The commercial trucking industry keeps our nation’s economy alive, but those large and heavy vehicles are a danger on the roadways. When a smaller vehicle gets into an accident with one, the results are rarely good for the lighter passenger car.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, we can help. Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward has truck accident lawyers in Georgetown ready to assist you with making a claim against the truck company’s insurer.
Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
There are three reasons why truck accidents are so dangerous to other drivers. The most important is the weight of the truck. Physics and the force equation tells us that the force of a crash increases with both mass and acceleration. Instead of bouncing back like in a car crash, a truck crash can be just like ramming a building.
The second reason is the size of some of these trucks. Semi-truck drivers have to take wide turns and need more space to maneuver. They’re allowed to alter certain road rules, like turning from the second lane over, for clearance. A smaller vehicle can get trapped easily if they’re not paying attention.
The final reason is the height of trailers. Depending on the size of your vehicle, your front bumper can slide under the trailer. You could end up smashing windshield-first into the edge of the trailer. The results are quite often fatal in this kind of crash.
Possible Damages You Can Collect in a Truck Accident Claim
Like all personal injury cases, you have the chance to receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. In truck accident cases, there is a third kind of damages that could come into play: punitive damages.
Truck drivers are held to a higher standard than other drivers. If they were doing something especially negligent, like driving drunk or failing to maintain their truck, the court could award you additional money as a punishment to the trucking company.
These punitive damages are one way that you can get the most value out of your injury claim, but punitive damages are not a guarantee. Your lawyer will have to persuade the court that they should apply to your case. It’s not always worth it to go to trial.
Preserving Evidence Can Help Prove Liability
Many commercial trucks have black boxes to record what happened at the time of a crash. This is crucial evidence in your case because it could help prove that the truck driver was liable for your accident. But it’s possible that someone could erase it if we don’t take steps to preserve the evidence before examination.
This is one reason why it’s so important to hire a Georgetown truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. You could have as little as two weeks before the data gets erased, and that can put your compensation in jeopardy.
Seek Advice From an Experienced Georgetown Truck Accident Lawyer
Time is of the essence if you’ve been injured in a trucking accident. The insurance companies know you could have the right to large amounts of compensation. They will do everything they can to minimize the amount. We will fight on your behalf to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Let the Georgetown, SC, truck accident lawyers at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward get started on your case. You will owe us nothing unless you win. Start by contacting us by phone or using our contact form to schedule a free consultation. The sooner you act, the stronger your chances of winning.