There are many reasons to hire a truck accident attorney to handle your case and maximize your payment. Large transportation enterprises generally employ semi-trucks and drivers. These corporations have fleets of trucks as well as fleets of lawyers, insurance adjusters, detectives, and other workers all attempting the same goal: paying as little as possible in claims originating from accidents covered by their policies. If you were hurt in a semi-truck or commercial truck accident, this fact alone should convince you to consult a lawyer.
Dakota Low is a clever, methodical, and tireless advocate for his truck accident clients. Dakota has dedicated his life to assisting the injured, and he has routinely obtained the highest verdicts and compensation permitted under the law for his clients. Please call 405.601.8899 for a free case examination if you have been hurt. Our truck accident attorneys are here to help you immediately and minimize the stress when you are injured.
It is critical to understand that recovering full damages in your case without the assistance of an experienced attorney is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Truck accident claims and other commercial vehicle accident cases are exceedingly complicated, and the at-fault parties will take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge and the stressful circumstances surrounding the accident to avoid paying you what you deserve or deny your claim.
Alternatively, your rights will be fully protected if you hire an expert truck accident attorney. An experienced and skilled attorney will be familiar with the following issues of your trucking case:
Multiple Responsible Parties
Despite the fact that the driver may have been personally responsible for the accident, most truck accident claims require obtaining reimbursement from many parties. The following parties may be involved in your case:
- The truck driver: Truck drivers are frequently distracted, weary, and impaired by drugs and alcohol, as well as exceeding the speed limit. All of these characteristics are examples of negligence, and they frequently result in truck accidents.
- The trucking company: Trucking businesses are responsible for their employees’ activities. Inadequate pre-employment screening, insufficient training, and violations of state and federal trucking standards are all examples of negligence.
- The truck’s and its parts’ manufacturer: Semi-trucks are sophisticated machines that need to be serviced on a regular basis. If a flaw caused your truck accident, the businesses that build big rigs and their parts may be liable, or the owner may be culpable for failing to properly maintain the vehicle.
- The shipping company: When freight is loaded onto tractor-trailers, it is usually done by a third-party logistics business. Errors in loading, inability to distribute cargo weight and failure to adequately secure the load can all play a role in causing a truck accident.
- The mechanic or maintenance company: If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure as a result of negligent maintenance or repair, the individual or business responsible for the upkeep of the rig and its parts may be held liable.
A truck accident may also be caused by freight brokers, shippers, and other trucking sector partners. It’s critical to work with a skilled truck accident attorney, such as Dakota Low, who can handle complicated responsibility concerns on your behalf.
THERE MAY BE SEVERAL INSURANCE COMPANIES INVOLVED
An insurance company will represent all of the parties mentioned above. Knowing how to deal with different insurance providers and their policies is both valuable and essential to the positive outcome of your case. It might be difficult to negotiate effectively with numerous rival legal counsel. This is something that only a seasoned truck accident expert known for complicated legal expertise can handle. Dakota Low is your man!
If you or a loved one has been gravely injured in a truck accident and are unable to work, your top goal should be to recover from your injuries and adjust to the “new normal” that you and your family are experiencing. A competent truck accident attorney who is familiar with the law and insurance defense techniques can appropriately leverage insurance companies to maximize your claim and get you the greatest compensation as quickly as possible.
Trucking Laws Are Complex and Confusing
Trucks and other commercial carriers in the United States are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA’s complicated trucking laws will be a major deciding factor in your case. In your case, infractions of the FMCSA could be used as evidence of negligence.
The following are a few of the most common federal regulations:
- Service hours (i.e., the maximum amount of time a driver can be “in-service” before having to take a break)
- Driver credentials, such as commercial driver’s license requirements, medical fitness, and appropriate training
- Inspection, repair, and maintenance of trucks
- Parts and accessories required
- The need for insurance
- Records preservation
- Hazardous materials transportation
Truck accident trial lawyers with experience, like Dakota Low, have a thorough understanding of FMCSA trucking laws and how to apply them in your case. Your truck accident attorney will also be familiar with the applicable state and local legislation.
