What would you do if your car or truck was hit by a semi-truck? It’s never something that people ever plan for. How can a person plan for such a catastrophic event? If it happens, you’ll likely end up with severe injuries, have a need for on-going medical treatment, lose time on your job (if you can even work at all), and in some instances, people are killed. Wrecks involving big trucks are no laughing matter. If you or someone you know has been in a wreck with a semi-truck, talk with an experienced personal injury lawyer to find out if you can file a personal injury claim. Do it now. You don’t want to lose your legal rights!
What You Need to Know About Fault
Personal injury is, overall, just what it sounds like. It’s where someone experiences an injury (or property loss) because of another party. Fault isn’t always as simple as pointing the finger at the other party. In most states, fault is looked at by how much each person involved in the wreck contributed to it happening. Here’s an example:
Let’s say that Ms. Smith is driving in late January on a road that is a bit slick because of a recent ice storm. She’s doing her best to follow behind another vehicle at a safe distance. She’s going down a hill near a Lowe’s store. The car behind her loses control and so she slows down in an attempt to avoid hitting the other driver.
Behind Ms. Smith by several hundred feet is a truck headed to make a delivery to Lowe’s. The driver is in a hurry because the delivery is already a little late because of the weather. The driver isn’t speeding, but isn’t going any slower to account for the slick road. The driver cannot see over the hill. As the driver tops the hill, it is necessary to slam on the brakes because Ms. Smith is stopped in the road because of the vehicle in front of her sliding out of control.
It’s already difficult to stop a large truck because of its size. On slick roads, it’s even more difficult. If the delivery truck hits Ms. Smith’s vehicle, there would be more fault on the side of that particular company. Now, if Ms. Smith had been following too closely or had been speeding or texting and driving, she may also have some fault in the wreck.
Fault helps determine the monetary compensation. In some states, if you have 51% or more of fault, you may not be eligible to be compensated.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
An encounter with a semi-truck can be deadly. If you or someone you know is injured because of a semi-truck, you need to protect your legal rights. Don’t leave it to the insurance company. Get the compensation you deserve by speaking with a personal injury attorney who has a proven track record in successfully litigating big rig accidents.
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Southeastern Freight Lines, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
