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If you or someone you know was recently involved in a truck accident, then you might be wondering if truck accident lawsuits are the same as that of an accident that involves any other vehicle.
Well, the answer to that is predictable. No, they are not the same. This is because trucks are cargo vehicles or business vehicles that are subject to stricter legislation and regulations, which will bring in the involvement of several third-party entities in any truck accident lawsuits. However, the differences don’t stop there. You need to keep in mind many other things if you have been involved in a truck accident. Let’s break everything down briefly to understand the significant aspects of a truck accident lawsuit.
Several types of trucks operate on roadways, and the kind of accidents that occur are based on the type of truck involved.
Usually, there are nine different kinds of truck accidents:
Knowing the cause of the truck accident can be useful in determining damages and liability in your lawsuit. The various causes for truck accidents can typically be divided into the following four categories:
These accidents can be caused by the truck driver due to fatigue, insufficient training, road rage, neglect, failure to obey traffic rules, poor maintenance of the vehicle, and so on.
These accidents are generally caused by drivers who might attempt lane changes in front of a truck, dangerous passing, pulling onto the shoulder of the highway in an imprudent manner, and so on.
Sometimes, whenever a road is undergoing construction or maintenance work, improper road signs might be put up, leading to accidents.
Truck accidents might also occur for various reasons such as loose cargo, blind spots on the road, a tire blowout, jack-knifing, and so on.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, the first course of action is to contact medical emergency services immediately. If you have suffered any physical injuries, then it is important to keep all of your medical records handy if you wish to file a lawsuit.
Keep in mind that some injuries might not be apparent at the accident site and might show up later. This is why you need to get yourself examined by a doctor even if you think you are fine. After receiving the required medical help, your second course of action would be to contact a legal team to help you with legal proceedings.
Legal responsibility in a truck accident might be placed on any of the parties that are involved, including the truck driver himself, the contractor, the employer of the truck driver, the company that the truck driver works for, as well as the owner/manufacturer of the cargo that the truck was carrying at the time of the accident.
The best person to answer this would be your truck accident lawyer. However, before you proceed with truck accident lawsuits, you should be aware that different states in the country have different regulations and legislation, which might affect the way any truck accident lawsuits might turn out.
For example, in some states, those who are found to be “at fault” for the accident would be held responsible for all kinds of damages, including both direct and indirect damages. This is why Georgia is known as an “at fault” state when it comes to truck driving lawsuits. Similarly, different states have legislation like this which affects the litigation process to a large extent.
Like an accident involving passenger vehicles, a truck accident might entitle you to certain rights and financial compensation. This is why it is highly advisable to contact a truck accident lawyer for truck accident lawsuits. An experienced lawyer would be able to tell you the best way to file a lawsuit so that you get the highest compensation possible.
Contact us to learn more about truck accidents and how we can help you.