In a typical car accident, injured people might face broken bones or lacerations. In a commercial truck crash, the impact can be far more devastating. Motor vehicle accident victims involved in collisions with commercial trucks often suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even wrongful death. These outcomes place a heavy burden on survivors and family members.
Trucking companies, truck drivers, and others connected to commercial truck operations hold specific responsibilities. When a driver’s negligence leads to a wreck, it disrupts lives and forces families to adjust. Hawaiians rely on truck accident or personal injury lawyers to help them face these challenges, recover compensation for their losses, and hold a company responsible if it fails to follow proper rules.
How Our Honolulu Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
Trucking accidents are the most common form of personal injury claims. At Recovery Law Center, our truck accident attorneys work with those physically and financially affected by negligent drivers daily. We offer a professional perspective and moral support during a challenging time. Consider some of the specific tasks that our car or truck accident lawyers perform and how they may help you build a more substantial claim:
- Handling communication with the insurance company and legal defense team
- Investigating the accident and the other party to find evidence proving negligence
- Taking care of administrative work, such as filing the necessary paperwork
- Identifying recoverable damages from your accident, including any non-economic losses
- Preparing your case for trial, should the insurance company fail to offer a fair settlement
Your claim is only as strong as the evidence you can provide. Our experienced Honolulu truck accident lawyer removes the burden of building a case so you can focus on healing.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Every truck accident case is different. However, most occur under certain circumstances. These are the types of accidents truck accident lawyers see often:
- Rear-end collisions: Commercial trucks’ excessive size and weight make rear-end truck accidents significantly more dangerous for standard passenger vehicles.
- Rollovers: Truck trailers have a higher center of gravity, making them more susceptible to rollovers under various circumstances.
- Wide-turn accidents: Right-hand turns require truck drivers to swing wide left, which can be dangerous for cars in the neighboring lanes.
- T-bone accidents: Most T-bone truck accidents occur at intersections and can have devastating results.
- Jackknife accidents: When the truck trailer swings to one side, folding like a jackknife, the driver loses control of the vehicle and typically causes a crash.
Causes and Contributing Factors
A truck accident can happen for many reasons. Some involve driver behavior, while others stem from poor maintenance or policies in the trucking industry. A few contributing factors include:
- Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, or focusing on other devices distracts attention from the road.
- Driver Fatigue: Long shifts or ignored hours-of-service rules may cause a lack of focus.
- Improper Maintenance: Worn brakes, old tires, or other neglected repairs can lead to jackknife accidents or blowouts.
- Negligent Hiring Practices: A trucking company that hires drivers without a commercial license or with a questionable record might be at fault.
- Speeding or Aggressive Driving: Some truck drivers rush deliveries and put others in danger.
- Unbalanced Loads: Improperly loaded cargo can sway trucks or tip over, risking serious injury.
Whether in a car or truck accident, your losses can be overwhelming. But truck crashes often present extra complications. A thorough investigation and a detailed police report can reveal how the driver’s negligence, company policies, or other factors caused the accident scene.
Who Is Liable in Commercial Truck Accidents?
When a collision happens, many parties could share responsibility:
- Truck Drivers: Some drivers make dangerous choices, like distracted driving or speeding. These actions can lead to collisions that injure others on the road.
- Trucking Company: A company might be liable if it pushes drivers to meet unrealistic schedules or overlooks safety practices. Negligent hiring practices and lack of proper training could also lead to a claim.
- Truck Manufacturers: Defective brakes, tires, or other components can contribute to semi-truck accidents. If these products fail, the manufacturer might bear some blame.
- Maintenance Providers: If a repair shop or in-house crew fails to perform proper inspections, those actions might cause mechanical malfunctions, leading to a wreck.
- Cargo Loaders: Improper loading can make trucks unstable. Unexpectedly shifting cargo can send the vehicle out of control, causing severe injuries to everyone involved.
Holding the at-fault party accountable helps with victims’ catastrophic injuries. It may be possible to pursue wrongful death claims if a loved one did not survive. Proving fault involves analyzing inspection records, employment files, medical records, and more. Accident reconstruction experts often play a significant role in pinpointing the exact cause and identifying each entity that should be part of the claim.
Recoverable Damages in a Truck Accident Case
Tort law involves the recoverable financial, physical, and emotional losses sustained from a personal injury as compensatory damages. In a truck accident case, typical examples of these economic and non-economic losses include:
- Necessary medical expenses, including the cost of current and future treatments
- The loss of income due to missed work and loss of earning capacity
- The cost of repairing or replacing your damaged property
- The physical and emotional pain and suffering endured from the accident and the resulting injuries
- The cost of replacement services, such as household help
The adequate valuation of non-economic losses that truck accident lawyers can offer may drastically increase your claim’s and settlement’s value.
Why Legal Representation Matters
After a collision with a commercial truck, it is tempting to handle things alone. Some people assume their person’s insurance company will pay out quickly. However, auto accidents involving large vehicles are more complicated. A dedicated legal team can do more than process paperwork. They look for:
- Evidence of driver’s negligence. This might include phone records, trucking logs, or witness accounts.
- Negligent hiring practices: If the company is responsible for employing drivers without a valid commercial license or overlooked red flags, it might increase liability.
- Insurance coverage details. Commercial truck policies often have large limits, which does not guarantee an easy process. Insurance adjusters may attempt to minimize payouts.
- Third-party liability. Sometimes, multiple entities share faults. Law firms conduct thorough research to see who should be held accountable.
- Complex compensation issues. A truck accident case can involve personal injury claims, wrongful death claims, or property damage. Negotiating with multiple insurance companies can be time-consuming. Car accident attorneys and truck accident attorneys alike help clients organize medical records, gather evidence, and meet legal deadlines.
When you hire a truck accident lawyer, you can focus on healing from physical pain and emotional distress. Meanwhile, your attorney works to achieve a fair settlement or to pursue litigation if needed. Truck accident claims differ from regular auto accidents. They involve many regulations for truck drivers, maintenance requirements, and other details. Having qualified personal injury lawyers who understand these aspects can make a major difference.
Contact an Experienced Honolulu Truck Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love suffered severe injuries in a Honolulu truck accident, do not wait to reach out for help. At Recovery Law Center, our experienced truck accident lawyer in Honolulu is ready to support your path toward compensation. From analyzing the accident scene to negotiating with insurance adjusters, we treat your case with focus and care. We understand how a motor vehicle accident can upend your life.
Schedule a consultation with us and let our Honolulu truck accident lawyer handle the complex details so that you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life.
Honolulu Truck Accident FAQs
What happens if you are partially liable for the accident?
Hawaii applies the modified comparative negligence rule to cases involving shared fault. It allows you to recover a portion of damages as long as you are less responsible than the defendant.
How long do you have to file a truck accident lawsuit?
In Hawaii, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
