Recovering Damages After A Trailer Detaches From A Commercial Truck And Collides With Your Vehicle
Commercial trucks are large and highly dangerous. These vehicles must undergo regular maintenance so that nothing goes wrong when the truck is traveling at a high speed. Unfortunately, due to poor maintenance, trailers sometimes detach from commercial trucks resulting in serious accidents.
The Consequences of a Detached Trailer
When a trailer becomes detached, you may be following the commercial truck and unable to stop in time, causing you to collide with the trailer. Or, the truck might be turning and the trailer may roll over and collide with your vehicle.
Why the Trailer Became Detached
The trailer is more likely to become detached if:
- The driver is speeding
- The driver makes a sudden turn
- The trailer is overloaded
To save money, the truck company might cut corners by not properly maintaining the trailer hitch. Each of these mistakes together can lead to a trailer that weighs tens of thousands of pounds detaching and colliding with other vehicles on the road.
The Responsibilities of a Truck Driver
To prevent the trailer from becoming detached, a truck driver needs to inspect the truck before going on a trip. However, some drivers are negligent or inexperienced and are therefore responsible for the trailer becoming detached.
After the Accident
After the trailer smashes into your vehicle, your life will likely be turned upside down. You might wake up in the hospital and find out that your car is totaled and that you have very expensive medical bills. Commercial truck accidents tend to lead to much more severe injuries than accidents involving passenger vehicles.
For this reason, a commercial insurance provider will tend to provide a higher policy limit than an auto insurance provider. However, they will also fight harder to reduce the settlement they will pay as a result of the accident.
Settlement Negotiations
Negotiating a settlement is the best way to resolve a commercial truck accident case because you will not have to spend time and money fighting your case in court. However, once you have negotiated and accepted the settlement, you will not be able to ask for more money if you are saddled with additional expenses related to the accident.
Why You Need a Lawyer
A commercial vehicle wreck attorney will be able to:
- Help you understand the law and your legal options
- Prove that the truck driver was at fault for the accident
- Help you calculate your damages
- Help you negotiate your settlement
And if they are not able to negotiate a settlement, they will represent you in court.