Hazelwood Truck Accident Lawyer

Hazelwood Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks provide an essential service within the economy, and companies have a substantial responsibility to maintain safety for their drivers and others on the road. When accidents involve commercial trucks, the consequences can be devastating. They can result in catastrophic injuries and death. When a driver, trucking company, or other party acted negligently, a Hazelwood truck accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation.

Recovering both financially and physically after a truck accident is not easy. To financially recover, you need to pursue a civil or insurance case. This is difficult when you are severely injured. A personal injury attorney’s legal guidance can handle this for you so that you can recover.

Legal Protection for Injured Truck Accident Victims in Hazelwood

For decades, The Cagle Law Firm has provided legal representation for injured individuals in complex accident cases, including many truck accidents. These collisions are some of the most serious crashes and can be complicated. These cases can be complicated to manage on your own because it involves a commercial carrier or possibly multiple carriers. Additionally, commercial coverage has significantly more coverage and insurance companies work aggressively to keep these costs as low as possible. Our experience in these cases means we have the knowledge and resources to help you get the compensation you need to recover.

While we have a lot of experience to rely on, we know that every accident and every person is unique. We take the time to listen to you, and to understand how your injury has impacted you, your way of life, your family, and your employment.

Our legal team in Hazelwood investigates the accident, finds available evidence of fault, determines the cost of your injuries, and uses this information to create a strong case. We hold the insurance carrier for the at-fault party liable for your injuries.

What Are Frequent Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents?

Commercial vehicles are highly regulated because of the danger they pose on the road due to their size. Commercial vehicles must adhere to the regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Regulations require compliance in many areas including weight limits, maintenance, inspections, and driver training safety. The vehicles are also difficult to maneuver, and regulation requires that drivers be professionally trained and certified.

Negligence or failure to follow these regulations can make accidents more likely and more dangerous. Accidents can also be caused by the negligence of drivers while on the road. Some of the most common causes of common carrier accidents include:

• Distracted drivers.
• Driving too fast for the road conditions.
• Reckless or aggressive driving.
• Improper maintenance.
• Moving violations.
• Driving under the influence.
• Truck component failures and malfunctions.
• Failure to check blind spots.
• Fatigued and overworked drivers, especially truck drivers who are required to meet unreasonable deadlines.
• Hiring truck drivers without proper background checks.
• Lack of training and experience for truck drivers.
• Poorly designed trucks.
• Improperly secured cargo.
• Unevenly loaded or overloaded cargo.

Once the cause of the accident is determined, it can help determine which party’s insurer can be held liable for your injuries. Negligence by a driver is one of the most common reasons accidents happen. If the driver of the commercial truck is at fault due to negligence, you can pursue your injury claim against the commercial insurance carrier for the truck.

The Cause of an Accident Could Be the Fault of Several Parties

If there is a brake failure leading to a collision, it may be the fault of the manufacturer of the brakes for creating a dangerous product. The insurer for the owner of the truck unit could be liable for failing to get needed maintenance. The trucking company or their third-party inspection provider might be at fault for failing to inspect the brakes properly. If the brake failure was caused by an overloaded trailer, the shipping company could be liable.

There may also be multiple parties liable for a commercial truck accident at the same time. If a truck driver operates the truck in a negligent way injuring you, you have an injury case against the trucking company’s insurance carrier. If the injury was caused by a failure to maintain or a defective product such as a tire, the tire manufacturer may also be liable. Since there are several parties that may be involved in the transportation process, there may be more than one party liable for a crash.

Since each crash is different, an attorney is crucial to looking into the parties who might be at fault for the accident and holding them responsible for your injuries.

FAQs About Hazelwood, MO Truck Accident Laws

What Is the Average Compensation for an 18-wheeler Accident in Missouri?

There is no average compensation for an 18-wheeler accident in Missouri. Large truck collisions usually result in serious, costly injuries, thus more compensation is needed to cover the losses of the victim. Accidents involving 18-wheelers are often much more serious and result in costly injuries. Other factors can influence your compensation, including whether you work with an attorney, the attorney’s expertise, and which party was at fault for the collision.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Serious?

Truck accidents are so serious for several reasons, including:

• There are increased injuries due to the size, weight, and speed of commercial trucks.
• Commercial trucking companies and their vehicles have state and federal guidelines to follow, and it can be complex to determine if they were in compliance.
• Multiple parties may be responsible for commercial vehicles, so multiple parties could be liable for an accident.
• Common carriers, or commercial insurers, make the entire process more complex.

An attorney is crucial when dealing with a truck accident case.

How Long Do Truck Accident Cases Take?

The amount of time a truck accident case takes varies. If you have serious injuries, your case will likely take longer simply because it takes longer for you to physically recover. Serious injuries require a great deal of medical treatment and medical experts can only assess progress and healing over time. Time and evaluation of results to physical recovery help assess your financial losses. Whether liability is clear or contested may affect the willingness of the insurance carrier to negotiate.

A case resolving quickly if you are seriously injured is often not in your best interest. Insurance companies are quick to offer a settlement before you have time to discover to extent of your injuries. They know that once an offer is accepted, you cannot make further claims regardless of what physical complications may arise. Rushing a settlement in your serious injury case is not always helpful to you. Likewise, you do not want an attorney that is passive about seeking compensation. As each person is unique, you want an attorney that leverages time and resources on your behalf to maximize deserved compensation.

What Percentage Do Most Truck Accident Injury Lawyers Charge in the Fee Agreement?

A truck accident injury lawyer fees are based on a percentage of the compensation secured for you by the attorney. This percentage can vary based on the firm, your attorney’s experience, and the complexity of your case.

If the attorney cannot recover compensation, you do not owe attorney’s fees. Injured individuals almost always secure significantly more compensation with an attorney than without. The percentage fee charged may increase if the case goes to court, but court verdicts may secure much more compensation. Contingency fee agreements are beneficial to the client as the attorney assumes the risks and expenses of requesting medical records, costs of investigations, expert evaluation testimony and litigation fees. Since our attorneys operate under a contingency agreement, we only get paid when we get results for our clients.

Work With The Cagle Law Firm After a Truck Accident

Legal guidance and advice from the skilled attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm can help you pursue the most compensation available after a truck accident. Contact our team today to learn how we can help.