Then You've Found Your Truck Accident Attorneys ... Now What?
Truck Accident Litigation The litigation involving truck accidents involves many possible defendants. They could include the driver of the truck and their employer, as and a business that manufactured defective equipment or a contractor who loaded cargo incorrectly. Many trucks contain event data recorders, sometimes referred to as black boxes. These will help investigators determine the reason an accident occurred. Personal injury lawyers with years of experience can match the information in log books. Investigation of the Scene If a car accident happens the first step of an investigation is usually to gather evidence in physical form and take pictures. When it comes to truck accidents, there are many more aspects to be considered. For instance trucks often transport dangerous products, and even a relatively minor crash can result in severe or fatal injuries. This is why the investigation process is more complicated than the typical car accident. It is also longer and requires the help of experts in various areas. Fortunately, a lawyer who is qualified will connect you with the most qualified people to do this job. An exhaustive investigation into a truck accident involves interviewing eyewitnesses and going to the site of the accident. It also requires the help of experts who are able to reconstruct how the accident happened based on the evidence gathered. This information is crucial in finding a defendant accountable for the accident. Furthermore, an attorney should seek out any details from the truck driver and company that may be relevant to the case. This could include information regarding the safety guidelines of the trucking company maintenance protocols, policies for maintenance, and training procedures. Also, the background of the truck driver is vital, such as any past incidents, reprimands or drug/alcohol test results. The information contained in the black box of the truck is an additional piece of evidence that needs to be gathered. These devices, similar to those found in planes, can offer many details about the incident. The information you need should be requested as soon as possible by your attorney, since it could be lost because of the elements or traffic. A lawyer should also collect medical records of the victims. These records will show that the injuries sustained during the crash have caused long-lasting and significant damage. It is important to keep these documents together with any doctor's notes and treatment schedules. Expert Witnesses Although the majority of truck accidents end up in a settlement between the insurance company and the victim however, some don't and need to be tried in the court. Expert witnesses play a crucial role. They are professionals with the knowledge, training, and expertise to evaluate the evidence in your case and present their views to the jury. They can explain complex medical, physical, mechanical and economic concepts that the majority of jurors lack understanding of. Expert witnesses can vary from a basic car mechanic to a metallurgist who will analyze the failure of a truck's component or a pathologist that can determine what caused the death. They may also be required to look into and testify on particular aspects of your case, like the force of the collision or the vehicle's speed, or even the reconstruction of the accident. Another important area where experts are brought in is for medical experts to confirm the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies often challenge this claim, claiming that you exaggerate your injuries, or the fact that these were pre-existing injuries and that the incident didn't cause any additional damage. In these cases your lawyer may bring an independent expert to challenge the claims of the insurance's doctor. Finally an expert witness could be essential when it comes to showing that the truck driver involved in the accident was negligent in some way. They can use their expertise to help the jury comprehend the truck driver's omission to complete his or her job, the financial consequences that resulted from that failure and how that failure affected you. GPS Tracking When accidents with trucks occur, it is not uncommon for victims to suffer serious injuries. They need financial assistance to pay medical bills and lost wages, as well as suffering and related expenses. Manhattan truck accident lawyers from Cellino Law are prepared to pursue justice for their clients and fight for the compensation they deserved. GPS tracking is among the most effective methods used for accident cases. These devices are a standard of the trucking industry, and typically have a variety of crucial information that can be used to determine the extent of liability. A Qualcomm system provide crucial information like speed, braking performance engines performance, speed, and service hours. This information can be paired with other evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, to reconstruct the scene of a crash. Other crucial pieces of information in a truck accident investigation could be evidence from the trucking company's telematics software and dash cams. Telematics is the collection of data collected by a vehicle’s onboard computer. This information can be used to instruct fleet drivers and record incidents. This could include vital details like speed, rough brakes, phone usage and more. This information can be compared to the log books of the truck driver to determine if the correct records were recorded. Another important aspect is any fax records that might have been sent regarding the trip prior to the incident. This information can include the route, destination, and any stops made along the way and any messages exchanged between the trucker and the company. This information can be used by a skilled personal injury lawyer to show that the trucker was distracted or did not follow safe procedures. If a person injured in a collision with a truck is able to prove that the trucking company, driver, or any other defendants failed to uphold their duty of care and caused the accident they must be held accountable for any injuries suffered as a result. To win a case, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant violated any law or regulation, and that the violation directly caused harm. It is much easier to prove that a breach of a traffic law was negligent however, Federal regulations require a more intricate analysis. Negotiating a Settlement In many cases truck accident victims can settle their claim without having to go to trial. The process of reaching settlement involves discussing the details of your situation with an insurance company, including the amount you are legally entitled to under state law. An experienced attorney for truck accidents will evaluate your injuries and document the losses you've suffered in the accident to determine much your case is worth. The attorney can then apply the results from other similar lawsuits involving truck accidents and how juries awarded victims in similar situations to establish a reasonable settlement amount. Your lawyer can also negotiate with the insurance company to ensure that the settlement you receive adequately covers your documented damages. This includes any money that you've lost due to your inability to work to get treatment for your injury. Lawyers can assist in submitting the necessary documentation for these losses, such as old pay receipts. If you are unable to return to the same type of job because of your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of earning potential in the future as well. Insurance companies usually begin the conversation by making an offer of low value. This is a common tactic to determine how desperate you are for a settlement and could impact the value of your case. bloomington truck accident attorney can avoid being snubbed by a judge by remaining at peace and not giving in to the pressure to accept a shoddy settlement. After your lawyer has agreed to an amount that is fair then they will mail the person responsible for the fault a written demand for a settlement. The party must respond within 30 days, or you will lose the right to bring a lawsuit against them in court. In some instances a trucking company will refuse to negotiate, and your attorney will start a lawsuit against the negligent party. It is not possible to give an estimate of the worth of a truck accident settlement since each case is unique. For instance, the severity of the injuries and how long you'll be away from work for medical treatment are two factors that differ. However, it is not common for settlements for truck accidents to be worth millions of dollars.