Semi-trucks impose unique hazards to motorists sharing the roadway. Accidents involving a semi-truck often caused devastating damage, which can result in victims suffering serious injuries and disability. This may cause them to suffer costly medical expenses, loss of income, and other types of damages.
After a truck accident, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney for help filing a claim. Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak’s trusted truck accident attorneys in South Bend have helped numerous victims recover the compensation they deserved after being injured in a collision.
Contact us today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We will explain the benefits of working with an attorney after a truck accident, which may include:
Helping You Determine Who is Liable for the Accident
There are often multiple parties involved in a commercial trucking operation. Each one is responsible for a different aspect of the operation to ensure the truck, its driver and its cargo is safe and ready for road use. However, this can make it difficult to determine which party is liable for the accident, especially if you are unfamiliar with the commercial trucking industry.
As part of our investigation into your claim, we will carefully review the involvement of each party associated with the truck that caused your accident. This may include:
- The truck’s driver
- The trucking company
- The vehicle’s manufacturer
- The company responsible for loading and securing the truck’s cargo
Additional parties we may investigate include the owner of the commercial truck involved in your accident. Trucking companies often lease their vehicles from a third-party vendor. We will review the vehicle’s inspection log and maintenance records to determine if the truck may have experienced mechanical failure before the accident.
Collecting Evidence to Help You Build a Case
An attorney can collect evidence related to you truck accident to help you build a case against the at-fault party. Finding the right evidence is crucial in holding the at-fault party liable for your damages and will help you obtain the compensation you need.
Some evidence that an attorney may collect to build your case includes:
- Records detailing the driver’s employment history, qualifications and experience, and drug and alcohol tests
- Documents stating the trucking company’s insurance policy information
- Pictures of your vehicle and the semi-truck after the collision
- The semi-truck’s maintenance records
- Data taken from the semi-truck’s event data recorder
- Property damage report for your vehicle
- Medical records regarding your injuries
Knowledge of the Commercial Trucking Industry
Another benefit of hiring an attorney is that he or she will have in-depth knowledge about the commercial trucking industry. This includes the parties involved in trucking operations and the responsibilities they have to prevent an accident from occurring.
Our South Bend personal injury attorneys have represented numerous trucking accident victims. We will use our knowledge of the commercial trucking industry and their insurance policies to help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Knowledge of State and Federal Trucking Laws
The commercial trucking industry is heavily regulated by several federal and state laws. Many of these regulations exist to prevent accidents involving commercial vehicles and their drivers. Additionally, the laws that regulate the commercial trucking industry help to:
- Establish training standards for hiring truck drivers
- Limit the amount of time a truck driver can operate the truck without taking a break
- Establish required break and sleep periods for truck drivers
- Prevent truck drivers from operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Ensure vehicle safety by requiring regular maintenance and inspection of semi-trucks
- Prevent accidents by requiring trucks to meet weigh-in goals and carefully load the truck’s cargo into the vehicle
Due to the heavy regulations involved in trucking operations, it is important to hire a lawyer who has experience and knowledge regarding federal and state trucking laws. Our attorneys are well-versed in commercial trucking regulations. We will work to find out if a commercial trucking law or regulation was violated during your accident.
Helping You Recover Compensation
During your free consultation, our attorneys will try to determine the damages you suffered during the truck accident. Based on our findings, we will be able to determine if you may be entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
Our attorneys are experienced negotiators and have obtained millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We know how to evaluate a truck accident claim to determine a fair amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive. We will pursue every option available to help you get the results you deserve.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in South Bend
If you were injured in a truck accident, working with an experienced attorney may provide you the help you need to obtain fair compensation for your claim. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a trusted lawyer after a truck accident, contact Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak today.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no fees unless you recover compensation for your claim. There is no risk in consulting with our attorneys to find out if you have a case.
Contact us today for help with your claim.
