Truck Accidents are a major cause of catastrophic injuries and fatalities throughout the United States. Over half a million truck accidents occur nationwide every year, and over five thousand of those end with fatalities. The safety of small vehicle passengers is at the mercy of massive 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and tractor trailers. These accidents require the representation of a tractor trailer accident attorney or 18-wheeler attorney that knows about these vehicles and these types of accidents. How do you choose the right attorney for your accident case? This article will explain how to choose a tractor trailer truck accident lawyer, semi-truck accident lawyer, or 18-wheeler attorney in CT.
Why Are Tractor Trailer Truck Accidents in CT So Complicated?
Every Connecticut attorney in this field should know that 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and tractor trailers can be owned by nearly anyone and registered anywhere in the United States. These vehicles are often protected by high limits of insurance coverage. This insurance may allow a victim to recover damages for their property, but physical, emotional, and mental trauma are not always easy to recover. Besides insurance coverage, another complication occurs when a fire resulting from a trucking accident destroys your property. An accident reconstructionist must be brought in to assess whether the tractor trailer truck was responsible, and if so, how much of the damage they were responsible for. Experienced and knowledgeable truck accident attorneys understand the complexities of these cases. These attorneys work to recover not only property loss but also for the pain and suffering caused by a trucking accident.
How to Interview a Tractor Trailer Truck Accident Attorney in CT
The first question to ask is “How many truck accident cases have you handled?” Truck accident cases are not the same as car accident cases. Truck accident cases may involve complexities such as interstate insurance policies or aggressive in-house attorneys as opposing counsel. You need an attorney that has experience with truck accident cases specifically. Your advocate should have experience and knowledge of the intricacies presented in a truck accident case. If you have suffered catastrophic injuries, the next question is to ask the 18-wheeler attorney is “How familiar are you with my medical condition?” A tractor trailer accident attorney must have a thorough understanding of your injuries to properly represent you. A tractor trailer accident attorney in CT with a good understanding of medical matters is also likely to be able to negotiate a high settlement. The next question you should ask is “What will this cost me?” Your attorney may offer a contingency fee arrangement whereby they will only get paid if you win the case. This is one of the most common methods of payment for truck accidents.
Who Will Your Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Sue?
Many truck accident cases have multiple defendants. A claim can be made against the driver and the owner of the vehicle as with every traffic accident. However, an experienced 18-wheeler attorney will also be aware of additional claims for truck accidents. Sometimes an accident is at least partially caused by a defect in the roadway, giving rise to a claim against the municipality that is responsible for maintaining the roadway. Tractor trailer truck accident attorneys often will investigate whether a manufacturing defect or improper maintenance played a part and may make a claim against the responsible parties. An experienced semi-truck accident attorney will also investigate the hiring policies of the driver’s employer to determine whether there was either negligent hiring or training, if a driver fell asleep at the wheel, or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The investigation will determine whether proper background checks were obtained that could have prevented them from hiring a driver that lacked experience or had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. It is important to choose your truck accident attorney carefully if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury or are making a claim on behalf of a loved one that was lost in a truck accident.
