Commercial trucks and regular sized vehicles have to share the road. Both drivers must be vigilant of each other so that they can avoid accidents since the height and weight of the trucks can cause serious injuries if a collision happens. Truck drivers are highly trained for this reason. However, sometimes a driver will make a mistake that ends in a truck crash.
When you’ve been hurt in a wreck between a truck and another vehicle, you could use the help of our Bentonville truck accident lawyer. Arkansas is home to many trucking companies, which means that there are plenty of large trucks on our roads and even higher chances for accidents to occur.
An attorney from McMath Woods P.A. can ensure that you get justice for what happened to you. We’ll fully investigate the cause of the collision and determine how much you’re owed in compensation so that you can get the financial recovery that you deserve.
Different Types of Truck Accidents
After being struck by a large truck, you likely want to file a claim against whoever was responsible for causing the accident. The truck driver might seem like the obvious party responsible, but it’s not always that simple. Sometimes the trucking company or truck part manufacturer are at fault for the accident.
Your truck accident attorney will look into what happened to decide who was at fault, but first, we’ll have to figure out what specific type of accident you were in so that it’s easier to determine who was responsible. Here are some of the types of truck collisions that can happen and result in injuries:
- Blind Spots. Since trucks are large and can only have so many mirrors, there are many blind spots around the rig that regular vehicles should avoid. These no zones are where collisions can happen because the trucker cannot see that you’re in the lane next to them. If the truck driver tries to switch lanes and doesn’t see you, or brakes suddenly, then they could crash into your car.
- Override. When a truck cannot stop in time and drivers over a regular sized vehicle, it’s known as an override accident. This usually happens because there is not enough room for the rig to make a complete stop, and they end up crashing into the car in front of them. This can be especially dangerous because the occupants in the car that gets overridden can be crushed or trapped. This can also happen if a truck part was defective and malfunctions.
- Underride. Underride is similar to override, only it happens when a regular sized vehicle doesn’t stop in time and crashes into the back of a semi truck. The front of the car can go underneath the truck, get stuck there, and can also crush the driver if they were going too fast.
- Jackknife. Since trailers are connected to the cab of a truck by a joint, it’s possible for the trailer to swing if the trucker loses control. If the trucker drives too fast and loses control, or if they brake too quickly, then they can cause a jackknife accident to happen, which is when the cab and trailer form an L-shape. This can be dangerous for everyone involved.
- Rollover. Much like accidents with regular cars, large trucks can also rollover. The difference is that the weight and size of the truck can make these incidents even more dangerous for the driver.
Any of these situations can lead to you being involved in a truck collision. If you don’t see what happened to you in this list, then you could still have suffered from a crash that wasn’t your fault. A Bentonville truck accident lawyer can help you determine who was responsible and what you’re owed for the damages you suffered.
What You Can Recover in Compensation
When you have an attorney on your side after a truck collision that you didn’t cause, they can help you recover exactly what you’re owed in compensation. Insurance companies and the other parties will likely push you to settle out of court, which isn’t a bad decision. But the downside is they are protecting their bottom lines and will offer you less than you deserve.
That’s why you should have a lawyer on your side so that your settlement is fair. We’ll calculate your damages based on your documents to make sure that you aren’t left with less than you deserve. The two main categories of damages that you can recover are economic and noneconomic.
Economic damages are the firm costs that you suffered from your accident. Your lawyer will look into your bills and other costs that you incurred so that they can calculate what you’re owed. Some of the costs they’ll use to determine fair economic compensation are medical bills, repair costs, and lost wages. They could also include future medical bills and future lost wages if your injuries will affect you for longer than usual.
Noneconomic damages are the more abstract costs that you incur as the result of a truck wreck. These cover emotional tolls like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. You shouldn’t have to suffer on your own dime when you didn’t cause the crash. That’s why we’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
If the truck driver, or party responsible, was especially negligent, then you might even be able to recover punitive damages. A Bentonville truck accident attorney can help you determine what you’re owed so that you don’t settle for less and so that the liable party is held accountable for what they’ve done.
Our Bentonville Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
You shouldn’t have to go through a truck accident claim on your own. You’re likely struggling to physically and emotionally heal while still trying to support yourself and your family. But this can get hard when you’re unable to return to work and losing wages. That’s where we come in.
A Bentonville truck accident lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. in Arkansas can help you recover exactly what you’re owed so you can get back to your normal life. Reach out to our office today so we can get started on your potential claim.
