Getting into an accident on the road is an ordeal. However, if it involves a commercial truck, it can be catastrophic. Semi-trucks are much more dangerous because they are bigger and heavier than other vehicles.
The additional weight from cargo can make it more difficult for truck drivers to navigate and come to a stop. If you were in an accident with a commercial truck, here’s what to know to guide you through to your settlement.
What Caused Your Truck Accident?
Many factors can lead to an accident with a commercial truck. With such a high demand for truckers to move freight, lack of experience on the truck driver’s part may be to blame. They may have been speeding, driving under the influence, or simply drowsy behind the wheel.
In other cases, it could be due to improper loading of cargo or a mechanical failure. To determine liability, the accident will need to be reconstructed. This may reveal that there are multiple liable parties for your truck accident.
What Kind of Injuries Did You Sustain in the Truck Accident?
Typically, injuries in a commercial truck accident tend to be severe. You may have broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord damage. Your entire life may be completely changed by this injury.
Some people aren’t quite as lucky. The size of commercial trucks can lead to fatalities on the road. The settlement you or your family members receive if they lose someone to a truck accident will depend on the physical and mental injuries sustained in the crash.
How to Prepare Your Truck Accident Settlement
Immediately following an accident with a commercial truck, you should get medical attention. Some injuries may be underneath the surface. Left untreated, these injuries could be deadly. You should document all of the medical treatments and surgeries needed to prove your injuries.
Additionally, you should get a copy of the police report, documentation from your job for being out of work, and all documentation about the damage to your vehicle. All of this can be used to help calculate your settlement demands.
While you may be in great pain, you must try to get your claim filed quickly. It helps to have a personal injury attorney who can represent you, allowing you to rest and recover.
How Is a Commercial Truck Settlement Calculated?
You’re likely to receive more for a settlement in a commercial truck accident than you would if you were in a crash with another passenger vehicle. However, the claims process can be complicated. There may be more than one liable party, and your injuries may impact you for the rest of your life.
The money you receive should reflect the medical costs you’ve already incurred while preparing for those in the future to handle your injuries. With the help of a truck accident attorney, you’ll be able to see what a fair settlement looks like and have a better chance of getting the maximum amount.
