A large number of truck accidents occur every year in the United States, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. According to the US Department of Transportation, approximately 500,000 trucking accidents take place in the United States. Of these, fatalities are caused by about 5,000 accidents. As a matter of fact, 1 out of every 8 traffic fatalities involves collision with a truck. Additionally, it is reported that 68% of all fatal truck accidents occurred in rural areas and not in cities.
Common Questions Regarding Truck Accidents
Here is a look at some of the most common questions about accidents involving commercial trucks:
Q1: Many people talk about how motorists are often seriously injured after a collision with a commercial truck? What is a “commercial truck?”
Answer: A commercial truck, like a big rig, is a truck that is used for the transport of commercial goods and/or in the course of business. Examples of these types of vehicles include delivery vehicles, tanker trucks, eighteen-wheeler tractor trailers and other large freight trucks. Although standard pickup trucks are used by some businesses for their daily activities, commercial trucks serve a specific purpose, e.g. cement trucks, are generally much larger in size and require drivers to have a commercial driver’s license in order to operate.
Q2: What is the reason that injury is more likely to be caused in a truck accident compared to a passenger car accident?
Answer: An average passenger car weighs about 3,000 pounds while a large, fully-loaded truck can typically weigh 80,000 pounds or more. Due to the basic laws of physics and this disparity in size, any collision between a big rig or any other commercial truck and a passenger car is likely to lead to serious injuries and in some cases, fatalities.
Q3: I was injured in a commercial truck accident where the fault was on the other driver’s part. Can I obtain money for missed time at work?
Answer: Yes. A personal injury action can help you recover damages that include payment for loss of income due to missed work, in addition to compensation for any lost earning capacity that is caused by the accident. If you decide to sue the other driver, your attorney will review all potential damages that you can recover.
Q4: I was in a collision with a truck carrying a hazardous liquid and now suffer respiratory problems. Is it possible to sue the truck driver as well as the company shipping the chemicals?
Answer: In limited circumstances, the company shipping such hazardous materials liable, or legally responsible, if the injuries were caused by the cargo in the truck, moreso if the shipper of the cargo has failed to intimate the trucking company or the driver of the hazardous ship load or nature of the material that the freight container. It essentially comes down to the duty to inform of the shipper.
You Pay us Nothing Up Front and We are Paid Only if We Win or Settle
If you or a loved one has been injured in a grievous truck accident, you should make sure that you take the assistance and counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff Law firm at 212-344-1000. The first meeting with us is free. What is your side of the story? What really happened? Since we only take a percentage of the final verdict or the settlement it is as if you do not pay us anything since you never have to write us a check. RMFW Law knows how to win cases. If your case is viable, we will lead the way in this lawsuit process. Do not sign anything with any insurance company until you have spoken with us.