SKIP TO CONTENTAny accident has the potential to cause severe injuries, but commercial truck accidents are known for being particularly catastrophic for accident victims. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks and 18-wheelers, combined with the additional skill required to operate them, make every driver, bicyclist, and pedestrian a potential victim.
To further complicate matters, there could be more than one party who is liable for your injuries, including the truck driver, the trucking company, parts manufacturers, municipalities, and more.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, you’re probably wondering if you have a valid case and if you should hire a personal injury attorney. This article provides a brief overview of these questions.
Three Signs You Have a Valid Truck Accident Case
Any time a negligent driver causes property damage or injuries, they should be held financially responsible for those damages. The question is whether you have a valid truck accident case that warrants compensation. If one or more of the following applies, you may have a truck accident case:
- You sustained injuries. It’s difficult to escape from a truck accident unscathed, and approximately 28% of truck accidents involve serious injuries.
Whether you’ve sustained minor or major injuries, the driver (or other responsible party) should compensate you for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Sometimes initiating a truck accident case is the only way to get this compensation.
- Your car or other property is damaged. Like injuries, damage to property costs money to repair.
If your car, home, or something else you own needs to be repaired or replaced, the at-fault party’s insurance company should cover the cost.
- You are not at fault (or only partially at fault) for the accident. People should be accountable for their actions, and that includes causing injuries or property damage in an accident.
If the other driver is at fault for what happened, you likely have a valid truck accident case. This is true even if you are partially at fault for what happened. As long as you do not share equal blame or are primarily at fault, you can seek financial compensation.
Why Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?
Truck accident cases can get complicated, especially if there are questions about who is at fault or should be held financially liable. While a truck accident victim will typically go after the insurance company for a settlement check, insurance companies employ a long list of tactics to avoid paying fair (or any) compensation.
Experienced truck accident attorneys are well-versed in these strategies, and they will help in these areas:
- Gather evidence to prove who is at fault
- Identify potential at-fault parties
- File necessary paperwork on time
- Negotiate on your behalf
- Coordinate medical treatment and payment agreements
- Go to court, if applicable
Types of Compensation Available for Truck Accident Victims
Depending on the injuries and property damage you have experienced, you may be able to collect compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- PTSD, anxiety, and other types of emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer
Anyone injured in a truck accident should first seek medical attention. Delaying treatment can compromise both your health and your case, and Attorney Bryan Garrett, PLLC, can possibly coordinate payment terms with your doctor(s) to delay billing until your case is settled. Our law firm has more than 15 years of personal injury experience. To discuss your case, please contact us for a free consultation.
