What Should I do if I was Hit by Knight Transportation?*

If you’ve been in an accident involving a semi-truck, you may be wondering what you should do. You’ve lost your vehicle. You’ve been injured. Some families lose loved ones. Simply by the size of a semi-truck, these accidents are very, very dangerous. If your life was affected by a wreck involving a semi, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Here’s what you need to know about these devastating accidents.

Personal Injury Explained

Personal injury means that someone was injured due to the actions or inactions of another party. There are four elements involved in personal injury. In addition to those elements, the court also looks at fault.

  • There must be a duty owed by one party to the other party. For instance, transportation companies owe a duty to others by obeying the law. According to the Department of Transportation, there is an 11-hour driving limit for each day. This is for the safety and health of the truck driver and the public.
  • There must be a breach of that duty owed. If, for instance, if a driver travels for 14 hours during the day, especially during poor weather, that is a breach of that duty. It gets even more dangerous if this is done on a regular basis. Sleep deprivation and fatigue are two very dangerous issues for drivers.
  • The breach of the duty must have caused an injury to the other party. Using our example, if the driver of the truck is not obeying the 11-hour driving rule, they are probably extremely tired. They may not notice a yield or a red light. If they run a red light or miss a yield sign and hit another vehicle, that is an injury caused by a breach of duty.
  • The "but-for" test must be met. This means that if it weren’t for the driver running a red light, the injuries would not have occurred. More specifically to this, if the driver hadn’t driven more than 11 hours per day, they may not have been so tired as to miss the red light.

    So, essentially personal injury is about fault.

    Preserving Evidence

    The key to proving a negligence is the evidence that you have. If you are physically able there are steps that you can take at the scene of the crash to help your claim:

    Take Photos - Photos can be a key to proving fault. When you are taking photographs, look for the obvious dents and scratches, but also look for popped tires, broken headlights or taillights and note whether the airbag was deployed.
    Witness Statements - Witness statements can be uncomfortable to ask for, but they are important. If there are witnesses, make sure to get their contact information. Your lawyer will be able to help track down and organize their statements.
    Medical Documentation - Medical documentation is how you show the extent of your injuries as well as the cost. Save all medical documentation and bills. This will be used to calculate the overall damages sustained in the accident.

    If you or someone you know was involved in a wreck with a semi-truck, don’t rely on the company or insurance to make things right. You need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation that you deserve.

    *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Knight Transportation, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.