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Were you or a loved one injured in a 18 Wheeler Truck Accident ?
If you or someone you care about have been in an accident with an 18 Wheeler, you should call the truck accident lawyers at TruckAccidents.Law. Our Truck Accident injury lawyers have extensive experience in Truck Crash cases and we have fought against some of the largest trucking companies in the country. 18-wheeler accidents can be horrific and often result in death and massive destruction. Tragically still, the victim is often not at fault. Often, 18-wheeler accidents are caused by the negligence of the trucking company or the truck driver, and that driver is frequently unharmed. Some examples of these causes include:
- Driver Fatigue
- Distracted Truck Driver
- Aggressive Truck Driver Driving
- Truck Mechanical Failure
- Driving Under the Influence
- Poor Truck Maintenance (bald tires, worn brakes, etc.)
- Truck Speeding
- Inadequate Safety Training/Policies
- Improper Hiring Practices
- Unbalanced Loads
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TruckAccidents.Law Serves Clients Injured In Collisions involving 18 Wheelers, large semi-trucks, Big Rigs, or commercial vehicles.
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No attorney/client relationship occurs with Isaacs and Isaacs unless and until you sign an agreement confirming the nature and scope of representation. See Disclosure below for additional information.
Get started on your 18 Wheeler Truck accident claim today.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident with an 18 Wheeler Truck, the Truck accident lawyers at TruckAccidents.Law are dedicated to protecting your rights. We understand the stress you’re facing as the victim of a Trucking accident, and we can help you deal with all parties involved. We want to relieve your burden so you can focus on recovering.
Call us today at (855) 777-7777 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
TruckAccidents.Law- Proven 18 Wheeler Truck Crash Law Firm
18 wheelers are essential in America so companies can easily transport their goods. However, these trucks are some of the largest and most difficult vehicles to operate on roads and highways. Due to their huge size and weight, performing even the simplest of maneuvers such as lane switching, braking, and turning, are a challenge for even the most seasoned truck drivers. The Federal Government has many safety procedures in place for 18 wheelers and their drivers, but when drivers fail to adhere to such procedures, large vehicle accidents can result in serious injury and even mortality.
Large trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, which is an unbelievable 20 times more than the average car. Even a fender bender with a large 18 Wheeler can cause horrific injuries. If you’ve been hit by a semi truck, 18-wheeler or Big Rig, initiating a lawsuit may be a necessity to protect yourself and your family. Odds are-the collision was due to truck driver or trucking company negligence, Something our firm has a proven track record of getting the compensation our clients deserve. Our experienced attorneys need to hear your story. We want to fight for you while you focus on recovering.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,761 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks (defined as trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds) in 2017. Of all the people killed, only 18% were actual truck occupants. The vast majority of people (72%) were occupants of other vehicles, and 10% were nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.).
If someone close to you was killed or seriously injured in an 18 Wheeler wreck, you must take your legal rights seriously to gain justice and financial compensation for your family. And that’s where Isaacs & Isaacs can help. We understand the significant truck accident injuries that result and will fight to win you the justice and money damages you deserve.
What are 18 Wheelers?
An 18-wheeler is a tractor truck that pulls several semi-trailers. The tractor has 10 wheels while each trailer has eight. This is the reason the name 18-wheeler was attached. These trucks haul an assortment of loads, and their weight is determined by the number of trailers. However, the weight limits are determined by state laws as are the number of trailers.
ISAACS & ISAACS: The Trucking Company Law Firm that Gets Results
Darryl Isaacs aka “The Hammer”co-founded the firm of Isaacs & Isaacs with his late father, Sheldon N. Isaacs in 1993. Over the past 20+ years, the firm has recovered more than a billion in damages and helped literally thousands of clients including truck accident clients in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.
Who is Liable in an 18 Wheeler Accident?
After someone you or someone you love has been injured or taken from you in an 18 Wheeler truck accident, it’s only natural to want to hold someone accountable for your loss.
Liability in a wrongful death case always comes down to negligence the act of failing to exercise a reasonable amount of care. Parties who may be negligent in your case may include:
- 18 Wheeler Truck driver. In order to hold a truck driver accountable for the accident, you will have to prove that the driver was engaging in negligent behavior that led to the crash. Examples such as this would be: Texting, Talking on a phone, Speeding or failing to follow traffic laws, or driving under the influence of an illegal substance.
- The Trucking company. The trucking company may be at fault (or share fault) if they violated a federal or state law (such as requiring the truck driver to drive for a longer period than permitted) or if they’re guilty of negligent hiring (for example, if a company hires a driver with a history of distracted-driving accidents).
