TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS SERVING BOISE & MERIDIAN, IDAHO

Truck accidents involving 18 wheelers, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles tend to be particularly damaging and costly due to the sheer physics of these collisions. Unfortunately, the number of fatalities attributed to trucking accidents is on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2018, 4,678 people died in collisions with large trucks. Less than 20% of those who lose their lives are the truck occupants themselves.

If you or your loved one survive such an accident, you may be in considerable pain, unable to work indefinitely, and burdened by egregiously expensive medical bills. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you receive fair compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain, and other losses.

What You Need to Know
About Semi-Truck Accidents

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the NHTSA, truck accidents can be the result of a number of factors including:

• Brake problems

• Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)

• Prescription drug use

• Traveling too fast for conditions

• Unfamiliarity with roadway

• Roadway problems

• Failing to stop at a traffic control device or crosswalk

• Over-the-counter drug use

• Inadequate surveillance

• Fatigue

Depending on the situation, liability has the potential to fall on the driver of the truck, the mechanic tasked with working on the vehicle, or the owner of the trucking business. If the owner is guilty of negligent training or hiring, he or she has failed to adequately prepare the driver in question to transport thousands of pounds of cargo in a truly safe manner. Furthermore, if the road or highway where the accident occurred was not properly maintained, it might be possible to prove governmental liability.

Steps to Take After an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident

There are several steps that an injured individual should take immediately following a trucking accident that will help their personal injury claim:

1. Obtain medical assistance right away. Your health and well-being is of primary concern so see your physician or visit a nearby emergency room. Be sure to obtain a copy of the medical report detailing the extent of your injuries and administered treatment. Documentation is key in building your case. Furthermore, the doctor’s writeup of your injuries in the aftermath of a truck accident will help establish a causal relationship between the collision and your injuries.

2. Contact law enforcement. A responding officer will document the accident in a formal report. Ideally, this report will include images of the damage to the vehicle and your person. The police should also record the names and contact information of witnesses.

3. Document a personal account of what occurred. If you are able to document a personal account of what happened on your own, do so as soon as possible to capture important details that may later be forgotten.

4. Hire experienced legal counsel. Successfully navigating a personal injury claim is not an easy task. Hiring a personal injury attorney, experienced in trucking accidents, can help you obtain a fair settlement to deal with the financial burden caused by the accident.

Idaho Personal Injury Attorneys

The Shep Law Group, respected Idaho personal injury attorneys, will help you investigate the details of your accident, process critical paperwork, and negotiate with insurance companies. Whether you are the victim of a serious truck accident or fighting on behalf of a loved one, we will handle your case with the professionalism and care that our clients count on.