The injuries and damage caused by 18-wheelers and tractor trailers are often more severe than the injuries and damage caused by smaller cars, trucks, and SUVs. If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Norristown or the surrounding areas, it is likely that you may have suffered serious damages that require compensation.
The damages you face for medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering may be substantial. The best way to get these damages compensated is often to file a lawsuit against the trucking company and the driver who injured you. For more information about how to file a lawsuit and to get your claim started with a free legal consultation, contact The Reiff Law Firm’s Norristown, PA truck accident lawyers today at (215) 709-6940.
Suing for a Truck Accident in Norristown, PA
The law allows you to file an injury lawsuit under many circumstances. People commonly think of insurance claims as the main process to seek compensation for an auto accident, but auto insurance claims often fail to cover full damages after an accident. Car insurance often pays only a portion of the compensation you deserve for medical expenses and lost wages, and car insurance does not cover compensation for pain and suffering. Instead, you should consider filing a lawsuit to seek full compensation.
The damages you claim in a Norristown truck accident lawsuit can cover the full cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic damages you faced. These damages can be proved by producing medical bills, bank statements, pay stubs, and other evidence of the costs you faced because of the accident. You can also claim damages for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering. These damages might not be as easy to prove with paperwork and records, but your testimony of how the injury affects your life can help prove these damages. Pain and suffering is often one of the highest areas of damages for accident victims.
When you sue for a truck accident, you can usually sue both the driver and the trucking company they work for. An employer is usually responsible for an employee’s negligence if it occurs during their normal working hours and within the scope of their duties on the job. Truck accidents are usually squarely within these rules, and trucking companies can be made to pay for their employee’s negligent truck accidents.
Trucking companies may have also committed other errors in their own right. If you were injured because of maintenance problems with the truck, those usually fall under the trucking company’s responsibilities. Additionally, if the company hired a bad driver or kept a bad driver on staff despite a record of DUI or serious driving violations, they could be personally responsible for negligent hiring or retention.
Trucking Regulations that Help Truck Accident Victims in Norristown, PA
Many trucking regulations promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) help victims in case of an accident. These rules are written to protect the rights and safety of others on the road, so violations of these rules can typically help you prove how exactly the trucking company or the trucker was negligent in causing the accident. Many trucking regulations that help the victims of serious truck accidents deal with hours limitations, truck driver health and safety, and maintenance standards.
Truck drivers are required to follow certain limitations on the hours they can work. These regulations control both the trucking company in how many hours they can assign and the trucker in how many hours they can drive or stay on duty. Some trucking companies have historically been caught violating these standards, forcing drivers to work overtime. Overworked truck drivers are not as safe, and they may become tired or distracted after long trucking runs, possibly leading to serious trucking accidents.
The rules governing driver health and safety are also there to protect potential victims from dangerous drivers. Every truck driver who wants to work in the U.S. must pass a physical and must be free of significant health issues that would affect their driving. Even issues like diabetes could disqualify a truck driver since they could become lightheaded or pass out from low blood sugar. There are also strict safety requirements barring drivers who have a history of certain traffic violations.
Trucking companies are usually the ones who repair and maintain the vehicles, and so they must follow certain safety and equipment standards. The most common violations trucking companies commit deal with weight, cargo distribution and loading, lighting malfunctions, and tire malfunctions. Many trucking companies retread old tires instead of buying new ones. This is legal in some situations, but it may lead to worn-down tread and even exploding tires, causing potentially serious accidents.
Talk to a Norristown Truck Accident Lawyer about Your Case
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Norristown or the surrounding areas, contact our Norristown truck accident injury attorneys today. The truck accident lawyers at The Reiff Law Firm devote their time and energy to helping the victims of serious auto accidents get compensation they need to pay for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering. To schedule a free consultation on your potential claim, contact our law offices today at (215) 709-6940.
