Truck Accident Lawyers

Understanding Compensation in Truck Accident Cases

When you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, “fair compensation” isn’t just about your medical bills. It’s about making you whole again after someone else’s negligence upended your life.

Your truck accident lawyer works to recover compensation for everything the accident took from you.

Truck Accident Medical Expense Compensation

Every doctor visit, every emergency room bill, every surgery, every therapy session, every prescription. This includes both what you’ve already paid and what you’ll need in the future.

Truck accidents often cause severe injuries that require ongoing treatment. Your attorney makes sure future medical costs are accounted for in your settlement.

Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity After a Truck Crash

If you missed work because of your injuries, that’s money you should recover. But it goes beyond just the paychecks you lost. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your job or force you into lower-paying work, you deserve compensation for that lost earning capacity. Your attorney calculates the full economic impact of your injuries.

Truck Accident Pain and Suffering Damages

You can’t put a price tag on chronic pain, emotional trauma, or the loss of your ability to do things you love. But the law recognizes these losses matter. Your attorney presents evidence of how the accident changed your life and fights for compensation that reflects your suffering.

Truck Accident Vehicle Damage and Total Loss Compensation

Your vehicle was damaged or destroyed. That needs to be covered at fair market value, not whatever lowball number the insurance company throws out first.

Punitive Damages for Trucking Company Negligence

In cases where the truck driver or trucking company acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct, courts may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior. Your attorney knows when these damages may apply to your case.

How Your Truck Accident Lawyer Fights for Your Rights

Insurance companies have one goal: to pay you as little as possible. They’ll minimize your injuries, question your treatment, and pressure you to settle before you know the full extent of your damages.

Your truck accident attorney counters every tactic. They document your injuries thoroughly. They hire expert witnesses when needed—accident reconstructionists, medical experts, vocational experts, economists. They calculate the true cost of your damages, including future expenses. They negotiate aggressively and aren’t afraid to take your case to trial if the insurance company won’t offer fair compensation.

The difference between handling a truck accident case yourself and having an experienced attorney can be tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Trucking companies know this. That’s why they try to get unrepresented victims to settle quickly.

Contact CALLMAA at 833-847-1622 today.

Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Truck Accident Case

Without an experienced truck accident attorney, many people make costly mistakes that hurt their cases. CALLMAA helps you avoid every one of these pitfalls.

Giving a Recorded Statement to the Trucking Company’s Insurance

They call within hours of the accident. They sound friendly and concerned. They just need to get your statement about what happened. Don’t do it. Anything you say will be used to minimize or deny your claim. Your attorney handles all communication with insurance companies.

Accepting the First Settlement Offer Without Legal Guidance

Insurance companies make quick, lowball offers, hoping you’ll take the money before you understand how badly you’re hurt or how much your case is worth. Once you accept and sign a release, you can’t go back for more money later—even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought. Your attorney knows what your case is actually worth.

Waiting Too Long to Hire an Attorney

Critical evidence disappears fast. Trucking companies are only required to preserve certain records for limited periods. Witnesses forget details. The sooner your attorney starts investigating, the stronger your case. Plus, every state has a statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to compensation entirely.

Hiring a Lawyer Who Doesn’t Have Experience With Truck Accidents

Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, industry standards, and complex liability issues that general personal injury lawyers don’t typically handle. You need an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations, understands electronic logging devices, and has experience dealing with commercial insurance policies. Your case is too important to trust to someone learning on the job.

Posting on Social Media

Insurance companies monitor your social media. That photo of you smiling at a family gathering? They’ll use it to argue you’re not really injured. That check-in at the gym? They’ll claim you’re exaggerating your limitations. Your truck accident attorney will advise you on what to avoid during your case.

Getting Legal Help Fast Matters After a Truck Accident

Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Companies destroy records. The sooner you contact CALLMAA and get connected with a truck accident attorney, the stronger your case.

Preserving Truck Accident Evidence

Federal regulations only require trucking companies to keep certain records for limited periods, sometimes as little as six months. Black box data may be overwritten. Your attorney can send a spoliation letter immediately after your accident, requiring the trucking company to preserve all evidence.

Witness Statements and Your Own Memory

People’s memories fade quickly. Witnesses move. Getting statements while details are fresh is crucial to building a strong case. You may not remember all the important details weeks or months after the accident. Speaking with an attorney soon after the crash ensures nothing important is forgotten.

Statute of Limitations

Every state has a deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits. Miss that deadline and you lose your right to compensation forever. Your attorney makes sure all deadlines are met. The trucking company’s legal team gets to work immediately after an accident, and you should too.

Types of Cases Truck Accident Lawyers Handle

CALLMAA connects you with attorneys who handle all types of commercial truck accidents:

18-wheeler and semi-truck collisions on highways and interstates. Jackknife accidents, where the trailer swings out. Underride crashes where a car slides under the truck’s trailer. Rollover accidents. Wide turn accidents at intersections.

Delivery truck accidents involving Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and other delivery services. Box truck collisions. Cargo van accidents. Flatbed truck accidents involving unsecured or improperly loaded cargo. Dump truck accidents. Concrete mixer truck collisions. Tanker truck accidents involving hazardous materials.

If you were hit by any type of commercial vehicle, CALLMAA can connect you with an attorney who handles your specific type of case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Understanding what caused your accident helps your truck accident lawyer build your case.

• Driver Fatigue: Despite hours of service regulations, many drivers push beyond safe limits or use logbook violations to stay on the road longer. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, adjusting GPS systems, or any other activity that takes the driver’s attention off the road can lead to devastating crashes.
• Improper Loading: Overloaded trucks or improperly secured cargo can cause trucks to rollover, jackknife, or lose cargo onto the roadway.
• Inadequate Training: Not all truck drivers receive proper training on handling large commercial vehicles in all conditions. Inexperienced drivers make mistakes that cause crashes.
• Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Commercial trucks need significantly more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. Speeding reduces reaction time and increases stopping distance.
• Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering problems, and other mechanical issues resulting from inadequate maintenance cause many truck accidents.
• Hours of Service Violations: When trucking companies pressure drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules, drivers violate federal regulations and drive while fatigued.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Truck Accidents?

Several people and companies may share blame in truck accident cases. Your truck accident lawyer investigates and pursues claims against everyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries.

• The Truck Driver: If the driver was speeding, distracted, fatigued, under the influence, or otherwise negligent, they can be held liable.
• The Trucking Company: Companies can be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, failure to maintain vehicles, pushing drivers to violate hours of service rules, or inadequate safety policies.
• The Cargo Loading Company: If improperly loaded or secured cargo caused the accident, the company responsible for loading may be liable.
• The Truck or Parts Manufacturer: If a defective truck component or design flaw contributed to the accident, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability law.
• The Maintenance Provider: If inadequate or improper maintenance caused a mechanical failure that led to the accident, the company responsible for maintaining the truck may share liability.

Truck Accident Lawyer Frequently Asked Questions