Causes of Truck Accidents

Just like other motorists, operators of large trucks and tractor-trailers have a duty to drive safely and responsibly under the circumstances. When they fail to do so and cause an accident with another vehicle, you can hold them and their insurance company responsible.

In addition to negligent truck drivers, you can hold the trucking company that employs a negligent driver fully or partially liable for the resulting injuries and damages.

If you or someone you love recently suffered injuries in a truck accident, consult an experienced Edmonton truck accident lawyer near you as soon as possible. Your lawyer can promptly evaluate your accident circumstances, review your legal options, and file the appropriate claim or lawsuit.

Additionally, your lawyer can answer all of your questions and provide you with the information necessary to make crucial decisions about settlement or litigation in your case.

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Why do Truck Accidents Occur?

Truck accidents frequently occur when truck drivers and trucking companies make mistakes.

First, negligent truck drivers violate common traffic laws by speeding, failing to use their turn signals, failing to use their side view mirrors, and failing to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle or pedestrian at the proper time.

A truck accident may also occur when another driver engages in distracted driving. A truck driver may become distracted if they look at a cell phone while driving, program a GPS, or listen to loud music in the cab of their vehicle.

When a truck driver turns their head away from the road for any reason, they may fail to see a nearby motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian, negligently causing a severe accident. When a truck driver transports tons of heavy materials in a large vehicle, they cannot afford distractions.

Truck accidents can also occur when truck drivers and trucking companies deviate from provincial and federal motor carrier regulations. These regulations set load limits, prescribe the proper procedures for loading and unloading materials onto vehicles, and establish guidelines for adequately securing cargo to a trailer.

When a truck driver or trucking company employee fails to follow these regulations, the load may slide off the truck and into the road, causing another vehicle to strike it. Alternatively, the unbalanced cargo may make the truck top-heavy, resulting in a truck rollover accident.

A truck accident may also happen when a driver becomes fatigued while behind the wheel. Many truck drivers will drive for hours on end without stopping to take frequent rest breaks.

Drivers often pursue this course of action when trucking companies offer them financial incentives to deliver their cargo to its final destination ahead of schedule. However, when a driver becomes fatigued, they often lose their ability to drive attentively, and they bring about a serious accident.

Moreover, if a drowsy truck driver falls asleep at the wheel, they will lose control of their truck, crashing into other vehicles.

A truck accident can also occur when a driver operates their vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Most passenger vehicle operators are legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches a level of 0.08 percent or more. However, a zero-tolerance policy applies to commercial drivers concerning drunk or drugged driving.

Whenever a truck driver comes under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may be unable to pay sufficient time and attention to the road. Moreover, they may speed, drive erratically, or weave in and out of busy traffic.

Alcohol intoxication can lead to various physical and mental symptoms, including blurred vision, delayed reflexes, delayed reaction time, lack of muscular coordination, and poor judgment.

Finally, some truck accidents happen when drivers exhibit road rage or drive recklessly. A truck driver may drive recklessly to get ahead of other traffic. However, when a truck driver aggressively tailgates other vehicles, weaves through traffic without using a turn signal, or speeds, they significantly increase their chances of causing an accident, which leads to severe injuries.

What are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?

When truck drivers and trucking companies commit negligent acts, they may bring about several different types of truck accidents.

One common truck accident is a rear-end collision, where the front of a large truck or tractor-trailer hits the back portion of another motor vehicle. These accidents commonly occur when truck drivers speed or fail to leave sufficient stopping distance between the front of their vehicle and the back of another vehicle.

Another common truck accident is a sideswipe accident, where a truck driver negligently causes the side of their truck to strike the side of another vehicle moving in the same direction. These accidents typically occur when truck drivers do not pay attention to the road or aggressively attempt to get ahead of other traffic.

A truck jackknife accident happens when the trailer portion of the vehicle and the tractor portion fold in towards one another, resembling the shape of a jackknife. When a massive truck moves this way, it may skid forward or down a steep hill and strike multiple vehicles.

A T-bone or broadside accident happens when a truck driver fails to yield the right-of-way at a traffic intersection, highway exit, or highway merge lane. In this type of accident, the front of a truck strikes the side of a vehicle travelling on an intersecting roadway.

