After a Truck Accident: Get the Right Truck Accident Injury Attorneys to Recover Your Damages

Any automobile crash is a jarring and stressful experience, especially when you suffer injuries. When an accident involves a commercial truck, the aftermath can be devastating.

A crash with a tractor-trailer can leave you with catastrophic injuries that can change life significantly. You are not only dealing with the shock of the accident itself, but also with medical bills, lost wages, and maybe treatment and therapy. Suddenly there are many questions which a truck accident lawyer can help you answer: Should I file a lawsuit? Accept a settlement? If you are in this situation, you’ll need the right legal advice before you act. Making the wrong move can cause you some or all of your claim payout.

Laws for Vehicle Accidents

Accident Investigation

After a commercial truck accident, there are many more avenues to explore that can make a big difference in a personal injury case. There will be extensive review of factual investigations, state and federal compliance, and liability, including and beyond the truck driver. Your legal representation is critical.

As with any auto accident, factual investigations after a trucking accident often start with:

  1. review of the police report
  2. talking to people who may have seen the accident happen
  3. taking pictures of damage to any vehicles that were involved
  4. documenting the victim’s injuries

Truck Accident Investigation

There’s often far more to a commercial trucking accident, then a traditional vehicle accident case.

  • The contents of the truck will likely be reviewed for any limitations the driver may have had at the time of the accident. This may include distraction, fatigue, or drug or alcohol use.
  • In addition to witness statements from bystanders our legal team and investigators may also interview emergency personnel or tow truck drivers who may have overheard “off the record” remarks.
  • Your truck accident lawyer may explore employment history, safety records, GPS systems, black box recorders, and any past DOT audits.
  • In addition, there are state and federal regulations that commercial truck drivers must follow. When a truck originated in another country, such as Mexico or Canada, the North America Free Trade Agreement imposes even more rules. Investigators will look into whether the driver and transportation company had proper licensing and was keeping up with safety requirements.

A complex third-party liability investigation is more likely when it comes to truck accident cases. In many situations, the transportation company may be most to blame. Once responsibility has been established, other parties interested in the case will often make a point of declaring their rights to a portion of the settlement. For example, a hospital may take a stand to see that medical expenses are handled.

If you’ve been in a trucking accident, it’s important that your case receives the attention it deserves and that your best interests are represented. An experienced and skilled truck accident attorney can pursue the details independently, help you build a strong case, and obtain maximum compensation.

Get the Guidance and Experience You Need

Our Philadelphia-based attorneys have served clients in truck accident cases throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey for decades.

In one case, we represented a man struck by a vehicle while pulled onto the shoulder of I-95. A diesel fuel tank fell from a truck and spilled onto the highway, causing another driver to lose control on the slick road and strike our client’s car. The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, which led to amnesia, multiple surgeries, and therapies. Gay Chacker & Ginsburg obtained $16.5 million from the insurance companies of the two defendants, a produce wholesaler and a trailer repair company, whose negligence led to the fuel tank spill.

Our firm obtained a $4.5 million settlement for the estate of a 91-year-old man who was run over by a truck in Philadelphia. His injuries required a leg amputation, which ultimately led to his death. In another case, the brakes failed on a 24-foot-long dump truck, causing it to crash into multiple parked cars and telephone poles. One of the poles struck our client’s vehicle, injuring her. Our firm obtained $200,000 in her case.

As trial attorneys, we have the experience and strong track record needed to know how much your truck accident injury claim is worth and how to ensure your case achieves the best result possible.

Standing Up for Your Rights

No matter the details of the crash – a semi truck on an interstate, a delivery van turning into a freight yard, a construction vehicle hauling heavy equipment or another situation—we can help you.

We are not scared by the tactics of the big insurance companies. We have decades of experience in handling severe accident claims and the million-dollar commercial liability insurance that businesses carry.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help in a truck accident case. There is no risk or obligation. We charge you no legal fees unless we recover compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. Call us today at 800-529-4030 for a free, no-obligation consultation. You’ll get the right legal experience working on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some common questions about truck accident lawsuits and how victims can seek compensation for their injuries.

After suffering injuries in a crash with a truck, can’t I just get a claim payout from my insurance company?

After any automobile accident, your natural reaction is probably to report the accident to your insurance company right away. But not so fast. It may seem counterintuitive but calling your insurance company right after an accident is possibly the worst thing you can do. You pay your premiums on-time and in-full every month, and you expect that your insurer will be willing to uphold their end of their contract with you.

But the fact is that insurance companies are not always quick to give you what you deserve. Adjusters know that if they can show that your injuries are mild or even unrelated to the accident, they may have a basis to deny your claim. That’s why the most important phone call to make after a crash is to a truck accident injury attorney. Your lawyer will deal with the insurance companies involved, require them to follow the law, and pay what they are required to pay you.

How else can an experienced truck accident lawyer help me?

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, a truck accident lawyer with Gay & Chacker will work with you to get full proof of your injuries and work hard to get the compensation you need to cover losses such as lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future medical needs. We hire experts at our expense, to find every last piece of evidence that could help your claim and maximize your financial recovery.

What kind of compensation can I recover by filing a truck accident lawsuit?

Compensation in a truck accident injury lawsuit can cover a variety of areas, including:
• Medical expenses,
• Lost wages and benefits now and in the future,
• Pain and suffering,
• Loss of participation in family life,
• End-of-life expenses (if a loved one was killed), and more.

Every case is different, so the type of compensation and how much you can recover will depend on the unique facts of crash and your injury. The best thing to do is to speak with a truck accident lawyer for advice. Our firm offers free case evaluations to victims and their families. Call us at 800-529-4030 to schedule a consultation today.