Personal Injury Lawyer

Truck accidents occur every day in the U.S. and are more likely to cause life-threatening injuries than accidents with passenger cars. If you have recently been injured in a truck accident, it’s important to educate yourself about truck accident law to protect your legal rights. There are many myths circling around truck accidents that victims believe.

Here are some common myths about truck accidents you shouldn’t believe.

Truck Driver Sustain as Serious Injuries as Other Victims

This isn’t true. The drivers and passengers of passenger vehicles have a greater risk of suffering life-threatening injuries than truck drivers. Passenger vehicles are much smaller than commercial trucks and offer less protection. Some of the most common injuries victims of truck accidents suffer include head injuries, burns, paralysis and internal organ damage.

Trucking Companies Aren’t Responsible for Accidents Caused by Their Drivers

It’s another common misconception that trucking companies don’t take any liability for accidents their drivers cause. If a trucking company’s negligence contributed to the accident, they most certainly will be held liable. For example, if the company failed to provide adequate training to a new truck driver and that driver cause an accident, the company would be held responsible. A trucking company can also be held liable for an accident if it failed to regularly inspect their vehicles and order necessary repairs.

You Can Count on the Insurance Company to Fairly Compensate You

While it would be nice if this were true, it often isn’t the case. Insurance companies in the business of making money and may likely try to offer a settlement that’s much less than you deserve. That’s why you should never accept an insurance company’s settlement offer being speaking to an experienced truck accident lawyer. Your lawyer will have your best interests at heart and won’t let the insurance take advantage of you.

It Will Take Years to Settle a Truck Accident Lawsuit

While some truck accident lawsuits can take a while to settle, most of them settle in a matter of months. This is because the majority of claims never make it to trial. Insurance companies would rather settle before that instead of spending extra money to go to court.

Truck Drivers Rarely Cause Accidents Because of Fatigue

Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration prohibits truck drivers from driving too many hours in a row, not all of them follow this rule. Some drivers ignore these regulations in order to make more money. That’s why a good number of truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue. When truck drivers are running on little sleep, they can’t focus on the road ahead and are more likely to cause accidents.

If you were injured in a truck accident, it’s important to speak to a truck accident lawyer in Abingdon, VA. We encourage you to contact law firm today for a consultation.

Thanks to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt for their insight into personal injury claims and common myths about truck accidents.