Three Reasons You Need An Experienced Attorney When Involved In An Accident With A Semi-Truck

28 June 2018
 Categories: Law, Blog

Share

If you have been in an accident with a big rig truck while driving your car, you will need to consult with an attorney that has a lot of experience with this type of accident. There are many elements that are unique to those involving a car and a semi-truck.

An accident between a truck and a car is often different

There are certain collisions that are more common with a semi-truck involving a car, and a lawyer with experience involving these accidents will be able to tell when the driver has a strong case. One example of this is a truck making a left turn from the right lane of a two lane, left turn intersection. If you're in the left lane making a left turn, the truck driver can easily side swipe your car because he didn't make a wide enough turn. This is only one example of an accident with a semi-truck, but an attorney with experience will have knowledge of all of these accidents and know how to represent your interests.

The are regulations regarding trucks

Sometimes the fault of the accident will lie with the maintenance of the truck. An attorney with experience litigating accidents involving big rigs will know exactly what to look for in a police report. Another issue is with drivers. There are regulations regarding the number of hours a trucker can be on the road without taking a break for sleep. Trucking companies must keep records of their driver's trips, and an independent truck must also keep log books. An attorney can often look at the accident report and know whether these records are important to examine.

Insurance companies use different tactics

The strategies employed by an insurance company are often different than you see with two cars. When an insurance lawyer takes the position that it was the car driver's fault, an attorney must know how to respond. For example, if you are on a highway and traveling along the side of a truck, all it takes is a truck driver changing lanes without looking in his mirrors. This type of accident would seem obviously the fault of the truck driver, but an insurance company may argue that you were not in view of the truck driver when he used his mirrors. You were speeding and moved into the truck driver's blind spot. Speed can also be used against a car driver when a truck hits the car from behind. The car driver may have passed the truck but slowed down too quickly, and the trucker could not brake in time.

It is important to get more information from a personal injury attorney with experience with accidents involving semi-trucks because of the different elements of these accidents. In addition, the attorney should have experience with the arguments made by insurance attorneys for trucking companies, both outside and inside of court.