Truck accident injuries are often severe and even life-threatening. They’re more common than car accidents because trucks are much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road. Due to this, it’s crucial that you hire an experienced New York City truck accident lawyer for the best chance of recovering maximum compensation for your losses and injuries.
When selecting a Truck accident lawyer, you should look for several key qualities. For example, you want someone with in-depth knowledge of trucking laws and regulations. This includes federal and state laws regarding driver qualifications, hours of service, and cargo loading. Additionally, they should have a strong analytical and investigative skillset to evaluate evidence, reconstruct the crash, and determine the at-fault party.
It’s also important to find an attorney with experience in courtroom litigation. While it’s rare for truck accident cases to go to trial, the ability to argue effectively in court can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. Finally, you want an attorney who is empathetic to your situation and will understand the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you’re facing.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover?
A successful truck accident lawsuit can help you recover compensation for the physical, financial, and emotional suffering caused by your injury or the loss of a loved one. However, it’s important to remember that each victim’s losses are unique. It’s up to your attorney to calculate and prove all of your current and future costs to receive a fair settlement. These may include medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, lost annual income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
The At-Fault Party
It can be difficult to determine who is liable in a truck accident. The at-fault party must have a direct connection to your truck accident injuries. Essential documents, including traffic crash reports, police logs, medical records, and maintenance records, can be used to connect the at-fault party’s negligent actions with your accident. A knowledgeable New York City truck accident lawyer will have a strong understanding of how to gather and analyze this information to establish liability.
The trucking company: Trucking companies can be held responsible for their drivers’ negligence if they fail to properly maintain the vehicle, hire qualified drivers, or enforce safety protocols. They can also be liable for vicarious liability if the driver was an employee of the company at the time of the accident.
The shipper: If the truck was transporting cargo for a customer, that company may be responsible for the accident if they hired an incompetent or unqualified truck driver. In addition, they may be liable if the load was not loaded or secured properly.
In some cases, the manufacturer of a defective part can be held liable for the truck accident. This is especially true if the defective part was designed or manufactured incorrectly. In addition to the above parties, your attorney can investigate other possible liable parties. These may include the maintenance company that worked on the truck, if they knew about a problem but failed to fix it.