Hire a Truck Accident Attorney for Truck Accidents With Serious Injury
The size difference between a standard automobile and an 18-wheeler is enormous. Serious injuries are frequently caused by the size disparity and high operational speeds.
Serious injuries are more complicated, and the litigation that follows is also more complicated. The high frequency of catastrophic injuries in truck accidents makes litigation complicated and time-consuming.
If you experience any of the following symptoms,
- Trauma to the brain
- Loss of vision or blindness
- Injury to the spinal cord (up to and including paralysis)
- Severe burns
- Limb amputations
- One or more bone fractures
A quality truck wreck attorney must prove the type and severity of your injuries, as well as the long-term prospects, in order to receive the maximum compensation, you may be owed. Serious injuries that have a long-term impact usually necessitate more proof and expert testimony about financial and other losses. Your truck accident attorney should have the best expert witnesses and investigators to effectively develop your case and bring it to life at trial. Therefore, your law firm should be well-capitalized and experienced to win the most substantial verdicts and awards.
In order to establish the most effective case on your side, an experienced truck accident attorney knows who are the most respected experts and which experts to contact depending on your individual case circumstances.
Hire a Truck Accident Attorney for Truck Accidents With Death
Another reason to hire an experienced truck accident attorney like Dakota Low is the high incidence of people killed in commercial truck accidents.
Due to the loss suffered by surviving family members, wrongful death case damages are frequently substantial. Insurance companies are focused on their financial line, so the death of a family member is unlikely to prompt them to reimburse you appropriately.
If you or a loved one has been killed in a semi-truck accident, you should contact a truck accident attorney as quickly as possible. Dakota Low has unique experience in truck accident cases. Insurance companies know he means business and Dakota frequently obtains the highest awards for his clients. You may be owed millions. Just check with Dakota at 405.601.8899. Dakota Knows!
Claims for Damages in Truck Accidents
Severe injuries and wrongful death caused by truck accidents require serious litigation and often result in large sums of money in compensation. This money symbolizes compensation for victims and their families for the damages they have incurred as a result of a truck driver’s and connected parties’ negligence. Compensation is an intolerable financial loss for trucking companies, insurers, and other at-fault parties.
When insurance companies offer you a settlement, it will almost certainly be much less than what you are realistically owed.
Another problematic feature of many truck accidents – and still another reason to deal with an expert attorney – is the truck driver’s license and driving regulations. Your attorney must know the regulations and be prepared to utilize them when deposing the truck driver and negotiating against the insurance carrier and trucking companies. Another complicated aspect of many truck accidents – and another reason to work with an experienced lawyer – is the high incidence of fatalities in accidents involving commercial trucks.
Wrongful death case damages are often significant due to the loss incurred by surviving family members. Insurance companies are concerned about the bottom line; the death of your relative seldom encourages them to compensate you fairly.
if you lose a loved one in a semi-truck accident, it is important to contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Damages in Truck Accident Claims
Truck accidents resulting in serious injuries and wrongful death involve serious litigation and serious amounts of money in compensation. For victims and their families, this money represents compensation for the damages they have suffered due to the negligence of a truck driver and related parties. For the trucking companies, insurers, and other at-fault parties, compensation represents an unacceptable financial loss.
When insurance companies offer a settlement, it will likely be far less than your claim is actually worth. Absent experienced legal counsel, you will be at a grave disadvantage to knowing what your is actually worth it. You will be at a severe disadvantage in determining the value of your claim if you do not have access to qualified legal advice.
A skilled truck accident attorney will figure out how much money you are entitled to, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of revenue
- Loss of earning potential
- Loss of property
- Expenses paid out of pocket
- Suffering and pain
- Loss of social interaction, companionship, and parental guidance
- Loss of pleasure in life
- Injunctive relief
It is critical to engage with an experienced truck accident attorney who achieves maximum outcomes in order to recover the maximum value of your claim.
