in the truck or one of its components, such as faulty brakes or tires, contributed to the accident. In that case, the manufacturer of the defective part may be held liable through a product liability claim.
- Government Entities: In some cases, if poor road conditions or inadequate signage contributed to the accident, government entities responsible for road maintenance or design may be held liable.
What is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Determining the value of a truck accident claim involves considering various factors such as the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, disability, comparative fault, insurance coverage, and legal representation.
For instance, serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or permanent disabilities typically result in higher compensation.
Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and future income loss contribute to the claim’s value. We will also consider emotional distress, physical pain, and disfigurement as we negotiate your claim.
Consulting with a truck accident attorney at Munley Law is essential for evaluating the specifics of the case and accurately determining the claim’s potential value.
Our Easton Truck Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help
Your Easton truck accident attorney at Munley Law will always prioritize your well-being and work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for your truck accident claim. Call us today for a free consultation. We will charge nothing until we win maximum financial compensation.
