Legal Representation For Truck Accident Cases
Many truck accident victims have life-changing injuries that require a lifetime of medical care. In order to get the compensation they need, victims must have skilled legal representation for truck accident cases in St. Louis.
Your lawyer will gather evidence that includes police reports, photos from the crash scene, skid mark measurements, witness statements, citation records, and vehicle inspection records. The evidence will help prove your monetary losses.
Recovering Damages
Large trucks can cause devastating injuries to drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles in accidents. These injuries often result in costly medical care that can include emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications and X-rays. In addition, injured victims may have lost work time and wages that can also lead to substantial financial losses.
Determining liability for truck accidents can be a complicated process as several parties may share responsibility. The accident victim’s lawyer can use evidence such as police reports, black box data, eyewitness statements, photographs of the crash scene, skid mark measurements and vehicle inspection reports to help prove who is at fault for the crash.
Damages that can be recovered in a truck accident case include compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages cover a victim’s loss of income, property and other costs associated with their injuries. Punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party and deter others from engaging in similar reckless conduct.
Defending Your Case
Often, truck accidents involve multiple parties. In addition to the truck driver, liability may lie with the truck owner or leasing company, the freight carrier, and the manufacturer of the truck or its parts.
To prove the extent of your losses, our firm gathers photos, law enforcement accident reports, witness statements, skid mark measurements, electronic vehicle data, forensic expert testimony, and more to build a strong case for your claim. Our lawyers also make sure you receive compensation to cover your financial losses and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could receive large compensation. Our attorneys work hard to maximize insurance value for your claim to ensure you can recover enough money to pay for future medical care, lost income, and other expenses. We can even pursue punitive damages if evidence shows the defendant acted with malice or gross negligence. We know how to deal with insurance companies that are unconcerned about your needs or the impact of a truck accident on your life and well-being.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Commercial truck drivers, the companies they work for, and the cargo they carry often have substantial liability insurance policies. However, claiming the full value of your injuries from these insurers can be more difficult than it would be if you handled the case on your own.
Our lawyers can handle negotiations with the insurance company and get all necessary documentation to support your claim, including black box data, maintenance logs, driving history, records of any drug or alcohol testing, and more. They can also hire experts and conduct their own investigation of the crash scene, if necessary.
Attempting to negotiate your claim without representation can lead to critical mistakes that reduce the insurance value of your claim, such as agreeing to an unfavorable settlement or missing a deadline. Our lawyers are familiar with the insurance industry and can negotiate for a fair settlement offer that covers all your damages. They can also file all the legal motions and documents needed to take your case to trial if necessary.
Going to Court
The violent force of a crash between a truck and a smaller vehicle can inflict devastating and even life-threatening injuries. While most truck drivers and trucking companies act with utmost care, one single oversight or act of recklessness can lead to tragedy. Your St Louis truck accident lawyer will investigate the crash scene and gather all evidence, including photos, law enforcement accident reports, witness statements, medical records, black box data, maintenance and inspection logs, hours of service, driver qualifications and license information, as well as hiring a variety of expert witnesses.
A successful claim for damages is dependent upon establishing all parties that bear responsibility. In addition to the truck driver, you may file a lawsuit against the employer under a legal principle called vicarious liability. You might also sue the trucking company if they encouraged their driver to violate federal safety rules or failed to perform necessary vehicle maintenance. Depending on your injury, you might also seek compensation from a manufacturer under product liability laws.