Large truck accidents are among the most catastrophic types of motor vehicle accidents. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles can result in damage and injuries that extend far beyond what might occur in a passenger vehicle crash. Moreover, the legal implications of commercial truck crashes can be incredibly complex and necessitate the help of a skilled truck accident attorney.
At Louisville Injury Law Firm, our truck accident attorney can help you explore your options for recovering compensation after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. We offer free case evaluations and operate on a contingency basis, meaning we only take payment for legal fees when we win your case through a settlement or verdict.
How Do Truck Accident Cases Differ from Regular Car Accident Cases?
If you’ve been involved in a semi-truck accident in Louisville, you may be wondering, “Do I really need a lawyer?” The answer is almost always yes. Truck accidents differ significantly from regular car accidents and involve unique challenges that demand deep legal knowledge. This includes:
Catastrophic Damage
Severe damage and injuries are more likely to occur in accidents involving trucks due to their large size and weight. These injuries demand costly, intensive medical treatment and long recovery times, making it essential to accurately value your claim and build a strong case from the start.
Trucking Rules and Regulations
Trucking companies must adhere to regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. One such regulation is hours of service, which limits how long a driver is allowed to remain on duty. Uncovering a violation of these regulations can be a deciding factor in your case but demands legal know-how as well as strong evidence, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain without a lawyer.
Complex Liability
In a truck collision, the truck driver is typically the first suspect when it comes to liability, but liability can also fall on others. For example, a loading company may have loaded a truck’s cargo improperly, causing the weight of the vehicle to shift, leading to a crash. Identifying all liable parties is essential to a successful claim.
How Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Louisville Can Help
The legal process surrounding truck accident claims is intricate, and we understand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re struggling with painful injuries and stress about your financial future. At Louisville Injury Law Firm, we are committed to taking that weight off your shoulders. We will guide you through every step of the process and fight for the highest possible compensation. Our truck accident attorneys can help you:
- Gather Evidence: We can do the heavy lifting of collecting evidence surrounding your case. This may include vehicle maintenance records, police reports, and witness statements, as well as items that can be challenging to obtain, such as black box data or driver history.
- Determine Liability: We will analyze the evidence to determine the at-fault party, whether it’s the driver, their employer, or another entity, then file a claim against them.
- Negotiate with Insurers: Insurance companies may offer a lower settlement than you deserve or deny your claim. Our attorneys can skillfully negotiate for a payout that fully covers your damages.
- File an Accident Lawsuit: In some cases, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit and take your case to court in order to secure compensation. We are fully prepared to represent you in a trial.
Damages We Can Fight to Recover After a Louisville Truck Accident
Because truck accidents can result in serious injuries, we understand how important it is to fight for the full value of your losses. Our attorneys will help you pursue compensation for not just your immediate expenses, but also the long-term effects on your life. This may include:
- Medical expenses: This includes everything from emergency room visits to surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity: If your injuries keep you from working, we’ll fight for compensation for lost income and reduced ability to earn.
- Pain and suffering: Serious injuries often come with significant physical pain and emotional distress. We pursue compensation for both.
- Wrongful death damages: If you have lost someone dear to you in a truck accident, we can pursue compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Louisville
Truck accidents can take many forms, and each one presents different legal challenges. Our firm has experience with a wide range of truck accident cases, including:
- Jackknife accidents: These types of accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle, frequently leading to a multi-vehicle accident.
- Underride accidents: These crashes happen when a car slides beneath the trailer of a truck, and can often be fatal.
- Rollover accidents: A truck that rolls over can crush nearby vehicles or scatter cargo across the road.
- Rear-end and head-on collisions: Due to their size and weight, head-on and rear-end collisions between trucks and passenger vehicles can be devastating if not fatal.
