Out of thousands of car and truck accident deaths in 2009, 81% of cars and 22% of trucks were cited for causing the fatal crash. Huge semi-trucks and tractor-trailers can almost always be found on a major highway. Many cars try to pass these massive trucks because of truck accidents on the news, to avoid being slowed down, or to be able to see in front of them. Heavy trucks can inflict a lot of damage by simply veering over into another car’s lane. This can run the risk up for serious injuries to either party.
A Tennessee auto accident lawyer can help you in several ways when it comes to big truck accidents. Consult with a lawyer if you suffered injuries from a truck accident that was not your fault.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
It helps to know the common causes of truck accidents when you are trying to determine who was at fault. Figuring out why the other driver was at fault will help you and your lawyer determine negligence, which is what your lawyer will seek evidence for because courts reward victims based on negligent behaviors.
The most common causes of truck accidents are vehicle failure, following another car too closely, abrupt steering, falling asleep, and suffering from a medical condition like a heart attack. These can happen to truck or car drivers. Although, more damage to the other car is likely to occur when a truck driver falls asleep or makes a mistake because trucks are larger and have a stronger frame.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Insurance companies tend to avoid truck accident cases because of the high amount of money involved. Lawyers get paid to help you obtain a settlement despite any resistance from the insurance company or other driver. They are also trained in how insurance companies function so they know how to handle disputed liabilities.
Truck accidents are different than other car accident cases because of all the exclusive laws that surround semi-truck drivers and the companies they operate under. Personal injury attorneys know the specific state and federal laws and can see which ones were broken in relation to the accident. A law violation by the other driver could potentially strengthen your case.
The nature of truck accidents requires more paperwork and evidence collection than other accidents. A lawyer who has experience with truck accidents will already know exactly what evidence you will need to present to your claims adjuster. This can speed up the overall process of obtaining fair compensation.