Semi-trucks play an important part in our economy. Unfortunately, they also pose a significant risk to the safety of others on the road. Most truck drivers are responsible professionals, but it only takes one reckless action to change your life forever.
Semi-trucks are significantly larger than the average vehicle on the road, and the damage they are capable of causing is massive. If you were injured in a collision with a large commercial vehicle or semi-truck, a Lafayette semi-truck accident lawyer can help.
For over a century, Vaughan & Vaughan has represented accident victims and helped them get the compensation they need. Contact our Lafayette truck accident lawyers to schedule a free case review.
Who Is Liable for a Semi-Truck Accident in Lafayette?
Following a semi-truck accident, you will likely be looking to recover fair compensation for the losses you sustained. However, before you can do so, you must first figure out who is liable. The at-fault party could be the truck driver, the trucking company, or another driver.
Fortunately, you don’t have to attempt to prove fault on your own. To navigate this complex process and get the compensation you deserve, consider seeking the guidance of an experienced Lafayette personal injury lawyer.
An experienced semi-truck accident attorney in Lafayette can help you figure out who is responsible for your damages. Your lawyer can sort through all the confusion so that you can begin the process of recovering compensation.
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How Much Is a Semi-Truck Accident Worth?
Following a semi-truck accident, you will need to determine which damages you can pursue to ensure you recover the maximum amount for your losses. Some damages are easily identifiable, while others can be far more difficult to assess.
You may not even realize that you can recover compensation for some types of damages. This is one of the most important reasons to talk to a skilled attorney before agreeing to a settlement.
When you hire a semi-truck accident lawyer in Lafayette, they can help you determine which damages apply to your case. All of the damages you can recover can be divided into three main categories.
Economic Damages
Any losses you sustained that resulted in a negative impact on your financial situation are considered economic damages. Medical bills are one example. Some other frequently claimed economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning ability
- Property damage
- The cost of medical treatments due to your accident
- Specialist medical care, such as physical therapy
- Long-term medical costs due to catastrophic injury
- Future medical expenses
- Any money paid to accomplish daily tasks that your injuries prevent you from doing yourself
- Wrongful death damages in extreme cases
Non-Economic Damages
All the other losses you endure because of your accident can be considered non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are often significant and can have a profound impact on accident victims. Some of the most frequently claimed non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Lowered quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the liable party in hopes of deterring similar behavior in the future.
A court awards punitive damages, and they would not be part of an ordinary settlement. In Indiana, there is a specific cap set for the amount you can recover. Your attorney can advise on whether punitive damages may apply to your case.
Punitive damages are only used in extreme cases. For a judge to award these damages, the at-fault party must have either been criminally negligent or behaved in a manner where they were deliberately attempting to cause harm to others.
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How a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
When you hire a Lafayette semi-truck accident attorney, they will begin working on your behalf to help you get the money you need for your damages. While every case is different, here are some of the actions you may expect:
Offer Legal Advice
When we discuss your case during your initial consultation, we want to understand what happened. We’ll ask many questions, and we hope you will have questions for us as well. We want you to understand your rights and how to choose the best path forward.
Investigate Your Accident
One of the first things your attorney will likely do is investigate your accident. We want to identify the responsible party and gather evidence to help build a strong compensation claim. We may review police reports and witness statements or investigate the scene itself.
Assess Damages
Once our investigation has concluded, your lawyer will review your damages and calculate a fair settlement. We’ll consider things like medical expenses, lost wages, and possibly even pain and suffering.
Your attorney will then file an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Your attorney will pursue a fair settlement by negotiating with insurance companies to attempt to secure a favorable settlement. If all goes well, settlement negotiations will get the money you need.
We prefer to find a path to getting the compensation you deserve at the negotiating table. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. If we can’t agree on a fair settlement, we’ll fight for your rights in court.
Represent You in Court
If you choose to pursue a lawsuit for your truck crash injuries, the next step will be for your attorney to begin the pretrial process. After going through all of the steps of the pretrial process, we’ll represent you in civil court.
During this time, we may continue to negotiate for a fair offer. You have already been through enough, and the easier we can make this for you, the better.
Statute of Limitations for a Lafayette Truck Accident
Indiana generally gives semi-truck accident victims two years where you can sue for being hit by a semi-truck. If you don’t submit your paperwork within this period, you may lose your right to pursue maximum compensation from the liable party.
While the statute of limitations is often unforgiving, exceptions may apply to your case that could alter the amount of time you have to file. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, this could mean that you would be able to pursue a lawsuit after the statute of limitations expires.
However, an exception to the statute of limitations can also have the opposite effect. For example, when pursuing a lawsuit against a government entity, you will likely have months rather than years to file with the court. The best way to protect yourself and your right to recover money is by hiring a semi-truck accident lawyer soon after your crash.
Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
Like car accidents, truck accidents can occur in an almost limitless variety of ways. Here are a few of the most common reasons for commercial trucking accidents:
- Driver fatigue: Commercial drivers may work long hours to meet deadlines, which can reduce reaction times and cause traffic accidents.
- Distracted driving: Using a phone, eating and driving, or focusing on dashboard instruments are all forms of distracted driving that can lead to devastating accidents.
- Dangerous road conditions: Most commercial drivers know how to operate safely in snow, ice, and rain, but some drive recklessly and ignore road conditions.
- Mechanical failures: In cases of equipment failure, the negligent part may be the trucking or maintenance company rather than the driver.
- Failure to obey traffic laws: Fatal truck accidents occur when truck drivers ignore traffic laws and drive recklessly.
- Inexperienced drivers: Drivers who lack the training or experience to manage large commercial vehicles can cause tremendous damage.
- Aggressive driving: Aggressive and reckless truck drivers can cause serious accidents and severe injuries.
Get a Free Consultation From a Semi-Truck Accident Attorney in Lafayette Today
Choosing the right lawyer can be essential after a Lafayette truck accident. You need an attorney with experience handling cases like yours and a history of winning favorable outcomes for their clients.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, our team of experienced semi-truck accident lawyers in Lafayette has a winning record of securing favorable case results by our Indiana injury law firm. We have been helping victims of truck accidents get the money they need for decades.
Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a member of our legal team. We will discuss your options for pursuing compensation.
