Can I Sue a Trucking Company for Injuries I Sustained in a Truck Accident?

 Posted on April 16, 2021 in Car Accident

Large commercial trucks such as delivery trucks, tanker trucks, and 18-wheelers can cause severe damage during a car accident. Over 4,000 people lost their lives in truck accidents in 2019 and thousands more were injured. If you have been hurt in a trucking accident, it may be possible to sue the trucking company or other liable parties for damages. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Liability for a Large Truck Accident

Truck accidents are often especially complicated because of the number of factors that may contribute to the accident. The truck driver may have made critical errors behind the wheel that caused or worsened the accident. The trucking company may have failed to properly maintain and inspect the truck for issues that could reduce the driver’s ability to drive safely. Product designers or manufacturers may even share liability for the crash if the truck components or equipment was flawed. Determining which parties are liable for a truck collision is an essential element of a successful truck accident lawsuit.

What You Have to Prove to Win a Truck Accident Lawsuit

To recover compensation for damages caused in a truck accident, you and your attorney will need to show that:

• The defendant, often the trucking company, owed a duty of care.

• The defendant failed to uphold this duty of care.

• You were injured as a result of the defendant’s conduct.

• Your injuries led to damages like medical expenses and lost wages from missed work.

Your attorney will help you find evidence that supports each of these claims. Evidence used to show that a trucking company or truck driver acted negligently may include vehicle information from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR), drug and alcohol test results, traffic camera footage, and forensic evidence like vehicle debris and skid marks. Evidence of trucking company negligence may include maintenance and inspection records, the company’s hiring policies and procedures, and electronic logbooks.

Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Truck Collision

A truck accident can dramatically impact a person’s life. You may be left with painful injuries and steep medical bills. You may be unable to work or fulfill daily responsibilities for weeks or months after the accident. You may even be left with permanent disabilities because of the crash. A personal injury lawsuit may help you recover monetary compensation for these losses. You could recover compensation for past and future medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.

Contact a Palatine Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were hurt in a truck accident, contact an Arlington Heights truck accident attorney at Newland & Newland, LLP. Call us at 847-797-8000 today for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks#:~:text=A%20total%20of%204%2C119%20people,were%20pedestrians%2C%20bicyclists%20or%20motorcyclists.