When you or a loved one is involved in a truck wreck, the resulting damages and injuries may be devastating. If the negligence of others caused the crash that led to your injuries, a Beaufort truck accident lawyer may be able to negotiate on your behalf with the insurance companies for any at-fault parties or file a lawsuit in court against those parties.
Tractor-trailer or semi-truck wreck claims can be complicated and may involve multiple potentially responsible parties as well as various federal laws and regulations. A qualified Beaufort personal injury attorney who is accustomed to handling claims may be your most effective means of holding negligent parties responsible for their actions and getting much-needed compensation for your losses.
What Is The Importance of Legal Counsel Following a Truck Accident in Beaufort?
Collisions with large commercial semi-trucks can wreak havoc on much smaller, lighter passenger vehicles and their occupants, who often suffer catastrophic injuries in these accidents. Large tractor-trailer accidents are rarely simple, as truck operators, vehicle owners, and trucking companies are likely to deny wrongdoing and cover their tracks immediately. They may even attempt to place blame on the injury victims to try and avoid financial responsibility for their actions.
Semi-truck cases often involve significant amounts of evidence to preserve, obtain, and examine, including but certainly not limited to driver logs, maintenance records, and historical records of trucking company safety violations. The assistance of an accident lawyer who has experience handling claims involving 18-wheelers could be invaluable when pursuing compensation for injuries and losses.
What Happens If The Negligent Party Is Found Liable? Recoverable Damages in an 18-Wheeler Crash Claim
Even larger passenger vehicles such as SUVs are no match for substantially larger and heavier semi-trucks. As a result, the injuries sustained by drivers and other occupants of passenger vehicles can be severe.
Injury victims eventually may recover from their injuries, but it may take them weeks, months, or even years to regain their ability to work and live a normal life. In the worst cases, injured parties may suffer permanent impairments that fundamentally alter the course of their lives, leaving them unable to work and support themselves.
When truck drivers and trucking companies have acted negligently in causing the accident that led to the injuries at issue, they should be held accountable for their actions. The negligent party may be required to pay the injured victim compensation for all of their damages. Those who have been injured in a wreck should reach out to a commercial vehicle collision lawyer to discuss their options for compensation.
Recoverable Damages in a Tractor-Trailer Wreck Claim
The extent of the possible damages in a tractor-trailer accident claims varies according to the circumstances surrounding the collision. The most common types of personal injury compensation include:
- Medical expenses, including hospital, ambulance, doctor, surgical, and rehabilitation fees, as well as medical assistive devices, medications, and in-home care services
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity due to an inability to work
- Property damage related to the loss of a vehicle and other personal property
- Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and loss of companionship or consortium of a spouse
Additionally, individuals injured in these accidents may be able to seek punitive damages in some cases. These damages may be available if the defendant acted egregiously or willfully in causing the crash. A lawyer who focuses on semi-truck accident cases could assess a personal injury claim and determine whether punitive damages are a possibility.
Call a Beaufort Truck Accident Lawyer Today
When you sustain severe injuries in a collision with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, you are likely to become quickly overwhelmed by the stress of recovering from your physical injuries, fighting with insurance companies over medical bills, and losing income as a result of your inability to work. If you are in this situation, a Beaufort truck accident lawyer from Schiller & Hamilton may be able to help.
Navigating the aftermath of a trucking accident can be complicated and confusing, particularly as you are struggling to recuperate from significant injuries. Having legal counsel throughout the legal claims process can relieve some of the burdens from your shoulders and allow you to focus on your health. Call an injury lawyer today to get started on your case.