Comparative Negligence / Comparative Fault
Many jurisdictions have rules that limit the number of damages awarded in truck accident cases involving negligence. Some states have laws that reduce damages in a personal injury or wrongful death claim according to the amount of responsibility the victim has in the accident. This is comparative fault.
Oklahoma is a comparative negligence state. Damages for accidents that occur in the state are decided on a case-by-case basis. The specific actions of each party directly affect the compensation they receive for their injuries, and it is possible no single person will be deemed responsible for the accident.
There is some level of fault for both parties if a person is speeding and the other vehicle did not use their turn signal when entering into their lane, resulting in an accident. Each driver’s damages could be lowered based on a determination of their “percentage” of fault or comparative fault in the case. Under Oklahoma comparative negligence statutes, an injured person’s compensation may be decreased. An injured person can possibly, under Oklahoma comparative negligence laws, have their compensation reduced if they are found responsible for their own injuries, regardless of the other party’s role in the accident.
Oklahoma’s comparative fault statutes, which follow a “50 percent rule,” have been amended. “Negligence resulting in personal injuries or wrongful death, or injury to property, contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery unless any negligence of the person injured, damaged, or killed is of a greater degree than any negligence of the person, firm, or corporation causing the damage,” according to Oklahoma law. Any party found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident and their own injuries may be barred from receiving compensation.
To ensure that you are not bulldozed to zero compensation by the insurance company lawyers, you should be represented by quality counsel.
If you believe your activities may have contributed to the accident, you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible. Even if the truck driver is entirely at blame, you should consult with a truck accident attorney to ensure that your rights to full compensation are fully safeguarded.
Hire a Truck Accident Attorney if Many Vehicles Are Involved
Multiple victims are sometimes involved in truck accident cases. When a semi-truck collides with more than one vehicle on a congested roadway, this is known as a “multi-vehicle pileup.”
Families of the other victims may submit wrongful death claims if their loved ones were killed, or the drivers and occupants of other vehicles involved in the collision may file suit for their injuries.
Despite the fact that your injuries or the death of a family member resulted from the same catastrophe, the cases of the other victims have no influence on yours. To be fairly rewarded, you will have to pursue your own claim. As a result, you’ll have to hire your own truck accident attorney.
Location of the Accident
The location of the accident may have an impact on complex culpability in a truck accident lawsuit. It’s possible that the location of an accident will be a problem if:
• The accident occurs in a construction zone: Construction companies are responsible for safely accommodating traffic by modifying intersections and portions of road where work is being done. If the construction company’s negligence in setting up the work zone contributed to the truck accident, the company could be held partially accountable.
• The collision occurred in a school zone: To keep students safe, school districts use reduced speed limits and warning lights to slow traffic. If you were involved in a truck accident or if your child was wounded by a semi-truck, The school district, crossing the street.
In complex liability truck accident cases, it’s critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your legal alternatives. Claims against parties such as school districts and other government bodies are subject to unique procedures and deadlines.
Accident Report Details Are Very Important
When a truck accident occurs, local law enforcement generally responds. A law enforcement official will compile a report based on this information, which will detail the details of the accident and, in certain situations, make preliminary findings of who might be at fault to have the report amended.
The law enforcement report can be used by all parties in a truck accident case to prove their case. As a result, it is critical to obtain a copy of the accident report as quickly as possible, evaluate it for inaccuracies or missing information, and rectify these issues to ensure that the report accurately reflects the facts of the event. The correctness of your accident report can make a big difference in your ability to get the most money for your injuries.
For an injured victim to be properly and adequately represented, knowledgeable and experienced trucking litigation counsel is required. Contact Dakota Low for a free case evaluation if you need an aggressive litigator with demonstrated ability and expertise. Dakota will carefully listen to your situation, assist you with your personal needs in the interim, and ensure that you get the most out of your accident claim.
Don’t let the big trucking and insurance companies take unfair advantage of you- hire Dakota Low today! You pay nothing until your case is completed and you are paid what you deserve.
Contact Dakota Low today for a free case review and consultation at 405.601.8899 or use our contact form.
