Semi trucks and trailers are big vehicles, and any accident with them can be a devastating experience for the victim. People traveling in smaller vehicles are usually the victims of such accidents. In 2019, about 4,120 people died in large vehicle accidents – and only 16% of the dead were truck occupants while the rest were drivers/occupants of the victim’s car, nearby cars, motorcycle and cycle riders, and pedestrians in close vicinity.
Accidents with massive vehicles often leave the victims at a disadvantage. Not only do they have to worry about their injuries, they also have to factor in the intimidation caused by the prospect of going up against deep-pocketed trucking companies and their battery of lawyers.
Their misery does not end there – they need to hire a semi truck accident lawyer in Utah who is willing to work on a contingency fee basis (don’t pay if you don’t win), understands the complex Utah’s laws thoroughly, and has the skills and experience to tackle large-vehicle accidents.
To help victims understand how skilled attorneys resolve cases and how they should deal with insurance companies, Utah’s experienced and skilled lawyers got together and created this informative post:
How Utah’s Semi truck Accident Lawyers Determine Fault
Attorneys investigate the trucking company and the driver, analyze the police report, and obtain information from witnesses before assigning fault. They also pay special attention to:
- The driver’s background
- His training (or lack of it)
- The number of hours he was on the job
- The trailer’s condition and its maintenance logs
Lawyers also check if the driver was qualified as per the guidelines laid down by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and pull his driving history, medical tests, and other records from the agency. They also check the ELD (Electronic Logging Device) that is required to be installed on big vehicles. Their goal is to prove negligence.
How Lawyers in Utah Fix Liability
In many cases, our firm discovered that both the driver and the trucking company were liable for the accident for a combination of reasons (laxity in maintaining the vehicle, overworking the driver, distracted driver, etc.). Our experience also suggests that most trucking companies try to escape liability by washing their hands off the driver with excuses like the company didn’t own the vehicle, or the driver wasn’t on their payroll, etc.
Only an experienced semi truck accident lawyer can cut through the company’s defenses and ensure that all the guilty parties are held to account.
Lawyers Advice to Victims About Insurance
Victims should avoid speaking with trucking companies’ insurance claim adjusters and they must not sign any papers. The ideal thing would be to have their attorney speak to the adjusters, but if they haven’t appointed one yet, they should refuse to deal with the insurance adjuster.
That is because trucking companies’ insurance adjusters are employed to save their company’s cash and are likely to lowball victims. An accident with a trailer or tractor can be very serious, and the compensation for such accidents should be very high. Data available with us suggest that the compensation claims typically range between $190,000 and $750,000, and exceed a million in very serious cases.
Do Utah’s Tractor Trailer Accident Attorneys Resolve Cases Quickly?
Most cases are settled before they go to trial. It takes months to build a rock-solid case and then time to negotiate and settle with the defendant. So, in an out-of-court settlement, the victim can expect resolution within 6 to 8 months at the most. If the case goes to trial, then it can take anywhere between 6 and 18 months – and the compensation claim awarded depends on the jury.
Well, we hope that this information makes it somewhat clear how skilled and experienced attorneys go about ensuring that the victim receives the rightful compensation that can help him reclaim his life and move on.
If you are a Utahn who has been involved in a tractor trailer or large-truck accident, and need more clarification or information on how we can help you win, consider calling us to schedule a free consultation.
FREE INITIAL MEETING OFFER
We urge you to take advantage of our free, no-pressure, and no-obligation initial consultation offer in which we will:
- Value your damages (approximate)
- Determine who was at fault
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case
- Prove to you how we have helped victims win millions of dollars in compensation claims
- Demonstrate to you how our Utah-based team of tractor trailer accident attorneys can help you win significant compensation
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by meeting us – and we are just one phone call away.
