How to Choose a Truck Accident Lawyer Picking a truck accident lawyer differs from picking a lawyer for a minor car crash. Tractor-trailer claims tend to involve federal safety regulations, electronic evidence and multiple insurance policies, and the trucking company frequently has lawyers and investigators working on the crash from the first days. These questions can make a first consultation more productive. Check the license and the record Before meeting a truck cr
What FMCSA and NHTSA Data Show About Truck Accidents
What FMCSA and NHTSA Data Show About Large Truck Crashes Federal crash data gives a national picture of how often large trucks are involved in serious crashes. The figures below come from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and each is labeled with its year. A tractor-trailer crash lawyer may cite figures like these for background, but statistics describe patterns across many crashes, not wh
Truck Accident Claim Timeline: From the Crash to Settlement
The Timeline of a Tractor-Trailer Crash Claim Truck accident claims move through stages that may take months or even years. Some deadlines belong to the trucking company, such as how long it has to keep certain records, while others apply to the injured person, such as the statute of limitations. A truck accident attorney can explain where a given claim sits in this sequence, though no two claims follow the same path. The first hours and days Emergency care comes firs
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Tractor-Trailer Crash?
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident? Unlike many car crashes, a semi-truck crash often involves several potentially responsible parties. The driver, the trucking company, the trailer owner, the shipper that loaded the freight and the maker of a failed part may all play a role. Working out who is legally responsible is an early task for a truck accident attorney, because each party may carry its own insurance. The driver's conduct The starting point is usually the driver
Underride and Jackknife Crashes: Causes and Evidence
Underride and Jackknife Crashes: Causes and Evidence Underride and jackknife crashes are two kinds of tractor-trailer collisions that frequently cause severe injuries. An underride crash happens when a smaller vehicle slides partly or completely beneath a trailer or truck body. A jackknife occurs when the tractor and trailer fold toward each other, often blocking several lanes. Each raises its own evidence questions for an 18-wheeler accident lawyer. What makes underride
Truck Accident Statistics From FMCSA and NHTSA Data
What FMCSA and NHTSA Data Show About Large Truck Crashes National crash data shows how often large trucks are involved in serious crashes. The figures below come from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and each one is tied to its data year. A tractor-trailer crash lawyer might use figures like these for context, but statistics describe patterns across many crashes rather than what happened
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Hiring an auto accident lawyer is easier with a short list of questions. Some crashes involve a single insurer and a modest property claim, while others bring serious injuries, several policies and disputed fault. These questions can make a first meeting more productive, whatever the size of the claim. Start with the license Before the first meeting, check the basics. Every state bar or licensing agency offers a way
Liability in Tractor-Trailer Crash Claims Explained A crash involving a tractor-trailer often has more than one responsible party. The driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the company that loaded the cargo and the manufacturer of a defective part can each play a role. Identifying every responsible party is an early job for a truck accident lawyer, because each responsible party may have separate insurance. The truck driver The starting point is usua