A car accident between an 18-wheeler truck and a passenger vehicle could have catastrophic consequences. The people in the smaller car may suffer severe or even deadly injuries. In addition, their automobile may be damaged beyond repair. When a trucker or transportation firm is responsible for the accident, Mississippi residents injured in a vehicle accident have the right to seek compensation.
Trust an Experienced Meridian Truck Accident Attorney
If you’ve been in a truck accident, it’s important to recognize that the transportation industry is a business. Companies want to safeguard their own interests, particularly their earnings. So teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters will be working to minimize any inconvenience or expense to the company while striving to settle claims speedily and inexpensively.
While your medical bills continue to grow, they’ll most likely give you a lowball offer they hope you’ll accept without thinking twice. But unfortunately, that amount may not be enough to cover the expenses you’ll incur due to the truck accident.
Truck Crashes Can Be Catastrophic and the Claims More Complicated
Truck accidents are more complicated than other sorts of vehicle wrecks. They might produce far worse and more serious injuries to victims. Accidents involving large trucks frequently involve many vehicles, making it difficult to establish liability. There might be more than one party responsible for the collision.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that most fatal collisions involving big trucks are multi-vehicle accidents. The tractor-trailer driver may be mostly to blame, but the trucking firm, the maker of a faulty component, or even a cargo loading business, may all be held responsible.
What Are the Leading Causes of 18-Wheeler and Other Truck Accidents in Mississippi?
The causes of truck accidents in Mississippi are numerous. Many of the roads that cross the state are rural. Rural roads may be more hazardous to drivers than city streets. Rural road accidents are four times more likely to result in fatalities than city street incidents.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Crashes
- Driver fatigue: Truckers are under a lot of pressure to get cargo from point A to point B on time. This race against time pushes truck drivers to their limits. Long drives with little sleep or rest can cause errors in attention and reaction times. Truck drivers may fall asleep behind the wheel. A truck driver’s capacity to function can be hampered by a lack of food or water, causing dehydration or an unsafe drop in blood sugar levels.
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving is a serious issue for everyone on Mississippi roadways, especially professional truckers. Texting, looking at maps, or eating while driving can all distract a truck driver long enough to result in a deadly collision.
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding: More than 21% of truck drivers in fatal accidents had at least one prior speeding conviction, according to the NHTSA. Speeding truckers is a big problem on Mississippi’s rural roads, and any accident involving a vehicle has the potential to be deadly.
- Equipment failure or defective parts: To keep them running safely, 18-wheelers must be regularly maintained and checked for safety. Pushing equipment too hard or failing to maintain required safety standards can lead to fatal accidents. Many truck incidents result from brake failures, blown tires, and faulty parts.
Serious Injuries That Result from Semi-Truck Accidents
Truck crash victims may have catastrophic injuries requiring expensive medical care that could last a lifetime.
The Most Common Truck Accident Injuries
- Serious head, neck, and spine injuries
- Paralysis
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs and soft tissue
- Burns
- Loss of limbs
Serious injuries necessitate a longer period to recover, which might mean you miss work for weeks or even months. Recovery may also entail pricey physical therapy or rehabilitation. Meanwhile, medical expenses continue to mount. You might not have much money available to pay them off. Don’t become trapped in medical debt. The Meridian, Mississippi, truck accident lawyers at Richard Schwartz & Associates can help you get reimbursed for your medical expenditures.
Who Is Liable for a Commercial Semi-Truck Accident in Mississippi?
After a truck accident, many individuals or organizations may be held responsible. For example, beyond the drivers, trucking companies might be held liable for employing unqualified professionals or inadequately training drivers. Trucking firms may also be held responsible for not conducting regular drug testing or truck maintenance.
If the truck collision was caused by a flaw in the vehicle or any of its components, the trucking companies responsible might be held accountable. Cargo loading firms could also be liable if they didn’t load the truck properly.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Semi-Truck Crash
After a collision, you’ll likely be in shock and much more vulnerable than before. Even so, how you react immediately following a crash can have a huge impact on your case.
Common Mistakes Victims Make After a Crash
- Not contacting law enforcement: Crashes with trucks frequently result in significant property damage and serious injuries. To preserve evidence, contact law enforcement and request that they come to the accident scene. For your records, ask for a copy of the police report. If any witnesses to the incident are present, obtain their names and contact information.
- Not taking photos and documenting the accident: Take as many photographs of the accident as possible. Take photos of your car’s damage and any injuries you’ve received. Pictures of the debris or skid marks are also needed. Finally, take pictures of the immediate area to document weather and road conditions.
- Not seeking medical treatment: If you’re injured badly enough to need transportation to the hospital, call for an ambulance. You must get expert medical attention for any injuries from the accident. It’s also vital to follow your doctor’s instructions. Delaying any medical treatment could be hazardous to your health. This may even be utilized against you by the trucking company or its insurers.
- Talking on social media: Do not discuss your accident on social media. Your posts can be tracked down by the trucking firm’s legal team or insurance companies, and they may try to misrepresent what you say.
- Going it alone: Truckers have a team of lawyers and insurance carriers working for them. Having someone working on your side and defending your rights helps level the playing field. At Richard Schwartz & Associates, we’ll fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Do State and Federal Regulations Affect Trucker Liability?
The trucking business exists to move products from point A to point B across the nation. State and federal laws protect other drivers on the same roads as 18-wheelers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has regulations that trucking companies must meet. If a firm breaks those rules, it may face steep penalties.
Many of the regulations are intended to minimize driver fatigue. For example, after a 10-hour break, drivers can only drive a truck for 11 hours, and drivers can only work 60 to 70 hours in seven days. Trucks must also be inspected regularly to ensure their safety.
Trucking firms are also subject to higher insurance coverage requirements. This is because they generally have a larger financial obligation in the case of an accident.
Crucial Evidence in Trucking Accident Cases
Following a serious truck accident, it’s critical to determine what occurred and who is to blame. A police report and inquiry are excellent, but they aren’t enough on their own to build a strong case against a trucker. Trucking businesses have tools at their disposal that might assist them in lowering their liability exposure as well as the amount they need to pay.
The legal team at Richard Schwartz & Associates in Meridian, Mississippi, will work to defend your rights. We can quickly issue legal documents to prevent the loss or disposal of key evidence. We can get experts to reconstruct the accident, conduct inspections on the cars, and even assist with gathering witness statements. We can examine the truck driver’s driving history and gather information on safety checks that should have been performed. In a nutshell, we can gather the evidence needed to safeguard your right to a fair hearing.
Our Compassionate Meridian, Mississippi Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help
Trucking firms aren’t concerned with you after a major accident — they’re looking out for their own interests. They’re not interested in how you’ll pay your medical costs or make up for lost time at work. But at Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A., we’ll make your case our top priority. Our experienced Meridian truck accident lawyers will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Our objective is to assist you in receiving medical care and recovering from your traumatic experience as quickly as possible.
Don’t allow a trucking corporation to take advantage of you. Get the help of an experienced personal injury law firm today. We’ll hold negligent parties accountable for the harm they caused to you and your family. Contact Richard Schwartz & Associates today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
