Factors that Could Impact a Lakewood Trucking Accident Claim

Upon suffering injury from a truck accident, you may be worried about the financial burden you may have to undertake in order to heal from your injuries. However, through the means of an injury claim, you may be able to obtain compensation for damages incurred as the result of a truck driver’s negligence.

To begin filing an injury claim, it may be best to learn more about the factors that could impact a Lakewood trucking accident claim. By doing so, you could discover ways to obtain the maximum amount of compensation available to you.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents Impacting Negligence

Truck drivers are known to drive for long periods of time with minimal rest. As a result, truck drivers could lose focus in their driving and decision-making abilities. For example, some accidents have occurred due to drivers failing to check the lane they are merging into. Other common causes include:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Running a stop sign
• Driving at night or in the wrong direction

Drunk Driving

Since most commercial truck drivers in Lakewood are employed by some type of company, drunk driving could increase a negligence claim. If a truck driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and causes an accident, they could also be held criminally liable, further increasing the likelihood of a positive result.

Speeding

With the much larger mass of a truck, higher speeds can cause much more significant injuries. As a result, victims may be entitled to more damages in comparison to a car accident. Coupled with the fact that trucks are usually covered by higher policies, victims could obtain a substantial compensation award.

Running a Stop Sign

A person driving a commercial vehicle is usually held to a much higher standard of care than a regular driver in passenger vehicle. As a result, the damages for negligence might be much more significant in terms of what a jury might award.

Driving at Night/Wrong Direction

If a truck is going the wrong direction on an interstate or is struggling to stay awake while driving at night, the potential for serious damages can be catastrophic. This will sometimes happen with truck drivers who are required to drive long hours and meet deadlines, so that would increase the negligence claim against the truck driver and the company who employed the truck driver.

Commercial Policies in Lakewood Truck Accident Claims

Some unique elements of a truck accident involve the presence of a commercial policy covering truck drivers. If a commercial insurance policy is involved in a Lakewood trucking accident claim, the recovery can be much greater than on noncommercial policies. In a commercial policy, there are usually much higher limits on the coverage, which includes medical damages, economic damages, and non-economic damages, to name some of the damages involved.

Victims involved in an accident with a truck driver should immediately retain the services of an attorney in order to maximize the monetary and medical benefits.

Importance of Retaining Legal Assistance

When trying to obtain compensation for damages, it is best to work with an attorney who is familiar with the claims process. A lawyer could speak with you about the common factors that impact negligence in a Lakewood trucking accident and determine whether there are any special circumstances in your case that could increase the total amount of compensation you are owed. Call today to begin your road to financial recovery.