How an Attorney Can Help You After a Semi Truck Accident
Semi truck accidents differ from car accidents in many ways. For example, the injuries resulting from a semi trailer accident can often be worse due to the weight and size of these trucks. Semi accidents also require a different legal approach, one that benefits greatly from the experience of a personal injury attorney.
Semi Truck Accident Cases Are Highly Complex
Legal matters resulting from trailer truck accidents are complex. For example, trucking is a heavily regulated industry, governed by specific laws that companies must follow. These regulations cover everything from maintenance to how long truck drivers can be out on the road.
Due to these rules, there are many ways a trucker or the trucking company might be at-fault for your accident. Often, accidents are caused by negligence, fatigue, overloaded freight or trucks traveling at high speeds. An attorney can dig deeper into the cause, ensuring each regulation broken is brought to your case.
In addition, semi drivers are held to a higher standard of care than a common motorist. Oftentimes, semi drivers are referred to as common carriers due to the loads they transport and the need for utmost safety.
Who’s Responsible?
All of the factors involved in these cases make for a strenuous investigation process. Trucking companies often have onboard computers monitoring everything a driver does. This includes when the driver sleeps and drives. After a crash, some trucking companies deploy a team of crash investigators to gather evidence and try to protect the driver, even if they’re at fault.
Black box data and other electronic information stored in the semi is critical evidence to be secured after the crash. Plus, each new piece of evidence may point to another party that’s potentially at fault for your accident.
For example, a truck maintenance company may have installed faulty brakes in a truck, resulting in an accident. Or the trucking company may have ignored the required maintenance completely. Your attorney will be able to help establish fault on your behalf, even if there are multiple parties involved.
The Role of No-Fault Insurance
Minnesota is a no-fault state, which means your own insurance company must pay for medical treatment and damage first. If you have over $4,000 in medical expenses, a permanent injury, scarring or disfigurement, or if you have 60 days of disability or more, you may also be able to bring a claim against the at-fault party.
Your attorney can work as a liaison between you and the insurance companies. This not only removes the stress of these conversations from your plate but also helps ensure the insurance companies do what they’re supposed to do.
Increased Compensation
As we mentioned before, the injuries these accidents cause can be life-threatening. Additionally, the property damage can be immense.
Semi truck accident cases are often worth more due to the amount of damage done. A personal injury attorney can ensure you don’t receive a low-ball settlement offer that doesn’t cover all of your damages or loss.
Need a Semi Truck Accident Attorney? Call Brazil Law Group Today.
Semi truck accidents are often complex and must be handled with care. If you’ve been involved in a semi trailer accident in Minneapolis, St. Paul or elsewhere in Minnesota, we can help. Give us a call today at 612-874-6109 or send our team a message.
