What to do if you are in an accident with a commercial truck
Winter driving in Utah can be nerve-wracking. No one wants to get into an accident, but they still happen. All too often, drivers suffer injuries in accidents with commercial trucks. In cases where a personal vehicle is struck by a large commercial truck, the potential for injury and property damage is higher.
Semitrucks and 18-wheelers have a harder time than usual making turns and coming to a stop in snowy and icy weather. If you or someone you love has been in a vehicular accident with a large truck, you can seek advice from an experienced personal injury attorney.
Collisions with commercial trucks pose a real risk
Accidents with 18-wheelers and commercial trucks can severely hurt or even kill those in personal vehicles. Even passenger trucks and SUVs can be utterly destroyed by an accident with a commercial truck. After all, those big rigs are heavier, leading to greater momentum and potential for damage.
No matter how good of a driver you personally are, if a trucker isn’t paying attention or is exhausted, you could easily be injured and out of work for weeks, or even months. There is a real risk of severe injury, including broken limbs, whiplash, closed head injuries, traumatic brain injuries or even paralysis.
Trucking accidents can be financially devastating
When people get hurt in accidents with trucks, their finances can be damaged as well. There may be lost wages while they recover and undergo physical and occupational therapies. There’s the expense of medical treatment, as well as the potential need for psychological therapy to help them overcome the trauma of their injuries and the accident.
Even with excellent insurance, your carrier may delay payment while waiting for the truck’s insurer to cover the bills. This can leave those injured with mounting medical bills and limited income to help cover them.
An attorney can advocate for you and protect your financial future
Those medical bills, along with the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, can undermine your financial security. It’s even possible the medical bills could damage your credit if insurers delay payment for too long. Retaining the services of an experienced personal injury attorney can minimize the impact of the accident on your finances.
Your attorney acts as your advocate to the insurance company, potentially resulting in faster payment of medical bills and a better settlement offer from the truck’s insurer. He or she can also advise you if the situation is one where a civil suit is your best option.
Being in an accident with a commercial truck is terrifying. It doesn’t have to damage your finances. If you or someone you love has been injured after an accident with a commercial truck, an experienced personal injury attorney may be able to assist both you and your family.