In a collision between a heavy truck and a passenger vehicle, it is far more likely for occupants of the passenger car or light truck to be seriously injured or killed than it is for the truck driver to be hurt.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says of 104,000 people injured in crashes involving heavy trucks and passenger vehicles in a recent year, 73 percent of people injured were in passenger vehicles, 24 percent were truck occupants, and 4 percent were not motor vehicle occupants, such as pedestrians and bicyclists. In fatal accidents, 73 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles, 18 percent were commercial truck occupants and 10 percent were not vehicle occupants.
Large truck wrecks often cause serious and debilitating injuries. Those who have been injured in commercial truck accidents caused by someone else may deserve compensation for the costs of their injuries and other losses, as well as for pain and suffering. Kraft & Associates, P.C., investigates and litigates commercial trucks accidents on behalf of individuals who have been injured and families who have lost loved ones in accidents involving commercial trucks in Dallas in and throughout North Texas.
Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, P.C., advise you about your rights after serious injuries in a truck accident. Please call us at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online.
It is not hard to understand why occupants of passenger cars and light trucks are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries, if not death, if they are hit by a tractor-trailer or other heavy truck. A tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when loaded. A large truck going 70 mph hits with twice the impact of a car that is traveling at 50 mph.
Trucks also have greater ground clearance than cars, which allows lower-riding vehicles to slide beneath truck trailers with potentially deadly consequences. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says rear guards are meant to stop “underride,” but IIHS research shows that guards meeting federal safety standards fail even at relatively low speeds.
Among the many personal injuries frequently suffered in truck accidents are:
Individuals who suffer serious injuries in truck accidents often face millions of dollars in medical bills over the course of their lives. In addition, they are likely to lose income from not being able to work during their recovery or, in some cases, ever again.
After a truck accident, it is possible that a seriously injured accident victim will quickly receive what at first looks like a generous settlement offer from the truck driver’s or trucking company’s insurance company. However, it is also likely that this offer is far too low and that, by accepting it, the accident victims gives up his or right to seek full compensation from those responsible for the accident.
Never sign anything offered by an insurance company after a serious truck accident without the advice of an experienced truck accident attorney. Kraft & Associates, P.C., conducts independent investigations of crashes to determine the full extent of our clients’ losses and to develop solid cases against all parties who should be held accountable. We then work diligently and aggressively to maximize claims for our clients.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a commercial truck accident, or you have lost a family member in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be eligible to obtain compensation for your losses. The attorneys of Kraft & Associates in Dallas have decades of experience obtaining compensation for clients who have suffered serious injuries in commercial trucking accidents.
The legal team at Kraft & Associates, P.C., has the resources necessary to fully investigate your truck accident injuries and bring solid claims against all responsible parties. Do not sign anything offered by an insurance company or trucking company lawyers before meeting with us. Phone (214) 999-9999, email us at kraftlaw@kraftlaw.com, or complete our online form for a free assessment of your case today.
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