You may take every precaution to drive safely, but sometimes accidents still happen. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should be able to focus on your recovery and not worry about how to pay for medical bills.
Accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks have key differences from those involving passenger vehicles. Damage to your vehicle and the severity of the personal injury is much greater, but so is the potential settlement. Here is what you need to know if you are injured in a trucking accident.
Damage
Because tractor-trailers are so much larger than your family car, accidents involving them are often more severe than other traffic incidents. A crash involving a fifty-thousand-pound truck has a high chance of totaling your vehicle. Additionally, injuries and fatalities are more common in 18-wheeler accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2019 vehicle crashes involving large trucks resulted in over 4,000 deaths. The severity of the damage, however, means potential compensation is greater than other kinds of accidents.
Settlements
Trucking companies often have their own insurance adjusters and will try to settle a case without making an insurance claim. This could mean you need to fight to get the settlement you deserve. By working with an attorney who understands the laws surrounding your case, you can settle quicker than you would on your own. In general, motor vehicle injuries involving an 18-wheeler truck pay out the highest settlements. It is worthwhile then to have someone on your side to advocate for you.
Understanding what makes a semi-truck accident unique can help you get on the road to recovery sooner and get the settlement you deserve.
