An accident with a big rig is much more likely to cause serious injury and death than an accident involving another passenger vehicle. In fact, one out of eight fatalities in vehicle accidents on the roads today involves a big truck.
Additionally, in these accidents, it is almost always the driver and passengers in the smaller vehicle that are injured. This includes 77% of injuries and 86% of fatalities in these types of accidents involving the people in the car or light duty truck.
Legal Help
If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck or a large commercial vehicle, working with a specialized truck accident attorney is a must. This becomes even more critical if the accident as resulted in a fatality.
These attorneys understand the regulations that professional drivers and the trucking companies must adhere to when operating and maintaining the vehicles. Failure to follow regulations or drivers not following the driving regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) or other regulatory agency may be found to have contributed to the accident. This may result in different parties being named as negligent in the case, which can become a complicated and complex first step.
Collecting Evidence
A truck accident attorney will also need to be notified of the accident as soon as possible. This allows the attorney to obtain necessary information such as driver logs, computerized tracking records and other evidence and data that will be necessary for your case.
The longer it is until a truck accident attorney is involved, the more likely it is that valuable information and evidence will be lost. Even something as simple as road conditions can change in a few days, making it difficult to prove the issues that may have contributed to the negligence of the driver.
Whenever possible, contact a specialized truck accident lawyer immediately after getting medical attention. The earlier he or she is involved, the better it will be for your case.
