3 reasons why trucks complicate accident claims
Any motor vehicle accident has the potential to be complicated, but some crashes are more complex than others. For instance, if you were in a crash that involved a commercial truck, certain factors can create unique challenges throughout your recovery.
Extent of damages
The weight and size of commercial trucks make them capable of causing significantly more damage than smaller vehicles. As such, you may be battling life-threatening, disfiguring or other catastrophic injuries.
If your loved one was the person involved in the crash, they may not have survived.
Possible damages can include everything from medical bills and loss of future income to emotional distress and loss of support.
Acknowledging the full extent of injuries you and your loved ones experienced can be a challenge, but doing so is crucial for calculating financial remedies.
Proving the cause
Truck accidents are complex events that can be caused by a wide range of factors. Some are caused by negligence; others are the result of recklessness.
Proving the cause of a crash can take time and diligent investigation. Parties must examine:
- Witness statements
- Crash scene photos and videos
- Accident reconstructionist findings
- Police reports
- Comments from the other people involved
Gathering this information can be frustrating and complicated, but doing so is essential in building a claim.
Determining liability
Just as there can be several factors that contributed to the crash, there can be several parties responsible for it. Some examples could include:
- The truck driver
- The truck owner
- The trucker’s employer
- Parties who improperly loaded or failed to secure cargo
- Parties who performed (or failed to perform) maintenance on a truck
- Truck manufacturers
Connecting one or more of these parties to a crash can help you pursue the compensation you may deserve.
It is also worth noting that if you or the truck were travelling internationally at the time of the crash, these parties, as well as insurance companies and law enforcement agencies, could be in the U.S., which creates added challenges.
These factors can make a difficult situation even more overwhelming.
However, it is crucial to remember that you have rights and legal options as a crash victim, and pursuing a claim after a truck accident is possible. Getting help from an attorney and preparing for these challenges can help you pursue the fair outcome to which you may be entitled.