Is a Truck Accident Lawyer Different from Other Types Lawyers?

Pursuing a claim against a trucking company is unlike filing a car accident case. Winning a truck accident case requires specialized knowledge and experience that many lawyers claim to have but do not possess in reality. Consequently, you should consider aligning yourself with a highly experienced and dedicated truck accident lawyer to file a claim on your behalf.

Several differences separate truck accidents from any other type of accident. The trucking industry in the United States is highly regulated by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. These laws impose strict safety standards on the trucking industry. Passenger car drivers do not have to abide by federal safety standards. The average person driving their car has no greater responsibility than to ensure the safety features of their car work and that they obey the rules of the road.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces the strict regulations imposed on the trucking industry. The government heavily regulates the trucking industry because of the dangers inherent to others when sharing the road with 80,000-pound vehicles. Truckers must follow regulations that establish:

- Hours of service restrictions;
- Health restrictions; and
- Safe operation protocols.

All the regulations in play create an intricate legal framework which a dedicated truck accident lawyer understands and knows how to use to help a truck accident victim maximize their financial recovery. Attorneys who lack a full understanding of the trucking industry’s regulatory scheme could overlook a legal issue and hurt their client’s chances of receiving financial compensation.

According to one Fort Worth truck accident lawyer, another difference between truck crashes and car crashes relates to injury severity. Victims of truck crashes often sustain catastrophic injuries if they are lucky enough to survive the crash. Truck crash injuries can be devastating, permanent injuries that can change the victim’s life and the victim’s family members’ lives forever.

 
Car accidents can kill and often do. Fortunately, the number of fatal car crashes declines annually thanks to modern safety features that increase the survivability of many wrecks. The size and weight disparity between a large truck and a typical passenger car, even one as large as a full-sized SUV, generates massive forces that safety measures cannot withstand. Additionally, large trucks need a 20% to 40% longer distance than an average car to stop in time to avoid a collision.

Victims of truck accidents suffer injuries such as:

- Traumatic brain injury,
- Spinal cord injury,
- Paralysis,
- Amputation,
- Broken or fractured bones,
- Scarring, and
- Wrongful death.

Any of these injuries could irrevocably alter a person’s life. The rehabilitation and recovery period is long and arduous for many truck crash victims. Truck accident victims often must remain out of work for long stretches, if they are able to return to work at all. Losing out on a loved one’s financial contribution, coupled with caring for an injured truck accident victim, places a heavy burden on the victim’s family members.

Insurance defense lawyers who defend trucking companies have a significant amount of experience. They have a thorough understanding of the trucking industry and know how to defend their clients successfully. Having a lawyer who has minimal experience fighting for truck accident victims could be detrimental to your case.

You need a seasoned trucking accident injury attorney to match the skill and experience of trucking industry defense lawyers. An experienced truck accident injury lawyer will know where to look for evidence and how to preserve it. Additionally, an experienced truck lawyer will have the resources to match industry defense attorneys so that you have a level playing field.