According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), there were approximately 13,479,382 registered trucks in the U.S. in 2024. Every day, thousands of these trucks travel across states all over the U.S. to transport consumer goods and other items. With many weighing over 80,000 pounds (or 40 tons), collisions with cars that weigh only roughly 3,000 pounds can be disastrous.
Accidents between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks are usually catastrophic and often result in death. These wrecks are typically complex since they may involve several liable parties and various insurance companies.
Truck accidents, including those involving semis, 18-wheelers, rental trucks, and dump trucks, typically involve higher potential damages. The variety of factors that come into play with truck accidents means that every truck wreck case is unique. This is why you should speak to an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
Over the past four decades, the catastrophic injury attorneys at LawFirm.Vn have been helping truck wreck victims recover the compensation they deserve. Our lawyers have witnessed the devastation these accidents can cause to injured victims and their loved ones. We are prepared to aggressively push for the maximum compensation that covers all your expenses and future needs.
Causes of Truck Accidents
In 2023, 5,005 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks. Around 71% (3,544) of the people killed in these truck collisions were occupants of other vehicles. During the same year, an estimated 159,000 people were injured in accidents involving large trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a report after analyzing hundreds of factors that led to truck wrecks. According to the FMCSA, brake problems and traffic flow interruptions were the leading causes of large truck accidents.
Other causes of truck wrecks include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving, particularly texting while driving
- Alcohol and drugs
- Roadway problems
- Reckless driving
- Inexperience
- Improper cargo loading
- Speeding
- Poor training and maintenance
- Aggressive driving
After an accident, a good truck accident lawyer can help you identify what led to your crash. An attorney can gather and analyze evidence, including the truck’s black box data and phone call records, to identify the cause of the accident while you and your family focus on recovery and healing.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Here are the steps to follow if you are involved in a collision:
- Call the police
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Gather information from all parties involved, including their names, addresses, and license numbers
- Take pictures and videos of the scene
- Write down the contact information of any eyewitnesses
- Do not take responsibility for the crash
- Hire a truck wreck lawyer
Of course, you can always call us for guidance through this process after you have called the police and received medical attention.
What to Do in the Days Following a Truck Accident
The actions you take in the days and weeks following an accident can significantly affect your claim. Here’s what you should do or what we will help you do when you call us:
- Get a police report of your crash
- Get your vehicle appraised
- Keep track of all your medical treatments and doctor visits
- Track all your out-of-pocket expenses
- Keep track of all your missed work days
- Keep a journal of how you feel or your experiences, like if you are having trouble sleeping or if you are having panic attacks after the incident
- Do not post about the incident on social media
- Do not talk to the other drivers’ insurance companies
- Do not accept an offer without talking to a truck accident lawyer
How Are Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
Commercial truck wrecks differ from car wrecks in various ways. First, not only does a truck weigh roughly 20 times as much as a passenger car, but federal and state governments also require trucks to follow stricter rules. For example, according to hours of service regulations, property-carrying truck drivers may drive for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours of rest. This safety rule is meant to prevent tired drivers from operating these potentially deadly trucks on open roads.
Here are other ways these two types of accidents differ:
- Injuries are usually more severe in truck accidents
- Insurance policies are larger for the commercial trucking industry
- Multiple parties may be liable, including the truck driver, the cargo loading company, the truck owner, parts manufacturers, and the maintenance crew
- There is a likelihood of higher damages
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Every truck accident case is different. This is why you need an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer to build a compelling case to present to the insurance carrier or a jury in court. You can expect a reputable truck accident law firm to:
- Investigate and collect evidence, including police reports, black box data, expert testimony, eyewitness statements, and photographic evidence from the scene.
- Compile your medical records and expenses to prove your losses.
- Hire medical experts to determine what your healthcare needs will be in the future.
- Identify all liable parties in your truck wreck case.
- Send demand letters to the at-fault party’s insurance companies.
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
- File a lawsuit for you but continue efforts to negotiate a settlement.
- Take the case to trial if need be.
At LawFirm.Vn, our attorneys can handle all of this for you, and we will advance all the costs on your behalf. We will regularly update you regarding your case as we handle all paperwork.
How Much Compensation Can I Get After a Truck Wreck?
Though full compensation is never guaranteed, truck accidents are often more severe than passenger car accidents, resulting in higher damages. If you or your loved one has been hurt in a trucking wreck caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages that include:
- Past and future medical bills for medication, hospitalization, therapy, surgery, etc.
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Wrongful death benefits
In extreme circumstances, you may be eligible for punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the defendant if the court deems their conduct intentional or grossly negligent.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney for Legal Representation
If you or someone you care about has sustained injuries or died in a truck crash, you may be eligible for compensation. You don’t have to face the financial, emotional, and physical burden of an accident alone. An attorney with a wealth of experience in personal injury cases can investigate your truck accident case, build a strategy for you, and handle settlement talks or a trial on your behalf.
