It only takes a split second for a wayward semi-truck to run through a stop light, swerve into oncoming traffic, or fail to slow for stopped vehicles and cause a devastating collision. Those who are involved in these wrecks are often left with severe, sometimes even catastrophic injuries, that reshape the ways in which they live the rest of their lives. Physical immobility, psychological traumatization, and financial ruin are all real possibilities for these victims, which is nothing short of tragic.
If you or a loved one are in that position now, then you probably feel cheated and uncertain about your future. You may not even know where to turn for help or how to start the next chapter of your life. Everything can feel chaotic, and the challenges confronting you may leave you wanting to throw up your hands and quit. But don’t let the stressors of your situation get the best of you. Instead, be prepared to take legal action to right the wrong that’s been done to you or your loved one as much as possible.
How can you build an effective truck accident case?
It might seem easy to build an effective truck accident personal injury case, but these matters sometimes wind up being more complicated than anticipated. Therefore, as you set out to build your claim, keep the following in mind:
- You need to demonstrate negligence: Before you can argue over how much the driver and their employer should pay you for your damages, you have to prove that the trucker acted negligently and that their negligence led to your accident. So, you’ll need evidence to show why the trucker’s actions leading up to the accident were problematic. Eyewitness accounts can be helpful here, but so, too, can an accident reconstruction, expert testimony, vehicle inspection and maintenance records, and trucking logs. Be thorough here, as failing to prove negligence will completely derail your case.
- You need to show the full extent of your damages: When proving damages, you need to be as thorough as possible. Seek medical care, follow treatment recommendations, track all accident-related expenses, and keep a journal of how your accident injuries have negatively impacted your life. Doing this will create a record of the harm that’s been caused by your truck wreck.
- Your driving behaviors will be drawn into question: The defense is going to try to shift the blame back onto you. They might argue that you contributed to the accident in some way, such as by speeding for failing to use your blinker, or they may argue that your actions led to worse harm, such as if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt at the time of the accident. You’ll need to be prepared for these arguments so that you can effectively counter them and mitigate their impact on your case as much as possible.
- The truck company should be held liable, too: If the trucker who caused your accident was employed by a truck company, then you might be able to hold that employer liable for the actions of their employee. Scrutinize the facts to see if you’re able to impose liability on the truck company, as that might give you deeper pockets to reach into if you succeed on your personal injury claim.
Leave nothing to chance in your truck accident personal injury case
The outcome of your truck accident case is going to have profound ramifications for your life to come. So, be prepared to diligently build your case so that you maximize your chances of achieving the outcome that you want and deserve. Hopefully then you’ll secure the financial resources needed to find stability and properly focus on your recovery.