With a size 20 to 30 times that of the average car, crashes involving semitrucks are almost always serious, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA. Other passenger vehicle drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are more likely to face severe injuries and major property damage when involved in a semitruck crash. Unfortunately, these truck crashes are also more likely to be fatal crashes. According to the National Safety Council, large trucks are involved in 6 percent of car accident fatalities—a number that’s steadily climbed in the past decade.
Because semitruck accidents typically result in such catastrophic damage, insurance companies pour resources into fighting these high-value wrongful death and personal injury claims. Trucking companies of commercial vehicles sometimes fail to prioritize the health and safety of their truck drivers and the public by skirting regulations on cargo weight, maintenance and break times, making it challenging to gather accurate evidence.
That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in a semitruck crash. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can collect evidence, including maintenance logs of the motor vehicle, witness statements and surveillance footage, while also working to determine the multiple parties that might be at fault.
What to do after a semitruck accident?
If you’ve been involved in a semitruck accident, your first step will be to call 911 and prioritize your safety and that of your passengers. Be sure to share that you’ve been in a vehicle accident with a large truck as emergency responders might need additional resources to respond to the accident and secure the site.
If you’re suffering serious injuries, accept immediate medical care. While it’s typically smart to gather evidence on the scene, like photographs of the crash site, never put your life in danger to support your claim or delay care if you need it. If you’re able to, however, attempt to collect:
- The semi-truck driver’s personal information, along with his or her employer information
- Evidence of any factors that may have contributed to the truck crash, like road debris, flashing traffic lights or an obviously unbalanced cargo load
- The names and contact information of witnesses of the truck crash
If you don’t receive emergency medical care, see a doctor as soon as you’re able to. Sometimes the shock of the accident will mask pain and symptoms of an injury, but it’s important to get checked out and clearly connect any injuries to the accident.
Once you’re home, document your recollection of the crash while it’s fresh in your mind, but avoid sharing any details about the accident on social media. In fact, it’s often best to limit social media posts after a crash as insurers will sometimes mine content for posts that support their narrative.
What is the average settlement for a semitruck accident?
Truck accident settlements differ based on the extent of the injuries and the number of parties involved. These complex cases also take time, requiring an experienced truck accident attorney to gather evidence and take depositions (often from out-of-state trucking companies). Sometimes, too, insurance companies put up a serious fight, attempting to deny fault, minimize injuries or shift blame.
At Litner + Deganian, our personal injury lawyers believe in guiding clients through this challenging process with care and respect, all while providing the advice and expertise needed to make informed choices. We’ve handled all types of semitruck accident cases, including:
- A $1.05-million settlement for a client hurt in a double tractor-trailer accident
- A $960,000 wrongful death settlement for the family of a man killed after a tractor trailer crash
- A $140,000 settlement for a client unfairly blamed by the insurance company
How long does it take to settle a semitruck accident?
Semitruck accidents will vary in how long they take to reach a settlement due to several factors. The complexity of the accident and the number of parties involved plays a role, as does the attitude of the insurance company.
At Litner + Deganian, we prioritize our clients’ recovery with a multistep process:
- We start by meeting with the client to better understand the accident and determine a possible course for the case.
- We investigate the crash, drawing on the accident report, witness statements, medical bills, medical records and documents from the trucking carrier. We may also bring in expert witnesses to better understand the circumstances of the crash, the conditions at the time of the crash or the nature of the injuries. Because semitruck crashes sometimes cause permanent, life-altering injuries, it’s critical to know how such changes will affect a client’s future.
- We begin negotiations with the insurance company to compensate the client for injuries and damages. While many cases can be worked out with settlements, we’re always ready to take a case to court if the insurer is unwilling to negotiate and it’s the best option for the client.
Avoiding semitruck crashes
Because of the potential severity of semitruck accidents, drivers should always be conscious of tractor-trailer blind spots, undercarriage risks and brake time in an effort to lessen the likelihood of a crash.
When driving near an 18-wheeler, drivers should:
- Be aware of the truck’s blind spots: Never tailgate a semitruck or spend too much time passing one. A truck’s blind spots often extend about 20 feet in front and 30 feet in back. They also stretch one lane to the left and two lanes to the right. Drivers should also avoid tailgating due to the potential for a rear-end accident or damage from cargo or road debris.
- Never pass on the right: Due to that two-lane-wide blind spot, it’s never safe to pass a truck on the right. If the truck changes lanes or makes a right turn, it’s easy for the trucker to entirely miss a vehicle attempting to pass. Even if the truck veers slightly to the left—often a maneuver in preparation for a right turn—drivers should never try to overtake the truck from the right side of the road.
- Understand a truck’s stop time: Cutting off another vehicle is never safe, but with a semitruck, it can be deadly. Large trucks take much longer to slow down, especially when they’re fully loaded with cargo. But, due to the truck’s front blind spot, the driver may not even notice the vehicle in its lane before an override occurs.
It’s also important to be a voice for vehicle, pedestrian and bike safety in the community. Truck side guards can help prevent fatalities when pedestrians or bicyclists are involved in large truck accidents, plus help stop vehicles from sliding underneath the truck. Other safety advocates push for shorter hours of service for drivers, propose limits on truck size and weight, or encourage automatic emergency braking for big rigs.
These driving tips among others are more important than ever with the winter season approaching.
Atlanta Semitruck Attorneys
Semi-truck crashes are often traumatic and complex. At Litner + Deganian law firm, our personal injury attorneys understand how to tackle difficult truck accident cases while respecting the challenges our clients face as they work toward recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been involved in a semitruck accident.