- 18 Wheeler Truck maintenance company. If the truck has not been maintained properly-the truck may have broken down or malfunctioned due to faulty repairs. The maintenance company and the owner may both be held liable for damages.
- The Cargo company. One common cause of 18 Wheeler accidents is overloaded or improperly loaded cargo. In these situations, the cargo company may be at fault.
- Actual Truck manufacturer. Truck accidents may be caused by a defective vehicle (such as an improperly designed trailer hitch that causes the trailer to come loose). In these situations, the manufacturer of the faulty product might be negligent.
- Negligent third party. If there was negligence caused by another driver or a local government agency responsible for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.
Common Causes of 18 Wheeler Crashes
Some common causes of 18 Wheeler Truck accidents due to driver negligence are:
- Driver distraction
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Blind Spots
- Aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence of a substance
Causes of 18 Wheeler Truck wrecks due to company negligence include:
- Inadequate driver training
- Weight Distribution Uneven for Cargo Load
- Not performing required inspections
- Not keeping vehicles in good repair
- Pressuring drivers to work long hours
What are the Steps I Should Take After an 18 Wheeler Truck Accident?
1. Stop and Call 911
By law-All parties involved in a truck accident must remain at the scene of the crash. Firstly, make sure you are safe, and remove your car from the road, if possible. If you can turn on your hazards lights to make sure others can see the accident, and put flares and cones around the vehicle. This will help prevent another accident.
If there are any injuries or someone has died in the accident, call 911 immediately. In most circumstances, this will also dispatch the police who can help with gathering eyewitness accounts and creating a crash report. Once an officer arrives, he or she will assess the situation, fill out an accident report, and instruct you on what your next actions should be. Request a copy of the accident report to keep for your records and to present as evidence if you need to go to court over the accident.
2. Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, get a medical evaluation for yourself and your passengers because you might have suffered injuries that don’t show immediate symptoms. If you end up requiring medical attention later for an injury, it might be hard to demonstrate that it was related to the accident if you don’t get checked out by a professional. You also might have an injury like internal bleeding, which could be hard for you to know but a doctor will be able to diagnose.
Even if you’ve been examined by an emergency medical technician at the scene, request a full medical evaluation at a hospital or your doctor’s office.
Give attention to your own immediate needs, but also keep in mind that injuries and damage to other vehicles, or even to pedestrians, could exist, and may require assistance as well.
3. Identify Other Parties Involved
Look for any identifying marks or signs on the truck and other vehicles involved in the accident. While the truck driver may be at fault, the company he or she is driving for may also be liable for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. This information is important for making sure all potentially liable parties are held responsible for their role in causing the accident.
4. Exchange Information with the Other Parties
It is imperative to exchange information with the other parties while at the scene of the wreck. Once the other parties leave the scene of the accident, it can be impossible to track them down. Even if you have their name or the truck’s company name, contacting them can be difficult. They may refuse to speak to you at a later date. Getting their contact information from the start will make things easier if you choose to seek compensation.
Make sure to document the:
- Driver’s name, address, phone number, and email address
- Driver’s insurance company and policy information
- Driver’s license number for the driver of the truck
- Name and contact information for the truck driver’s employer
- The truck license plate number and other identifying information
5. Take Video, Photo, & Audio Evidence
The immediate crash scene in the moments after the accident provides the best opportunity to capture the all-important evidence to prove that you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. It also can show you are in a position to sue someone for wrongdoing.
Take photos of the accident with your phone or camera. Also of the intersections, skid marks, significant landmarks, and any other details that tell the story of what happened. A video may be your best form of evidence available since you provide still images from this footage. These photos can be used as evidence to prove who was at fault for the accident, the severity of your injuries, the amount of damage to your vehicle, and any other necessary information. It is hard to argue with photographic proof and photos can be used to make sense of an accident and determine exactly how it happened.
It might be dark and you may not have a pen. Audio recordings or video narration can offer a very helpful detailed option. As soon as possible, record an audio account of everything you remember.
Having this fresh record of the facts can be critical, as details can become blurred or can be forgotten with the passage of time. In some cases, truck crash lawsuits can take months or years to reach their conclusion. Keep these items safe for your records, and make backups. You may need to refer to them as you move forward with legal action.
6. Be Careful what you Say
You’ve probably heard the advice, “Whatever you do, don’t say it was your fault.” There’s some wisdom to this. You might feel angry that the truck driver caused an accident, but being rude to the other parties in the accident to the other drivers won’t get you anywhere. On the contrary, most of us tend to say things that we regret once we get agitated.
