Trucking accidents are often devastating to victims and their families. Many must undergo extensive medical treatment, will miss a lot of time at work, or may even find themselves permanently disabled. In these situations, victims may be owed compensation. Unfortunately, obtaining it is not always easy. Victims must bear the burden of proof. Further, they may need to pin down exactly who caused the accident – was it the trucker, the company, or a third-party loading company? This is where an investigation comes in.
The Anatomy of an Investigation
Investigations for trucking accidents go much further than simply determining how or why the accident occurred. It also establishes fault. Everything from the truck’s black box, driving logs, maintenance logs, and load information is studied and examined. Intoxication tests, training certifications, copies of licenses, employment history of the driver, and results of the road test are also included in the investigation process. The point is to ensure that victims pursue compensation, not just from one at-fault party, but all of them.
Unfortunately, much of the required information is time-sensitive data. Maintenance and driving logs may not be available for long. Further, there may be the risk of a company destroying or “losing” records to avoid being named as an at-fault party. This is the reason why victims are encouraged to contact an attorney as soon as possible; able to expedite the investigation process and move things along, an attorney can to help ensure the data is found, examined, and presented as evidence when needed.
What Kind of Compensation Might You Be Owed?
Because there may be multiple at-fault parties, victims may be owed compensation from more than one party. It is important to pursue each of these avenues to increase your chances of receiving maximum compensation. In general, you may be owed damages for:
- Lost time at work,
- Pain and suffering,
- Medical expenses,
- Loss of employment,
- Death of a loved one,
- Short-term disability,
- Traumatic brain injury,
- Long-term disability, and
- Loss of a limb.
It should be noted that there are other injuries and losses not listed here. For a deeper understanding of whether your accident may be compensable, contact an experienced trucking accident lawyer for assistance.
Green Bay Trucking Accident Lawyers
At Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd., we understand the devastation that trucking accidents cause and we can aggressively represent your best interests. Dedicated and experienced, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Learn more about how our Green Bay trucking accident lawyers can assist you. Call 920-739-7366 today.
Source:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Trucking-Company-Behind-I-65-Crash-Has-History-of-Accidents-Violations-318504151.html
http://www.tntrucking.org/documents/Accident%20Reporting%20-%20AJ%20Gallagher.pdf