If you don’t see your specific situation listed, don’t worry. We can still evaluate your case and advise you on the best next steps.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Louisville
There are many causes of semi-truck accidents in Louisville. These include everything from mechanical failures to fatigue caused by unrealistic delivery schedules that push truck drivers to drive longer than allowed.
Fatigue: Fatigued driving is a severe safety risk and can result from a violation of the FMCSA hours of service rules. Truck drivers are required to take breaks to avoid fatigue, but pressure to meet deadlines can lead to skipped rest periods.
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving includes using a cell phone—which is also a FMCSA violation—eating, adjusting the radio or other device, and performing any other action that may reduce a driver’s focus on the road, increasing the chance of an accident.
Impaired Driving: Impaired driving includes driving while under the influence of alcohol, stimulants like cocaine, and other drugs. These are both FMCSA violations and violations of state law.
Aggressive Driving: Aggressive driving may involve speeding, improper lane changes, failure to signal, dangerous turns, and other types of actions, increasing the risk of a collision. In some cases this behavior may result from unrealistic schedules set by a truck driver’s employer, leading them to take risks to meet deadlines.
Poor or Neglected Maintenance: Trucks require regular maintenance checks to ensure safe operation. When maintenance is either poor or neglected, it can lead to critical failures involving brakes or steering, which can lead to deadly accidents.
Inexperienced Drivers: Accidents can also occur when a truck driver hasn’t received adequate training. A driver may be unprepared for certain challenging situations like adverse weather or high-traffic areas. New drivers may also struggle with truck-specific challenges like managing blind spots, proper turning techniques, and the increased stopping distances required for large vehicles.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Our firm has experience handling many different types of injury cases commonly resulting from truck crashes and other accidents. Some of these include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): TBIs can have long-lasting effects, impairing an individual’s motor control, memory, and cognitive abilities.
- Neck and Back Injuries: These injuries may include whiplash, herniated discs, or spinal fractures, potentially leading to chronic pain or paralysis and requiring lengthy rehabilitation.
- Loss of Limbs: Vehicle accidents can lead to severed limbs or crushing injuries that require amputation.
- Fractures: Broken bones may require surgery, involve long recovery times, and hinder an individual’s ability to work and perform daily tasks
- Internal Organ Injuries: Injuries to the lungs, liver, spleen, and other vital organs typically require emergency surgery and extensive medical care.
- Burn Injuries: Some accidents result in a blaze, causing severe burns that require long-term specialized treatment and rehabilitation.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Louisville
If you’re involved in a truck accident, your safety is the top priority. Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 immediately. Next, if you’re able, document the scene by taking photos and gathering contact info from witnesses and other drivers. When speaking with police, other drivers, or insurance companies, avoid admitting fault or sharing more than necessary. Contact a Louisville truck accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and preserve crucial evidence.
Louisville Truck Accident Lawyer: FAQs
How long do you have to file a truck accident claim in Louisville?
In Kentucky, you only have a short time—one year from the date of the accident—to file a claim. There are some exceptions, however, It’s important to act quickly to preserve your ability to recover compensation.
Can you still file a claim if you were partially at fault?
Yes. Kentucky’s comparative negligence rule allows you to pursue compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, note that your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What types of evidence do you need to win a truck accident case?
Some of the most important types of evidence include driving logs, maintenance records, black box data, and the truck driver’s history. As this evidence is typically controlled by the trucking company, it can be hard to obtain without a lawyer.
Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
Our office is conveniently located at 717 Executive Park, St Matthews, KY 40207. Whether you decide to visit us in person or call us at (502) 242-9000, we’re ready to hear about your accident and help set you on the path to recovery.
Speak With An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer at Louisville Injury Firm
At the Louisville Injury Law Firm, our skilled and compassionate legal team can help you recover the compensation you deserve after a devastating truck accident. We pay the upfront costs and disbursements of litigation, and there are no legal fees until we recover compensation for you and your family. Call 502-242-9000 or fill out our form to schedule your free consultation with our Louisville truck accident lawyer.