Webster Groves Truck Accident Lawyer

Webster Groves Truck Accident Attorney

When a motor vehicle accident involves a large commercial vehicle, the injuries can be devastating. Those who are injured often face life-altering and disabling injuries. The involvement of a commercial truck can also make it more complex for injured parties to pursue the compensation they are owed. Getting legal representation with a Webster Groves truck accident lawyer is essential to protect your interests against aggressive commercial insurance companies.

Pursuing compensation can help individuals and grieving families secure some financial stability after a catastrophic accident, helping them move forward with their lives. The right attorney can help you hold the at-fault party’s insurer liable.

The Cagle Law Firm: Helping Those Injured By Commercial Trucks

For decades, The Cagle Law Firm has pursued compensation for injured individuals in personal injury cases, including complex cases like truck collisions. These accidents can be caused by driver error and in some instances, be traced back to the negligence of commercial trucking corporations through negligent hiring practices, unreasonable demands on drivers or failure to following safety standards.

They may not complete maintenance on trucks or fail to screen truck drivers. When people suffer because of this carelessness, these companies must be held accountable.

At The Cagle Law Firm, we investigate the cause of your accident to determine which party or parties may be liable for the crash. We work to secure the most compensation available, recovering the cost of your medical bills and other financial and personal losses. Our team holds commercial carriers liable for the injuries you or your loved ones have sustained.

Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?

In a truck accident, multiple parties could be fully or partially liable. In order to support your claim of liability, a complete investigation is needed. Uncovering the cause of the accident can help point to which party or parties were careless and caused the accident. For example, if the accident was caused by a truck’s brake failure, there are numerous potential liable parties.

The trucking company or truck’s owner may have failed to ensure that the truck was road-worthy, and failed to get the regulatory required maintenance. This fault may also point to a third-party inspection company.

Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations, trucking companies are required to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles to ensure safety. These regulations also mandate that drivers complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report any defects that could affect safe operation. Failure to comply with these requirements could establish liability.

Maintenance may have been completed but was faulty, making the maintenance company liable. The brake failure may have been caused by an overloaded truck, and the shipping or loading company is liable. It may also be a defect, and the manufacturer is liable.

Because so many parties could have been at fault in the accident, it makes truck accident cases more complex. The accident must be thoroughly investigated. Evidence such as the driver logs, phone records, black box information, maintenance records, and photos of the accident site can help point to the at-fault party.

Comparative Negligence and Truck Accident Cases in Webster Groves

If you contributed to causing the accident in Webster Groves, you may be able to recover compensation. However, it is even more important that you secure legal representation. A commercial insurance carrier is incredibly aggressive in limiting its liability. An insurer may try to use your partial fault to hold you liable for the accident or claim you are partially liable when you are not.

Your attorney can protect your financial future and your case if this happens. An attorney can take the case to court, where the court will assign the percentage fault of each party. If you are found to be 25% liable for the accident, then the compensation you are awarded in a verdict will be reduced by 25%. This ensures that each party responsible for the accident is responsible for their portion of the fault.

An attorney can advocate for you, potentially limiting the amount the court finds you at fault. This can improve the compensation you receive and ensure the outcome of the case is fair.

FAQs About Webster Groves, MO Truck Accident Laws

How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

Truck accident settlement values rely on each individual’s unique accident circumstances and injuries. Often, truck accident settlements or verdicts are much more substantial than other vehicle accidents because they are more likely to result in disabling injuries that impact the rest of someone’s life if they survive.

Expert legal representation is also more likely to secure a higher truck accident settlement, as an attorney has the experience and resources needed to investigate a crash, calculate losses, and negotiate with commercial insurers.

How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Truck Accident Case in Missouri?

How long an insurance company has to settle a case after a truck accident in Missouri varies, and there are several deadlines that the state outlines, as long as it is reasonable to meet those deadlines. Insurers must complete an investigation of the case within 30 days of being notified of the case. The duration can vary on several factors. The timeline for an insurance claim investigation is influenced by the complexity of the incident, the severity of the injuries and ongoing medical treatment, disputes over liability, and uncertainties regarding insurance coverage.  Those seriously injured rarely know the full extent of their injuries in 30 days.

What Are Most Attorney Fees for Truck Accident Cases?

Most attorney fees for truck accident cases are contingency fees. This means the attorney does not receive upfront attorney fees and instead charges a percentage of the final settlement or verdict. This percentage is determined upfront and often increases if the case goes to trial. Trial verdicts can be more significant for injured individuals and require more work by the attorney. At the same time, trial can be risky. Ultimately, you and your attorney determine the best strategy in your case in response to the insurance carrier’s approach. The benefit of a contingency fee is that an injured individual does not owe attorney’s fees if they do not secure compensation.

What Is the Longest a Truck Accident Settlement Can Take?

There is no set amount of time that a truck accident settlement takes to resolve. Each incident is unique, and so is each case’s timeline. Truck accident cases can take longer than other motor vehicle accident cases due to the severity of the injuries.  As well, commercial insurance companies involve legal representation quickly in an attempt to limit their costs.  Commercial cases can possibly involve multiple parties contributing to liability; thus, an experienced commercial attorney is critical.

Recovering the Compensation That You Deserve From a Truck Accident

A truck accident can leave you with painful and disabling injuries, causing you substantial medical bills, emotional trauma, and physical pain.  As well, you may not be able to return to work and unable to earn a regular income. At The Cagle Law Firm, we want to recover these losses. We hold the insurer liable for your injuries, fighting diligently for your future. Contact our team today.