Highly Skilled And Experienced 18 Wheeler And Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys
The average semi truck and trailer can range from 12,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds. The federal government authorizes some trucks to operate at an overloaded capacity of more than 80,000 pounds. Commercial 18-wheeler trucks can weigh more than 25 times the average automobile and up to 40 times more than some small cars. Due to the general size of an 18-wheeler semi truck and the force of impact it can create in a crash, injuries sustained by a victim are frequently serious — if not fatal.
It is very important that the injury victim of such a catastrophic accident hire an attorney that is experienced in dealing with truck collision cases. Personal injury cases involving 18-wheeler semi trucks are more complicated to deal with than car accident cases because there are complex federal and state laws that regulate the trucking industry. Murphy & Murphy’s experience is essential in an 18-wheeler semi truck case. If a lawsuit is required, the lawsuit could involve the truck driver, the trucking company, and, in some instances, it’s insurance company. Federal and state regulations provided different avenues for injury relief if commercial carriers for hire are involved in the 18-wheeler semi truck accident.
Trucking companies usually send claims representatives to a truck crash scene on the same day that a collision took place. It is the job of the claims agent to protect the trucking company’s interests by attempting to deny liability, avoid liability, or limit the company’s responsibility for injuring anyone or damaging their property. The injured victim and his or her family, on the other hand, are often concerned with medical treatment for serious and potentially lifelong injuries. That is why it is critical for injury victims to hire experienced trial attorneys in such cases in order to level the playing field.
There are many reasons truck drivers cause many accidents. One of the main reasons is fatigue. Semi truck drivers work long hours behind the wheel. Truck drivers are supposed to limit their driving to 12-hour shifts. Truck drivers are required to keep records to log their hours of service. But, the nature of the trucking industry is that more miles means more money, but it also means more hours. There is always an incentive for truckers to drive more than legally allowed. Sometimes this means drivers carry two sets of books. One set of books records the real amount of time the drivers have been on the road. Those are the books they use to get paid. The other set of books records less driving time, establishing that they complied with federal and state regulations. Those are the books that a driver shows to the Department of Transportation. Murphy & Murphy has the skill, litigation experience, and practical knowledge required to retain the necessary expert witnesses, trucking consultants and other knowledgeable people required to investigate and establish if any such abuses caused or contributed to an 18-wheeler semi truck accident.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident with an 18-wheeler semi truck, do not delay in interviewing and retaining a skilled and experienced trucking accident attorney. Murphy & Murphy has the skill and experience you require. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and consultation with our attorneys.