It’s far more effective to keep a cool head after an accident so that you can measure your words and avoid saying something that might hurt your case down the road. Don’t admit fault or liability. Even if you know you were at fault, keep it to yourself. Don’t lie, there is a time to disclose details. Save that conversation for your lawyer. You might be partially responsible, but there might be other factors that could reduce your liability and it’s your lawyer’s job to seek those factors.
7. Do Not Post On Social Media
If your truck accident was a major one, it could be newsworthy. You might see news articles on it, but resist the urge to comment.
Especially important, don’t post anything to your own social media networks that might indicate how you think the accident happened. Social media can cause legal issues later.
Even an innocent post like, “I was just in a wreck — I’m shaken but ok!” can be detrimental to your case in court.
Remember that anything you post online can appear in court or depositions. Even if you delete it, screenshots might exist, or someone might be called to testify if they are on your social media network. It’s always best to be discreet on social media if you’re potentially involved in any legal proceeding.
8. Call a Truck Accident Lawyer
Whether you were in the truck accident or you’re a family member of someone who was, getting a truck accident lawyer involved as soon as possible could be the key to your legal case. Truck Driver negligence the single most common reason for a truck accident. The attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs are dedicated to helping victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve. Reaching that goal requires a focused strategy.
It’s important to have an experienced truck accident attorney on your side who knows and fights big trucking conglomerates and insurance companies. These companies often pour huge sums of money into protecting their truckers. Going it alone is definitely not recommended in dealing with injuries from a serious truck accident where justice and thousands or even millions of dollars may be on the line.
Do not miss the deadline for filing a truck accident lawsuit called the Statute of Limitations.
9. Follow Medical Orders
You really need to take care of your health and follow all doctor’s protocols in the aftermath of a truck accident. This is important not just for you, but for the defense attorneys on the other side that are watching to make sure you actually attend these appointments and are genuinely injured. Not following the advice of doctors might make it look like you’re not really that hurt. Keep records of all medical visits and payments. You will need to include these with the evidence for your case.
Each truck accident lawyer on your case will conduct a thorough investigation of what happened, what evidence needs to be obtained, what experts need to be hired, and who is/are responsible for the collision. A skilled truck crash attorney can then demand maximum compensation for a significant truck accident injury or multiple semi-truck accident injuries and losses.
How Do Truck Accident Lawsuits Work?
When someone gets injured in a truck accident, it begins with filing a truck accident claim. These then are the basic steps of a lawsuit:
- Sign a written agreement with a truck accident law firm
- Be sure to only communicate through the truck law firm
- Discovery: the collection and investigation of the evidence
- Delivery of the injury demand letter
- Negotiation of a fair settlement
- Go to trial by judge and/or jury when negotiations fail
18 Wheeler Truck Accident Injuries? Our Law Firm Has Collected Over $1 Billion For Clients, Including Truck Accident Clients in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.
18 Wheeler Truck Accident Injury Types
Truck accident injuries can be catastrophic. Even if the wreck doesn’t kill the victim, oftentimes it leaves him or her with lifelong suffering and decreased quality of life from the injuries that they sustain. This suffering is tragic and unacceptable.
Common 18 Wheeler truck accident injuries include:
Head Injuries
Head trauma in an accident can result in an injury to the brain, which may be life-altering. Brain injuries can occur even in the absence of direct trauma to the head due to whiplash or rapid acceleration or deceleration. These injuries may not immediately be apparent, and sustaining a brain injury does not mean being knocked unconscious. Symptoms that may develop include confusion, nausea, vision problems, and various cognitive difficulties. Head injuries are some of the most heartbreaking injuries sustained in truck accidents, as they often cause loss of cognitive and motor functions. Some people will never be the same again after suffering a brain injury.
Broken Bones
Due to the blunt force trauma that occurs during truck accidents bones can easily break or shatter. A complete crushed bone or one that is broken into more than two pieces is common in truck accidents because of the massive force of impact. Bone fractures can occur anywhere on the body, from face to hands, ribs to arms, knees to feet.
Back and Neck Injuries
Back and neck injuries are extremely common with truck accidents because of the rapid back and forth motion that occurs when a car is hit. These injuries can include spinal cord injuries, whiplash, and dislocated discs. Complications can arise because of these injuries as well, leading to paralysis and life-long pain. The damage isn’t always initially apparent, which is why anyone who suffers an injury in a truck accident should always get medical attention as soon as possible. MRIs will detect injuries X-rays missed..
Burns
Burns are more commonly found in truck accidents than in collisions between passenger vehicles. This is because there is a greater likelihood that a semi truck’s fuel tank will rupture or causing a vehicle to catch on fire, which could lead to serious, disfiguring burns to the skin.
