The size and weight of a semi truck means that, upon collision with a smaller vehicle, those in the smaller vehicle are likely to suffer serious injuries, if not death. In fact according to exchange, over 500,000 large truck and commercial vehicle accidents occurred last year. Survivors are left struggling to pay medical bills and cover their household expenses as they recover.
If the truck accident was the fault of a truck driver’s negligence or another party’s wrongdoing, you should not be left to cover these expenses out of your own pocket. You deserve compensation.
At Finney Law Office, LLC, our St. Louis truck accident attorneys have been dedicated to helping people like you for more than 30 years. We believe that you deserve justice, and we will work hard to get it for you. Our law firm handles all types of truck accident cases, ranging from commercial vehicle accidents to semi truck accidents.
Compensation in Trucking Accident Claims Of All Types
A trucking accident can occur at any moment, creating a life of challenges and unwelcomed obstacles. We understand how confusing this time of your life can be. We want to make sure that you have experienced attorneys on your side. At the Finney Law Office, LLC we have represented victims in almost every aspect of truck accident cases. We’ve represented clients who experienced a car accident after:
- Driver error and negligence
- Aggressive driving
- Driving during adverse conditions
- Driving with an overweight load
- Failure to signal turns
- Jackknife accidents
- Fatal truck accidents
- Mechanical defects
- No-zone accidents
- Truck company negligence
- Truck driver DUI accidents
- Driving on drugs
- Driving while intoxicated
- Truck driver fatigue
Each case is unique. Semi truck accidents are also unique in the fact that, after an accident, many different people can potentially be held responsible. You may think obviously the driver of the truck is responsible—they are the one that injured you. However, there are many players in the case of a truck accident. The owner of the truck may be responsible, the person or company that leased the truck or the trailer from the owner, the manufacture of the vehicle, tires, or other parts that may have contributed to the cause or severity of the accident, and possibly the shipper or loader of the truck’s cargo. With this many people things can obviously become complicated. An experienced attorney can walk you step-by-step through the stages of compensation for a car accident.
What should I do immediately following a truck accident?
The moments following a truck accident are critical. As mentioned above, truck accidents can lead to life-threatening injuries. It’s important to know what to do immediately following an accident so that your chance for compensation and safety increase. Immediately following the accident, make sure that you are physically okay—if you are unable to move, call for help. Once it is determined that you are safe, check on the other people involved in the accident. After the scene has been deemed safe, make sure that 911 has been called.
From there, it’s important to gain evidence. You can do this through photos and talking to the other people involved in the accident. However, it’s very important to never admit it’s your fault. Be very careful with what you say in these cases—a simple apology could potentially be used against you. While talking to other people involved in the accident, make sure that you get their names, license plate numbers, insurance company information, and contact information. We also suggest taking photos of the scene immediately following the accident. Accident scenes can change quickly; following an accident, police will want to clear the scene as soon as possible so traffic can continue moving. For this reason, we suggest taking photos of the scene before it’s been touched. Take photos of the street, the direction of travel, the damage done to your vehicle, and any injuries you may have sustained.
If you feel anything is “off,” make sure that you seek medical attention immediately. Your safety should be your number one concern. Minor injuries can turn into major injuries if left untreated. There are also additional benefits to seeking medical care; the insurance company cannot claim that you sustained your injuries following the accident, because there would be no time between your medical treatment and the accident to sustain injuries. Getting help immediately is truly beneficial for you and for your case.
We also believe that it is beneficial to call our offices immediately following the accident. When our trucking accident injury law firm represents you, we will have an investigator on the scene quickly. This experienced professional will determine how the accident happened and who was responsible. Our attorneys will examine insurance coverage issues and calculate the full value of your economic and noneconomic losses for inclusion in your claim. Finney Law Office, LLC will vigorously advocate for you in court or in settlement negotiations, seeking full compensation for all losses.
Where to go from here.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, we are here to help you get the financial compensation you deserve. At Finney Law Office, LLC we believe in fighting for your rights. This accident was not your fault; you should not be punished for the carelessness of another driver. We will work with you to make sure that you understand the entire legal process. We will be on your side the entire journey. Call 314-888-5198 today to schedule a free consultation.