If you are lying in a hospital bed following an accident involving a big rig, you are probably worried about what the future will hold. There can be no telling how severe injuries can impact your life long term. Depending on your particular situation, it may be quite some time before you are fully recovered. This can make a trucking accident claim complicated as you will want to ensure that the damages you pursue are ample enough to account for future medical expenses. An attorney can not only represent you in recovering compensation for the injuries you are suffering but also help you build a case to prove that the trucker was negligent. It will be vital to obtain legal counsel to determine whether you should pursue an insurance settlement or lawsuit.
Common Types of Injuries
Walking away from a trucking accident without a scratch would be nothing short of miraculous. Unfortunately, the majority of truck accident victims are not this lucky. The sheer impact of a large commercial truck can produce grave results for victims. If a victim is lucky enough to survive, they may be faced with one or more of the following types of injuries:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Broken Bones
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paralysis
- Internal Injuries
- Neck and Back Injuries
- Lacerations
Trucking accidents can be horrific. Depending on your particular case, it may be in your best interest to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit. An attorney can help you determine what may be in your best interest so that you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Proving the Trucker was Negligent
Trucking accidents may leave you entitled to a fairly significant settlement if you are able to prove that the truck driver was responsible for the accident. An attorney can work with you to help build a strong case and ensure that you have all the required elements to prove negligence. The following are vital components to ensuring that you have a strong claim:
- Duty of Care: is a truck driver’s responsibility to behave appropriately when behind the wheel of a truck. They are expected to drive safely and ensure that they do not harm anyone while on the road.
- Breach: is when they do not uphold their duty of care. This can occur when a driver behaves irresponsibly and harms someone as a result.
- Causation: if the person’s behavior resulted in an accident that caused harm to another driver.
As a result of the accident you must also be able to prove that you have suffered damages in some way. When you work with your attorney, they can help you gather the appropriate proof to build a strong case.
Following a trucking accident, there are likely to be a number of unknowns in your future. Securing a truck accident lawyer Lakeland, FL trusts to represent you can help in not only providing you clarity when it comes to your legal options but advocating for you during what is surely to be a difficult time.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at David & Philpot, PL for their insight into truck accidents.