Internal Injuries
Truck accidents can also lead to internal injuries. Organs within the body can be damaged or lacerated, causing internal bleeding. These injuries are often difficult to treat and may cause life-long limitations.
Internal injuries can affect the: Lungs, Spleen, Bowel, Kidney, Stomach, or Heart.
Seat Belt and Airbag Injuries
Safety equipment such as seat belts and airbags are vital to helping save lives in accidents. However, the force of an accident can often lead to injuries caused by these safety devices.
Seat belts help hold the body in place during an accident to help prevent the passenger from being thrown from the vehicle. However, when the body is thrown against the seat belt, it can injure the chest or abdomen. Common seat belt injuries include broken ribs, bruising, shoulder injuries, abrasions, and lacerations.
Similarly, airbags deploy with great force – when this occurs, blunt trauma to the chest, head, neck, or back may result. The speed at which an airbag deploys can also cause abrasions or burns to the skin.
Wrongful Death
18 Wheeler Truck accidents are 10 times more likely to kill you than crashes with other cars. Such a disheartening fact. When a truck accident kills your loved one, only an experienced truck accident law firm can hold the trucking company responsible. We know we can never replace what you have lost, but we can seek the compensation necessary for your family to try to move forward.
CALL 855-777-7777 FOR A FREE CASE CONSULTATION.
A collision involving a big rig, semi-truck or commercial vehicle can be devastating. Darryl Isaacs — The Hammer — and the experienced truck accident attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs are here to listen to your important story, review your case free of charge, and develop a strategy to get you and your family the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us today to begin.
Safety Tips for Driving Near 18 Wheelers
Most of us drive alongside large tractor-trailers every day, always at risk of a crash. While it is the truck accident victims’ right to financial compensation after crashes, it is always best to avoid wrecks in the first place. It may be out of your control to stop negligence on the part of a truck driver or trucking company, but you can take every extra precaution when you approach or pass a large commercial truck. Some safety tips to remember:
- Trucks have blind spots on the sides, front, and back of the truck. Know the locations of their blind spots and do not stay in them. It’s generally safer to pass a truck quickly to avoid being in a blind spot alongside the trailer.
- Do not text & drive or any other distraction such as eating, grooming, etc. when you are near a big truck. (Actually, avoid distracted driving at ALL times.) Truck drivers regularly make unexpected lane changes and quick moves on the road, so you want to remain fully focused on the truck driver’s actions.
- Heavy trucks take much longer to stop, so don’t ever cut off a truck, or suddenly brake when you are in front of a truck. Never assume the truck will have plenty of time to brake and avoid hitting your vehicle.
- If you see an 18 wheeler swerving or any other signs of driving under the influence or erratic driving in a truck driver, stay as far away as possible from the truck and call 911 right away. Even if the driver is not drunk, they may be falling asleep or experiencing a major health event.
You have nothing to lose by following the above safety tips for driving around commercial vehicles. While Isaacs & Isaacs hopes that everyone gets where they’re going safely and without incident, we do know that truck accidents happen, and we’re ready to help in the aftermath of your crash.
MOST COMMON TYPES OF 18 WHEELER TRUCK ACCIDENTS
The weight and design elements of large commercial trucks make them susceptible to certain types of accidents more than others. The shape and size of 18 Wheelers result in specific accident types. Trucking companies should be aware of these accident types and train their drivers on how to avoid them. Failure to do so, resulting in a traffic collision, might be negligence. Here are some of the most common types of trucking accidents and their most frequent causes:
- Rollover. 18 Wheelers may roll over or turn on their sides if they take curves too fast, slide off the roadway, or brake incorrectly. A truck rollover is extremely dangerous for all involved and can result in a multi-vehicle collision on the highway. Driving at safe speeds can reduce the risk of rollover.
- Blind-spot accidents. 18 Wheeler trucks with long trailers have huge blind spots that can cause accidents. If a trucker does not check his or her mirrors carefully enough before making a lane change, he or she could merge on top of other vehicles.
- Jackknife. A jackknife trucking accident describes a case in which the trailer of the big rig swings out at a 90-degree angle, forming the shape of a jackknife with the cab. Truck drivers cannot control jackknifing trucks, which may collide with other vehicles or turn over. Drivers can prevent jackknifing with proper braking techniques in bad weather conditions or going down hills.
- Tire blowouts. If one or more of a truck’s 18 wheels blows out in transit, it can be catastrophic. The trucker might lose control of the vehicle and collide with others on the roadway, or the blowout could cause the truck to flip. Blowouts can result from debris in the roadway, manufacturing defects, or poor vehicle maintenance.
