Why You Need an Experienced Trucking Accident Attorney

Episode 125: In today's episode, Calloway County trucking accident attorney Jeff Roberts explains accidents involving a tractor trailer are much more complicated than those only involving passenger vehicles. Jeff has over 33 years of experience handling motor vehicle accident cases, all across Kentucky. Truck Wreck Injuries Are Often Much More Severe Normally, if an 18-wheeler collides with a passenger car, the resulting injuries are extremely serious, and sometimes end up being traffic fatalities . The truck is so much larger than a normal automobile that the mass and force in a collision cause catastrophic damage. The Rules Are Different for Truckers If the trucking company travels across state lines, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act rules, procedures, guidelines and other safety protocols would apply to the truck driver. These can also apply based on the weight of the tractor trailer and its load. The attorney you hire to handle a wreck involving a tractor trailer needs to be extremely familiar with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and how it applies in your specific situation. There are other issues, including potentially multiple at-fault parties. Beyond just the truck driver, the trucking company, the company responsible to providing preventative maintenance on the vehicle, the company that loaded the trailer, and others could be named in the lawsuit. Successfully negotiating or litigating your case will depend on what your attorney can prove based on the evidence, expert testimony and other important factors. Given the number of parties that may be involved in a trucking accident, you'll want an attorney with significant trial experience and confidence in the courtroom. Trucking Companies Have Emergency Response Teams These teams aren't first responders heading to the accident scene to render aid. These response teams are quickly deployed to gather evidence and to begin building a story as to why the truck driver wasn't responsible for the collision. Evidence such as weather conditions, skid marks and debris patterns are valuable, forensic evidence. These pieces of evidence look different several days or weeks after the truck wreck. Photos taken might involve specific angles meant to influence what the image purportedly shows. These omissions are meant to deflect potential negligence claims from the truck driver. Unfortunately, if your attorney doesn't have accident reconstruction experts, the only preserved evidence might be from the trucking company's own response team. There's a chance the state troopers and their investigative experts will also collect forensic evidence for the police report. Springtime Means Road Construction Is Underway Road construction zone accidents can be extremely serious. Construction zones are risky for the workers, but also for cars traveling though the zones. Heavy equipment, including dump trucks may be entering or exiting the roadway. These trucks can't stop as quickly as passenger cars. It's important you leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles, when you're in a construction zone. It's also important that you make sure there's plenty of room between you and the tractor trailer or dump truck, before changing lanes. If you were to have to stop suddenly, the larger truck won't be able to come to a safe stop in a relatively short distance. Traffic Fatalities from Trucking Accidents Attorney Jeff Roberts has discussed traffic fatalities in a number of podcast episodes. The risk is increase if a semi or other large truck is involved in the traffic accident. Wrongful death cases are difficult for attorneys because they realize the loss the family has experienced. An attorney handling a wrongful death case knows they are carrying the responsibility for pursuing justice on their shoulders. Safe driving is one of the best defenses you can have to protect yourself and your passengers. One way you can do this is to allow more room between your car and other vehicles on the road

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