What Do I Do If I’m Rear-Ended By a Semi Truck?
March 28, 2019 | Truck Accidents
If you are rear-ended by a semi-truck, you likely have medical expenses, property damage, and other expenses from the accident. To ensure that your rights are protected and the best results are produced for your case, it’s essential to get a lawyer involved as soon as possible after being rear-ended by a semi-truck.
What to Do After Being Rear-Ended By a Semi-Truck?
Like with all accidents, it’s crucial to gather evidence after being rear-ended by a semi-truck. You should call the police and file a report, take photos of the scene, swap contact and insurance information with the semi-truck driver, and seek medical attention to document your injuries. Then, you need to consult an experienced attorney about the accident, and with their help, write a demand letter and file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver. Rear-end accidents account for roughly 33% of accidents that happen every year, so your lawyer will know which tactics to use to quickly recover compensation for your case.
Who is At-Fault if I’m Rear-Ended By a Semi-Truck?
It might seem like a semi-truck accident would be an open-and-shut case, but it isn’t always easy to determine fault. Semi-truck accidents are more complex than car accidents and generally affect more than just the drivers involved. If the truck driver works for a trucking company, their employer is liable for the driver’s negligence. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, there are many other parties that could be liable for the semi-truck driver’s negligence including the manufacturer of the truck’s parts, the cargo’s manufacturer, and if the driver rented their truck, the company that leased it to them. This is where having an experienced lawyer by your side comes in.
Your lawyer can use evidence from the crash and prove that the other driver is at fault for your injuries and financial damages. A common defense that trucking companies use is that a driver is an independent contractor for their company. An experienced lawyer can see through this defense and counter-argue that under the law of “respondeat superior” the trucking company is liable for the truck driver’s negligence. Years ago, “respondeat superior” didn’t apply to independent contractors, but the law has been revised to include independent contractors.
What is the Average Settlement for Being Rear-Ended By a Semi Truck?
If you are rear-ended by a semi-truck, you could be eligible to recover compensation for your damages from the accident. The most common types of damages that are recovered from a rear-end semi-truck accident are:
- Medical expenses caused by the accident
- Mental, emotional, or physical distress that stemmed from the crash
- Lost wages that occurred because of the accident
- Property damage caused in the crash
Consult a Lawyer If You’ve Been Rear-Ended By a Semi Truck?
If you or someone you love is rear-ended by a semi-truck, it’s crucial to stay calm and consult an attorney about the accident. A lawyer can determine what damages you should claim from the crash, make sure that you have everything you need to file a powerful insurance claim, and negotiate for the highest settlement for your case.
If you need a lawyer to represent your case after you’ve been rear-ended by a semi-truck, contact the Dixon Injury Firm today. Our lawyers offer free consultations, are available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you have, and will do everything in their power to recover the most damages for your case.