- Lost loads. Failure to properly secure cargo on a commercial truck could result in a dangerous lost load on the road. Materials falling from truck beds on the road can strike other vehicles, cause accidents, and kill drivers. It is the loading team’s job to properly secure cargo according to federal rules and regulations.
- Rear End. Rear-end collisions generally fall into 2 categories. Type 1: The big truck hits you from behind. Type 2: You hit the truck from behind. These deadly rear-end crashes could be reduced by 80 percent if vehicle manufacturers were required to install collision avoidance technology.
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What Compensation Could I be Entitled to?
If you are a victim of an 18 Wheeler Truck accident, your priority right now should be your health and recovery. Your accident-related medical expenses to pay for Truck accident injuries you endured can quickly pile up causing undue stress on a person. Hiring a Truck accident attorney like the knowledgeable truck accident lawyers at TruckAccidents.Law can help you get the compensation you need from an insurance company to cover expenses such as medical bills, rehabilitation, time lost from work, and any other costs that you might have encountered from the truck crash.
Payment for damages in a 18 Wheeler Truck accident settlement can help take care of:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Future lost earning potential
- Rehabilitative expenses
- Travel expenses for treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Death benefits, if your loved one passed away in a truck accident
The cost of being injured in an 18 Wheeler Truck accident can lead to expenses that last several days to months or years past the initial incident. At Isaacs & Isaacs, We want to make sure that you are eligible for the full amount of compensation you are entitled to in order to provide some relief for the future. Our truck accident attorneys have secured successful verdicts and multi-million dollar settlements for our clients. We fight for the best possible outcome with every client’s case we have. While we can’t guarantee any amount of money, we can tell you that many of our past clients have received huge amounts of money to pay for their accident-related expenses.
Laws governing Truckers and Trucking companies
Both federal and state laws establish certain standards that trucking companies and drivers must meet.
The relevant federal laws can be found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations (sometimes called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) are extensive and cover topics including:
- Driver qualifications
- Truck operation
- Vehicle repairs and maintenance
- Minimum insurance coverage
- Weigh stations
- Roadside inspections
- Compliance reviews
- Complaint investigations
- Trucking terminal audits
If you have been hit by an 18 Wheeler, you should immediately contact an experienced law firm familiar with insurance law and federal trucking safety laws to make sure all bases are covered and all defendants who may have contributed to your injuries are identified and claims are made to see that you receive full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Truck Accident Injuries? You are not alone.
Darryl Isaacs — The Hammer — and the team of big rig accident attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers has collected over 1 billion dollars for our clients , Including Truck Accident Cases in KY, IN and OH. Our firm’s dedicated team of attorneys handles cases where victims have been injured in a collision involving large semi-trucks, 18 wheelers, or commercial vehicles. You are not alone in dealing with challenging truck accident injuries.
YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE, DARRYL ISAACS BRINGS TO THE TABLE
PERCENT OF OUR CASES HAVE BEEN WON OR SETTLED
BILLION DOLLARS COLLECTED FOR OUR CLIENTS, INCLUDING TRUCK ACCIDENT CASES
OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD
DARRYL ISAACS, "THE HAMMER" -
MORE THAN 28 YEARS' EXPERIENCE GETTING YOU THE SETTLEMENT YOU DESERVE.
Isaacs & Isaacs - Truck Accident Lawyers
Darryl Isaacs — The Hammer — and the team of Cargo Truck accident attorneys at TruckAccidents.Law have a collective 346 years of legal experience, including taking on the conglomerate trucking companies. We win or settle 99% of our cases and have already recovered over $1 billion for clients in KY, IN, and OH.
Our team of lawyers has the experience to guide you through your legal claim.
SATISFIED CLIENT STORIES
“Isaacs and Isaacs made going through my accident stress free from start to finish. I knew I was in the right hands. The outcome was more then I imagined. If I had known how good of a job they did I would have went to them for past accidents. I learned really quick that Isaacs and Isaacs were not all talk. They sincerely care and work hard for you. They are the heavy hitters..”
“Being in an accident is already a traumatic experience to begin with and not knowing what to do next can also cause stress. The team there made the process smooth and painless. I live in another state and was visiting Kentucky when the accident occurred, even with the distance the process went smoothly. Thanks for all the help.”
A truck driver and trucking company that are negligent and cause a truck accident crash can be made to compensate you for all of your losses if they are found liable. This includes medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and payment for damages arising from emotional distress. If death results from the accident, then the family members of the deceased may file a lawsuit for wrongful death damages.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a truck accident, our experienced team at Isaacs & Isaacs can help you to file a case and seek the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how we can assist you in taking legal action after a Truck crash, give us a call today at our toll-free number or use our free evaluation form.