If you were injured in a wreck in North Carolina involving an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer, you may have a lot of questions. People often ask us how 18-wheeler wrecks are different and if they really need a lawyer to handle their case if the truck driver was clearly the one at fault for the wreck. At Burton Law Firm, we want to make sure you have answers to these and any other questions you may have, so we put together this information for you.
How are 18-Wheeler Wrecks Different?
- INJURIES – When an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer truck makes impact with a car, the impact tends to be bigger since the truck typically weighs a lot more than the average car. This often means the injuries are more severe. More severe injuries can mean longer hospital stays, surgeries, more time out of work, and higher medical bills. This can be overwhelming and scary, but finding a good medical team and an experienced injury lawyer will help you get back on the road to recovery!
- INSURANCE – If you were injured in a wreck involving an 18-wheeler and are not at fault, chances are the money to pay for your damages will come from an insurance policy. There may be more than one insurance policy involved. For example, the trucking company could have an insurance policy, the truck driver could have an insurance policy, and/or there could be umbrella or other policies. An experienced trucking accident lawyer will know how to look for these policies and help make sure you are compensated for what you’ve been through.
- LIABILITY – As with any wreck, it is important to nail down liability. This means we need to find out who was at fault for the wreck. Liability can be more complicated with a wreck that involves an 18-wheeler. For example, the person at fault for the wreck could be just the truck driver, but there could also be others at fault such as the trucking company or the shop that performed the maintenance on the truck. A trucking lawyer will know how to determine liability. This often involves looking at not just the accident report but also the trucking company’s policies and procedures, the truck driver’s logs, bills of lading, truck maintenance records, and more.
What Kind of Damages Will I Be Able to Claim?
If you were injured in a trucking accident in North Carolina and were not at fault, you may have a claim for several different types of damages. Some of your damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Permanent injuries and/or permanent scarring
- Prescriptions and medical equipment
- And more
In order to recover for all of your damages, you will need to document your damages with photographs and medical records. An experienced attorney will be able to help you through that process.
Do I Really Need a Lawyer?
In short, yes. Trucking accidents tend to result in more severe injuries and can be more complex when it comes to identifying who was at fault. Additionally, trucking companies have lawyers on their side who are used to fighting these claims – hard. You need an experienced lawyer on your side who will be there to protect your rights and your future. This will leave you more time to focus on yourself, your loved ones, and healing.
At Burton Law Firm, we have experience with complex trucking accident cases and the legal requirements imposed on trucking companies under state and federal law. We offer a free consultation and will take the time to listen, answer your questions, talk with you about your legal options, protect your rights, and help you get the legal help you need. Give us a call today to get started: (833) 623-0042.