Most people drive carefully to avoid car crashes. You may double-check your mirrors before merging, diligently use your blinkers to signal other drivers, and slow before intersections, even if you have the right away. While these practices are critical to improving your overall safety, they can’t change the way other people are driving. Often, the bigger the other vehicle in the crash, the greater the risk it represents for you and your passengers. Commercial vehicles, particularly semi trucks, are responsible for a large number of serious injuries and deaths every year in California.
While the fatality rate for truck crashes has reduced in recent years, the number of serious injuries has increased. In 2015, the most recent year with federal data available, at least 138,000 people suffered injuries as the result of a crash with a commercial truck. When commercial truck drivers cause accidents, whether by negligence, distraction, exhaustion or intoxication, the victims are often the ones who suffer serious injuries and personal losses as a result of the accident.
Truck crash injuries can have a lasting impact on your life
When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, few have the truly catastrophic potential for damage that come with a commercial truck accident. The size discrepancy between the two vehicles increases the potential for the commercial truck to destroy your vehicle and overwhelm its safety features, leaving you and your passengers severely injured. Common injuries associated with commercial truck accidents include broken bones, head and brain injuries, soft tissue damage, trauma to the organs and spinal cord injuries. Many of these injuries can impact your quality of life and health for years or life.
Head injuries and spinal cord injuries are among the most serious experienced by those in accidents. They can reduce your mobility, ability to care for yourself and even your ability to continue working. Combine your lost wages with the staggering medical bills that often accompany a serious truck accident, and your finances should soon be in terrible shape. If the accident was caused by the commercial driver, you shouldn’t be suffering for the mistake of another person.
An attorney will help fight for you after an accident
If you’ve been received a settlement offer from the commercial driver’s insurance company, you should not accept it until you’ve had an attorney review it. Many times, companies will offer very low initial settlements to eliminate their financial liability. Your attorney can help you determine if a settlement is fair, produce a counter-offer, and negotiate for better terms. Your attorney can also help if you need to file a civil lawsuit to recover your losses. You should be able to focus on your recovery while your attorney helps advocate for fair compensation on your behalf.