Sharing the roads with large tractor-trailers is often an intimidating experience for drivers. Commercial trucks are huge and cumbersome, and staying out of their blind spots can be challenging in heavy traffic.
Truck wrecks account for a disproportionate number of highway fatalities, and the accident victim is usually an occupant of a passenger vehicle. Those who survive semi-truck collisions often suffer catastrophic injuries.
If you have suffered injuries as a result of an 18-wheeler crash, contact a Enfield personal injury lawyer to explore your legal options. An Enfield truck accident lawyer could help you seek compensation for your losses, including the costs of your medical care, lost income, suffering, and diminished quality of life.
Truck Wrecks Can Cause Devastating Injuries
A big rig weighs up to 80,000 pounds, compared to an average sedan’s weight of about 4,000 pounds and an SUV’s weight of about 6,000 pounds. The disparity in size and weight means that occupants of passenger vehicles almost always suffer the most severe injuries in a collision with a truck.
When passenger vehicle occupants survive a tractor-trailer crash, they are often left with permanent injuries. Injuries commonly resulting from truck accidents include:
- Burns
- Fractures
- Head and facial injury
- Damage to internal organs
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
Any of these injuries could permanently impair an individual’s capacity to earn a living, participate in activities they enjoy, and even limit their ability to care for themselves and live independently. A person left with permanent injuries from a truck wreck should seek the assistance of a knowledgeable Enfield attorney to ensure they receive a compensation amount that adequately meets their needs over time.
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Negligence in Enfield Semi-Truck Collisions
Driver error is a contributing factor in many big rig accidents. Truck operators might engage in irresponsible behavior such as driving after using drugs or alcohol, driving while fatigued, or texting while driving. In other cases, a driver’s skills might be inadequate to handle road or weather conditions.
When a trucker’s negligence causes an accident, the trucker and their employer are both potentially liable. A lawyer well-versed in semi-truck accident cases could investigate further to determine whether other parties might share liability due to their negligence. Potentially responsible parties could include the company that loaded the truck, the truck maintenance provider, and the vehicle manufacturer.
Other drivers could also bear some liability, depending on the nature of the accident. In some cases, the local government responsible for road maintenance could be held liable.
Comparative Negligence in Tractor-Trailer Crashes
State law holds negligent parties responsible for the damages they cause in an accident. If an injured person’s own negligence partially contributed to an accident, Connecticut General Statute §52-572h(b) allows them to seek proportional damages from other negligent parties.
When an injured driver bears more than 50 percent of the responsibility for a truck crash, they will not be able to pursue any financial compensation for their injuries. This principle is known as comparative negligence, and a seasoned local attorney could explain how it affects recoverable damages in an 18-wheeler collision case.
Importance of Swift Legal Action
Generally, state law allows survivors of tractor-trailer wrecks two years to bring a lawsuit seeking damages for their injuries. However, an injured person is wise to engage a legal professional immediately after a truck collision in Enfield to ensure the best possible outcome for their case. In certain cases, an injured party may have only 90 days following an injury to file a notice of intent to sue, so it is imperative to act swiftly.
Trucking companies and their insurers often send investigators to the site of a crash within hours of the event. Their intent is to collect evidence that limits their liability and points toward others being responsible for the accident. It is important that attorneys and investigators working for the semi-truck accident victims also have an opportunity to review evidence while it is fresh and interview witnesses before their memories fade.
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Let an Enfield Truck Accident Attorney Fight for You
Motor vehicle injury cases become more complex when a commercial truck is involved. The victim’s representative must have a thorough understanding of industry operations and the laws regulating truckers.
An Enfield truck accident lawyer could take on trucking companies, drivers, and other liable parties and pursue a damages award that provides fair compensation for your injuries. To present the most robust claim, get a strong advocate working for you as soon as possible. Call today to learn more about how a skilled attorney could represent you.
