Western Kentucky Truck Accident Lawyer

Western Kentucky Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks play an important role in our economy, and drivers regularly see these giant vehicles on the roads and highways around Paducah and Henderson. While we often coexist with commercial vehicles without incident, thousands of semi-trucks and other similar vehicles crash each year in Kentucky. When an 80,000-pound truck collides with a small passenger car or SUV, devastating injuries and fatalities can result.

The law often entitles truck accident victims and their families to compensation for medical bills, wrongful death, and other relevant losses. Kentucky law does not give truck crash victims long to take legal action, however, so it is important that you contact a highly experienced truck accident law firm as soon as you can after the crash occurs. The statute of limitations in Kentucky is one year from the date of injury, which means you must contact an experienced truck accident attorney right away. Do not delay in consulting with our dedicated legal team at The Cagle Law Firm for free by calling (314) 276-1681 or by contacting us through our website.

Cause of Commercial Truck Crashes

There are many things that can go wrong, resulting in a tractor-trailer accident in Western Kentucky. Semi-trucks, flatbeds, tanker trucks, and other commercial vehicles are complicated machines that can be challenging to operate. Commercial drivers must pass training courses and examinations to obtain their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), though all of this special training does not eliminate the risk of driver error resulting in a crash.

Drivers are also not the only ones that may make mistakes when it comes to commercial trucks. Manufacturers have the responsibility to take special care in building these complex vehicles to ensure they are safe. When manufacturers make errors, vital truck parts may be defective and may malfunction on the road, leading to crashes. Furthermore, trucking companies may also act wrongfully to lead to truck accidents.  Trucking companies or transportation companies may have unreasonable expectations of drivers. Commercial drivers, like the rest of us, want to be good at their jobs and operate safely, but sometimes transportation companies may put unreasonable expectations upon drivers.

Our firm often sees the following common causes of truck accidents:

• Driver fatigue
• Drugged truck driving
• Drunk truck driving
• Speeding and moving violations
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Distracted truck drivers
• Failure to stop
• Blind spot mistakes
• Following too closely
• Failing to keep a proper lookout for other traffic
• Truck equipment failure
• Improper cargo loading
• Runaway trailers
• Jackknifed trailers
• Tire blowouts
• Negligent hiring
• Negligent maintenance
• Improperly trained drivers

Even if a driver causes a crash, the trucking company may also be held responsible for the accident simply by being the driver’s employer. This is only one of many complicated legal issues involved in truck accident claims, so you want a lawyer who knows how to handle this type of case right from the start.

Compensation for Injured Truck Accident Victims

When a huge truck hits your regular passenger-size vehicle, it is no surprise that your injuries are severe and, often, life-changing. The losses from these injuries are often devastating for you and your family, and they can include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma
• Impairments and disabilities
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• Punitive damages (when applicable)

Often, we can seek compensation for the above by filing an insurance claim with the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer, or more than one party. These insurance claims are highly complex and the insurer will certainly try to limit your payment. Actually, your attorney will compile all of the needed documentation and offer a demand to the insurance company.  Frequently,we need to escalate the case to a personal injury lawsuit.

How the Right Law Firm Can Help in Western Kentucky

As mentioned, truck accident insurance claims and lawsuits can be complicated and frustrating for accident victims. Facing off against a large corporation and its insurance company is never an easy task, and it can be intimidating. You should have the right legal team from The Cagle Law Firm standing up for your rights in these challenging claims.

Our firm regularly handles the following aspects of truck accident claims, among others:

• Gathering and presenting evidence of negligence and liability
• Handling every aspect of the insurance claim or claims
• Proving the losses you sustained
• Negotiating a fair settlement for you
• Pursuing a case in court when needed to protect your rights
• Handling every step of the litigation process

Initial insurance settlement offers are often low and do not account for future treatment needed, so never agree to an offer before first discussing your case with a member of our legal team.

How Truck Accidents Affect Kentuckians

Even if you do not personally know anyone else who suffered injuries in a truck crash, these incidents happen on a regular basis across the state. The Kentucky State Police reports the following about truck crashes that happened in a recent year:

• 9,819 commercial trucks were involved in crashes
• 1,461 truck accidents caused injuries
• 82 trucks accidents were fatal
• Most truck crashes happened on an interstate, U.S. Route, or state route
• 3,275 accidents happened due to truck driver inattention
• 1,591 accidents happened because a truck driver misjudged clearance
• 1,275 accidents resulted from a truck driver’s failure to control the truck
• 818 accidents resulted from a truck driver’s failure to yield
• 396 accidents occurred due to a truck following another vehicle too closely
• 207 accidents happened because a truck driver drove too fast for conditions
• 172 accidents involved a truck driver’s alcohol or drug use
• 164 accidents resulted from improper passing by a truck driver

Several other noted factors cause truck accidents in Kentucky, including tire failure, improper load securement, and defective brakes. Because so many things regularly contribute to truck accidents, you need the right law firm on your side with the resources to hold the liable parties responsible for your losses.

Learn How Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys in Paducah and Henderson Can Help

Truck accident claims are always challenging, though the experienced lawyers at The Cagle Law Firm have the resources and experience to face trucking companies and insurers head-on. We will not back down until we obtain the maximum payment possible in your specific case. If you would like a free case evaluation to learn more about the many ways we can assist you, call (314) 276-1681 or contact us online today.