If you get injured in a truck accident, you may need to seek financial compensation. You may miss time at work, leading to lost wages, or you could have extensive medical bills. If you’ve been seriously injured – if you’re now suffering from a disability – then you may also want to consider things like lost earning capacity or the general pain and suffering that you had to endure.
One thing to keep in mind is that there may be multiple potential sources of compensation. It’s important not to overlook anything. Semi-truck crashes can be a bit more complex than other types of motor vehicle accidents.
Compensation from the driver
First and foremost, you may want to seek compensation from the driver if they made a clear mistake. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration prohibits the use of electronic devices except for hands-free setups. If a driver was texting behind the wheel, then they are liable for the accident that they caused. Other potential issues include impaired driving, breaking the speed limit, reckless driving, and staying behind the wheel for an excessive number of hours.
Compensation from the company
But the important thing to remember about a truck accident is that a commercial company may also be involved. For instance, maybe the accident occurred because the truck was not properly maintained by the company. The driver tried to stop the vehicle, the brakes failed and they couldn’t avoid the crash. Or perhaps the company was pressuring drivers to falsify the logs and drive for too many hours.
A truck accident case like this can be very complicated, so be sure you know what legal steps to take when seeking compensation.