Truck crashes can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities, particularly for occupants of passenger vehicles or others outside the commercial truck. After a collision with a large truck, it may feel that your life will never return to normal.
The experienced truck accident lawyers with The Advocates are here for you. We have helped thousands of truck accident victims recover from their accidents, and we can help you too. We will provide you with fierce legal representation and personalized care throughout the entirety of your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident, the personal injury lawyers with The Advocates have your back. We will be by your side every step of the way to ensure your needs are taken care of and help you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Get any property damage assessed and repaired
Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
Truck accident injuries can be severe, particularly for occupants of smaller vehicles. Some common types of truck accident injuries are:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the national governing body for commercial vehicles. Operators of large trucks are often held to higher standards than drivers of passenger vehicles, due to the increased potential for catastrophic injuries in a semi-truck accident.
Federal law states that truck drivers may not text or use a handheld phone while driving, regardless of state laws.
A driver found to be in violation of this law may have their CDL suspended or revoked.
Before starting a drive, truckers must complete a pre-trip inspection of the vehicle. They must inspect the critical areas of the truck to ensure they are in good working order before the semi may be driven. To be considered safe to drive, the truck must have properly functioning:
If any one of these components is faulty, it could seriously endanger the trucker and other drivers on the road. Regular truck maintenance and inspection helps keep everyone safe.
Each state has different testing and documentation requirements for obtaining a CDL, however, the FMCSA has set required knowledge and skills that potential truckers must demonstrate before they may drive commercially.
Commercial motor vehicle operators must be able to safely operate a commercial vehicle, including but not limited to:
In order to obtain endorsements for carrying passengers, hazardous waste, or extra trailers, applicants must demonstrate further knowledge and skills.
Driver fatigue is a serious problem in the trucking industry. Many trucking companies pay their drivers by the mile. Truckers are therefore incentivized to keep driving, even when they are tired, in order to increase their earning capacity. Because of this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created the Hours of Service Rule, a federal regulation limiting how many hours a trucker may drive at once.
The Hours of Service Rule is as follows:
Every personal injury case has a time limit, known as the statute of limitations. After the time limit is up, you lose your right of action. Each state has a different statute of limitations for truck collisions, typically ranging from 1-6 years.
Regardless of your state’s laws, it’s important to contact an attorney to begin working on your case as soon as possible. Personal injury claims can take years to settle, depending on the severity of your injuries, the amount of evidence from the accident, and the willingness of the other party to settle.
If you believe you have a case, contact a personal injury attorney right away. This will give you the best chance of receiving the settlement you deserve.
If you were injured in a tractor-trailer accident, you will need to prove negligence in order to receive a settlement. The responsible party may be found to be the truck driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of truck equipment, or another party, depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Insurance companies will often do whatever they can to prove you had some responsibility in the accident. They will go to extreme measures to diminish your claim and avoid paying you what you deserve. While recovering from injuries and dealing with property damage, fighting insurance providers can be stressful and upsetting.
The Advocates are personal injury attorneys who are ready to take on your truck accident claim. We have 30 years of experience representing accident victims, and we understand that when recovering from debilitating injuries, the last thing you want to do is navigate your way through a complex legal process.
The Advocates’ law firm is here to help every step of the way. We will take on insurance adjusters, help you understand your medical bills, and do everything we can to get you the payout you deserve. We are committed to protecting your best interests. You deserve an attorney who will fight for you. You deserve an Advocate.