Injuries received in vehicular accidents involving trucks can be very severe, due to the size and weight difference between the vehicles. If a fully loaded semi hits an automobile, the injuries that the driver of the car receives can be life changing in horrendous ways. If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck, you need to seek the help of a lawyer experienced in truck accidents in Bethlehem, PA to seek compensation for your injuries.
A Case of Negligence
Usually, when someone has been injured in an accident involving a truck and the truck driver was found at fault, a case of negligence must be successfully made. Negligence is the legal basis most often used when in such cases. Due to their size and the weight disparity between trucks and personal vehicles, trucking companies and drivers are responsible for exercising “a reasonable degree of care” to avoid accidents.
Too often truck drivers are forced to drive long distances in a short amount of time to make deadlines for the trucking company itself. Drivers who are sleep deprived may be as equally impaired as someone who is driving drunk. According to statistics, over 100,000 accidents per year are caused solely by drivers who are sleep deprived. Victims of truck accidents can seek compensation for their injuries, so long as it was found that a driver was sleep deprived when they were behind the wheel.
Who Is Sued
An attorney specializing in truck accidents can file suit on your behalf to seek compensation for the damages you’ve suffered during an accident. They will usually name the trucking company, contractors and the trucking company’s insurance provider for compensation. Every year, it is estimated accidents due to sleep deprivation cause $12.5 billion in losses. If you have been injured because of a sleep deprived driver, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries, and should take advantage of this knowledge and advice.