Reading Truck Accident Attorney
A run-in with a tractor-trailer often results in devastating injuries. Due to their sheer size, trucks can easily overpower and severely damage smaller vehicles. Although truck drivers are required to follow federal regulations to keep on schedule, truckers do not always abide by these rules. A truck driver’s failure to abide by the law can prove deadly, with over 5,500 fatalities occurring each year.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by colliding with a tractor-trailer, you may be eligible to recover damages. Contact our injury attorneys in Reading today to learn how much your case is worth.
Types of Injuries from Truck Accidents
Victims of tractor-trailer crashes often sustain the following types of injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Any bump, blow, or strike to the head that disrupts normal brain function causes a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs are common in truck accidents due to the significant impact these crashes can have on a person’s brain. The symptoms of a TBI can range in severity but may include a headache, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a tube-like structure composed of nerves and cells that begins at the base of the skull and runs down the entire length of the back. Any damage to the spinal cord can result in a loss of strength and function. Common symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include loss of movement, muscle weakness, loss of bladder control, breathing problems, and muscle spasms.
Tractor-trailer accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, often resulting in permanent disability. If you have experienced a spinal cord injury following a collision with a truck, you need to seek medical attention immediately.
Bone Fractures
When something hits your bone with enough force to damage it, this can cause a bone fracture. A bone fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone, and it is common for an individual in a tractor-trailer accident to experience multiple fractures.
Symptoms of a bone fracture may include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, and an inability to move the affected body part.
What is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
Compensation in a truck accident case will be dependent on several factors:
The Severity of Your Injuries
Generally, the severity of your injuries will be the most significant factor in determining the worth of your case. If a physician diagnoses your condition as severe or permanent, you may be eligible for more compensation than a temporary disability.
Although most insurance companies will want to settle your claim as quickly as possible, you should wait until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is the point at which you will likely no longer improve significantly, as determined by your treating physician. Once you reach MMI, your physician can make a final prognosis regarding future medical expenses.
Lost Income
It is common for truck accident victims to miss time from work. Calculating lost income can increase the value of your truck accident case significantly. For victims who sustain permanent injuries, diminished earning capacity can be claimed as well.
Your Degree of Fault
Under Pennsylvania law, if the insurance company determines that you are partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. So, if you submit a claim for $50,000, but it is determined that you are 40 percent at fault, you will only receive $30,000 on the claim. However, if you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault, you will be barred from receiving any compensation.
You will need to supply documentation supporting your claim. Often, a truck accident claim may be denied due to insufficient evidence. Our accident attorneys will assist you in streamlining the process and avoiding the run-around with insurance.
You Can Depend on Our Representation
A collision with a tractor-trailer can jeopardize your financial, physical, and emotional well-being. Our injury attorneys in Reading have successfully helped hundreds of injury victims recover the full extent of damages that they deserved. Contact Fanelli, Evans & Patel by completing our online contact form or calling 484-869-2113 to schedule your free consultation.