Truck accidents are always dangerous, but T-bone collisions involving a truck can be deadly. Survivors may have permanent injuries.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a T-bone truck wreck, contact Kramer Injury Law. Our big rig crash attorneys provide aggressive, effective representation for people seriously injured in side-impact truck accidents in West Jordan.
Severe Injuries Are Common in Side-Impact Crashes
The side panels of passenger vehicles have less reinforcement than the front or rear. A forceful collision to the side of a car, SUV, or pickup truck can total the vehicle and severely injure the occupants.
When you suffer severe injuries or your loved one is killed, having skilled and experienced legal counsel is critical. Our West Jordan attorneys have been representing injured people and bereaved family members in side-impact truck accident cases for years, and we have a record of achieving excellent outcomes for our clients.
T-Bone Collisions
If a large commercial truck collides with the side of a smaller vehicle, the smaller vehicle’s passengers might suffer life-altering injuries like:
- Amputations
- Severe head trauma
- Internal organ damage
- Back and spinal cord damage
The consequences are also dire when a passenger vehicle collides forcefully with the side of a large commercial truck. The smaller vehicle could slide under the trailer, which is called an underride accident, and they are often fatal.
Sideswipes
Sideswipes happen when the sides of two vehicles moving in adjacent lanes of traffic make contact. When one of the vehicles is a heavy semi-truck, the smaller vehicle could be forced off the road or into oncoming traffic.
Given the potential for life-altering injuries, you should contact an attorney immediately following a side-impact collision.
How Do These Crashes Happen?
Driver error is a factor in almost all side-impact crashes. They often happen at intersections when one driver fails to stop at a red light or stop sign, or does not yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn. Truck drivers may fail to notice a smaller vehicle in an adjacent lane when making turns or merging.
All drivers must use reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others on the road, but truck drivers have a heightened responsibility. Federal regulations require them to use the utmost care. Any failure to follow best safety practices could be evidence that the trucker was negligent.
Our West Jordan attorneys could investigate a side-impact crash to find proof of truck driver negligence. If the trucker’s conduct was a factor in the collision, the trucking company could be liable to pay your damages. These include your injury-related expenses, diminished income, and compensation for your pain and suffering.
Understanding the Claims Process
When you suffer injuries in a vehicle accident, even one involving a semi-truck, you must file a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurer. If you are severely injured, your PIP will likely be insufficient to cover your losses. In that case, you can take the responsible parties to court.
Utah Code §78B-2-307 allows you four years to file a lawsuit for your injuries. If the crash killed your loved one, you must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of their death. In all cases, it is best to contact a West Jordan attorney as quickly as possible so that we can find and preserve the evidence showing others were responsible for the side-impact big rig collision.
The responsible parties must pay your expenses, including medical treatment, incidentals, and lost income. They must also compensate you for your physical pain, emotional suffering, and diminished quality of life.
Work With a West Jordan Attorney After a Side-Impact Truck Wreck
When you suffer serious injuries because a trucker’s error caused a wreck, you deserve financial compensation. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure you receive fair compensation. Contact us today to learn more about potential next steps following side-impact truck accidents in West Jordan.
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