Every 16 minutes, a person is killed or injured in a truck accident. Eighteen-wheelers, in particular, injure more than 90,000 people each year, and in 2020 alone, an estimated 4,965 people were killed in 18-wheeler accidents. Over the past 10 years, fatal large truck accidents have been on the rise, while the trucking industry continues to demand relaxed safety standards.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an 18-wheeler accident, get help from an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney. Call one of the nation’s leading truck accident attorneys at Munley Law today for a free case review.
Our law firm is dedicated to helping victims of all types of truck accidents, including commercial 18-wheelers. We have spent years fighting trucking companies and winning cases for truck accident victims like you. We have the experience and resources to take on these companies and we want to put that work to help you. The consultation is free and we do not charge unless we win your case.
Why do I need to hire an attorney for my 18-wheeler accident case?
If you or someone you love was in a collision with an 18-wheeler, you may know you did nothing wrong and believe the injuries and costs the accident caused are obvious. You may be wondering why you would need a lawyer to represent you.
An 18-wheeler crash is not the same as a car accident. 18-wheeler accidents can result in serious injuries that could take months or years to recover from. While car accidents only involve you and the other driver, truck accidents can involve multiple parties.
Here are some other reasons why hiring an attorney is beneficial for your 18-wheeler accident claim.
Trucking companies regularly deny liability
Because there are thousands of accidents each year, trucking companies are well-versed in the best strategies for denying liability and avoiding the costs associated with accidents caused by the drivers of their 18-wheelers. Most trucking companies will have their representatives at the scene of an accident within hours or minutes. These representatives will work to gather evidence in an attempt to reduce or deny any claim you may have against them.
Our attorneys have decades of experience and are considered the premier truck accident law firm nationwide. Our attorneys have obtained numerous settlements and verdicts against 18-wheeler companies. When you retain one of our attorneys, the trucking company will know they are dealing with the best and most experienced 18-wheeler accident firm in the country.
18-Wheeler Collision Cases Are Complicated
Because 18-wheelers, auto collisions, and medical injuries are by nature complicated, truck accident litigation is, too. These cases involve complex concepts in the areas of physics, chemistry, federal trucking regulations, biology, medicine, driving standards, and economics. When a claim based on an 18-wheeler collision goes to trial, the accident victims will have to prove their case before a jury by explaining what happened using these complicated scientific and industry-specific principles and ideas.
Our team at Munley Law has spent over 60 years learning the ins and outs of the trucking industry, the science behind trucking collisions, and the best negotiation and trial tactics to win big for our clients. We’ve built a team that understands how to use field experts, graphics, witnesses, and technology to explain why victims like you deserve to be compensated.
Getting the prize you are entitled to requires a lot of resources
Trucking and insurance companies have a lot of money and manpower at their disposal, which they use to pressure accident victims to walk away or settle for far less than they deserve. To fight for the prize you are entitled to as the victim of an 18-wheeler accident, you will need to match the vast resources of the trucking and insurance companies. Our attorneys can work with experts to testify at trial and make use of the most advanced technologies to prove your case before a jury.
How much compensation could I receive for my 18-wheeler accident claim?
Eighteen-wheeler accidents typically result in serious injuries that require a long recovery period. Some financial losses that a truck accident victim could face include medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and possible funeral expenses.
For a successful injury claim, you could receive economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to any financial loss you have accrued after the accident. Examples of economic damages include:
Medical expenses
Lost wages and earning potential
funeral expenses
Damage to property
Non-economic damages can compensate you for any non-financial loss you have experienced. Examples of non-economic damages include:
Pain and suffering
emotional stress
mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment or consortium
Unfortunately, insurance will rarely cover all of these expenses. Your best bet is to speak with an 18-wheeler accident attorney moving forward.
Why are 18-wheeler accidents so catastrophic?
Eighteen-wheelers are much more dangerous than most other types of vehicles. Some of the reasons why include:
Heavy Loads: With a full load, an 18-wheeler weighs 80,000 pounds, which is 400 tons. To put that number in perspective, the average car weighs around 2,700 pounds, which is just over 1 ton. That means 18-wheelers are 400 times heavier than most cars they share the road with. When 18-wheelers collide with other motor vehicles, their sheer weight often results in serious injuries, incredible property damage, and tragic deaths.
The Largest Vehicles on the Road – 18-wheelers can be up to 176 feet long and can have up to four trailers! That means the 18-wheeler driving next to you on the highway is longer than half a football field and more than 10 times longer than the average car.
It can be difficult for drivers to avoid crashes while navigating sharp road curves, turns, mergers, highway exits, and narrow streets. Its enormous size also amplifies the danger of negligence on the road, such as speeding. An 18-wheeler traveling at 70 miles per hour has twice the energy of one traveling at 50 miles per hour.
Requires more time and space to stop – The time it takes for an 18-wheeler to slow down or come to a complete stop is about 40% more than the time it takes for a car. Many motor vehicle operators who drive behind 18-wheelers don’t realize how much space they have to leave between their car and the huge truck in front of them.
Massive Blind Spots – Unlike a sedan, hatchback, SUV, minivan, or pickup truck, 18-wheelers do not have a rear window. So 18-wheeler truckers must rely on their rear view mirrors to see what’s behind them, but given the sheer size of the truck and trailer, there are huge blind spots.
What should I do after an 18-wheeler accident?
The first and most important thing to do after an accident is to hire an experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer as soon as possible. Fighting big trucking companies is something you will need experience for. These companies have extensive resources, including teams of lawyers and experts more than prepared to fight any lawsuit that comes their way. Having an attorney by your side gives you the peace of mind to help you get back on your feet.
An experienced attorney will obtain the evidence necessary to prove your accident claim, negotiate with the insurance company on his behalf, represent his interests in the courtroom, and make sure he gets the compensation he deserves.
Steps you can take immediately after an 18-wheeler accident to help protect your future truck accident claim:
At the scene of the accident, remain calm and stay in your vehicle unless you need to get out for safety reasons. Call 911 and do not leave the scene.
Record all the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the parties involved, particularly witnesses. Write down the names and badge numbers of the police officers investigating the accident.
Photograph and video the scene, including vehicles and injuries. Be sure to get the information from the truck driver’s employer.
Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you were injured at the time of the accident. Injuries may not show up until hours or days after the accident.
Immediately notify your insurance company to start the claim process. When talking to your insurance company, stick to the facts of the case and don’t admit fault.
Do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police or your insurance agent. You are not required to give a statement to anyone other than the police and your insurance company.
What should I do in the days after an 18-wheeler accident?
Here’s what truck accident victims should do in the days after an 18-wheeler accident:
Get a copy of the accident report from the police. Do the same with a property damage assessment from your insurance company. Both reports will give your attorney a better idea of the value of your claim.
Keep a record of all visits with doctors and health care providers. Write down all the symptoms, diagnoses and pains you have. Get copies of all test results, medications, treatments, and any other medical care.
List all of the out-of-pocket expenses you incur while you are injured or due to your semi-truck accident.
Keep a record of missed work or other activities that your injuries prevented you from participating in.
Do not speak to the other party’s insurance company without first speaking with your 18-wheeler accident lawyer. Remember, you do not need to talk to anyone about the accident except your attorney, the police, and your insurance company.
Do not accept any settlement offer until you first speak with one of our experienced attorneys.