Truck rollover accidents happen when a tractor-trailer becomes top-heavy or speeds around a sharp curve, causing the vehicle to fully or partially overturn in the middle of the road. When a truck rolls over, other vehicles might collide with the overturned truck, causing multiple accidents and injuries.

Finally, a head-on collision happens when the front of a large truck strikes the front of an oncoming vehicle, usually where the truck driver negligently passes another vehicle in a no-passing zone or otherwise causes the vehicle to swerve into oncoming traffic.

If you suffered injuries in one of these truck accidents that a negligent truck driver caused, consult a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer near you as quickly as possible.

Your lawyer can review your legal options and select the best choice for your case and circumstances. Then, your lawyer may file a truck accident claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on your behalf and pursue a favourable settlement in your case.

You must seek the proper medical treatment if you suffered any of these injuries in a truck accident. For example, you might undergo surgery to repair a broken bone. Additionally, you may consult a medical specialist or undergo physical therapy sessions for a soft tissue injury.

By completing all of your medical treatment, you show the insurance company that your injuries are severe and that you deserve favourable monetary compensation for all your accident-related losses.

It is also essential that you consult a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer right away. Your lawyer can explore the various legal options available, file a claim with the responsible truck driver or trucking company’s insurer, or file a lawsuit and litigate your in court.

Monetary Damages in a Truck Accident

If you sustained injuries in a truck accident that a negligent driver caused, you may be eligible for various types of monetary compensation. Since every truck accident case is different, accident victims routinely receive varying types and amounts of monetary damages.

The compensation award you receive will likely depend on the severity of your injuries, the nature and extent of your medical treatment, and the amount of your lost earnings.

First, an injured accident victim may be eligible for compensation for lost income and loss of earning capacity. In addition, they can pursue compensation for their intangible losses, including mental suffering, physical pain, loss of the ability to use a body part, loss of life enjoyment, permanent disability or disfigurement, and loss of spousal companionship and consortium.

Your lawyer can ballpark the value of your case, given the nature and extent of your injuries and your medical treatment. Your lawyer will then do everything possible to maximize the total monetary award you receive for your injuries.

Filing a Truck Accident Claim or Lawsuit

An experienced truck accident lawyer in your area can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company on your behalf and handle every step of the claims-filing process.

The documents supporting a claim may include:

• Medical treatment records.
• Lost income documentation.
• Injury photographs.
• Property damage photographs.
• Any available video footage of the truck accident.

The insurance company will evaluate these documents and use them to gauge the approximate monetary value of your case.

If an insurance company adjuster offers to resolve your case through settlement, never accept it until your truck accident lawyer reviews it. First-time settlement offers from insurance company adjusters are usually far less than the actual value of a personal injury case.

As a general rule, insurance companies do not want to pay accident victims significant amounts of money. Consequently, they will always start their settlement negotiations low and may only work up to a fair number with negotiation.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can aggressively negotiate for favourable settlement compensation on your behalf or threaten the insurance company with litigation if they refuse to compensate you reasonably for your injuries.

To increase your likelihood of recovering favourable monetary compensation, your lawyer may point to pertinent medical evidence in your case, expert reports, and other documents that are part of the settlement demand package.

If litigation becomes necessary, your lawyer can file a lawsuit in the court system and handle every aspect of the discovery process for you. If the defence lawyer notes your deposition, your lawyer can represent you at that deposition and can place certain objections on the record.

Your lawyer can then represent you at other legal proceedings, including settlement conferences, jury trials, or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings in your case.

Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you suffered injuries in a recent truck accident, involve a skilled truck accident lawyer in your case as quickly as possible. Accident victims must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of their truck accident. Otherwise, the courts will prevent them from receiving the monetary compensation they deserve.

A skilled Edmonton personal injury lawyer in your area can immediately start working on your case by investigating the accident circumstances, reviewing police reports, and filing a claim with the responsible truck driver or trucking company’s insurer.

A lawyer can then aggressively pursue settlement talks with the insurance company adjuster or focus on litigating your case to an efficient and successful resolution in court.

A trusted lawyer will evaluate your options for compensation at no cost, so never delay in beginning the process after a truck crash.