You never expect to get in an accident when you get behind the wheel of your car. When it does happen, it can be a traumatic, life-altering experience for you and your loved ones. As you’re dealing with the shock of a devastating truck accident, the last thing you’re worrying about is how to seek compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. If you’ve been in a truck accident in Lake County, you need a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney to help you fight for what you’re owed.
Truck accidents aren’t like accidents with other autos because trucks are insured differently. When a collision with a truck occurs, it could involve multiple vehicles, police reports, witness testimonies, and several victims. Most people aren’t equipped to deal with such complex cases. Having a lawyer with experience handling truck accidents is critical if you want to seek the justice you deserve, a personal injury lawyer in Lake County is also going to help.
This guide will help you better understand your Lake County truck accident case and how you can start taking action. It covers:
- Common causes from truck accidents
- Typical injuries resulting from truck accidents
- Why you should see a doctor right after a truck accident
- The potential recoverable damages from your accident
- How long you have to sue
- How a truck accident lawyer can help your case
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Lake County
Although the reasons for truck accidents are similar to the causes behind car accidents, the effects of a truck collision are significantly more devastating. Trucks weigh up to 30 times more than passenger cars. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you’re likely wanting to know what the cause of your pain and suffering was.
Every situation is different but the most common reasons for truck accidents are:
- Careless or reckless driving: When a truck driver speeds, changes lanes constantly, or tries to change lanes with another motorist in their blind spot, it can cause accidents. Speeding accounted for 2,699 collisions in 2019 in Lake County.
- Auto parts failure: In some cases, the drivers of the trucks bear no responsibility for a collision. The truck manufacturers may be to blame for producing vehicles with parts that weren’t checked or are in poor condition. Faulty brakes could be the difference between a close call and a major accident.
- Lack of driver training: Not every truck company does this but some may hire inexperienced drivers and fail to provide them with adequate training to cut costs. Driving a semi-truck requires a specific license and training because it’s not the same as operating a passenger vehicle. A driver who isn’t prepared to get behind the wheel of a truck is more likely to react poorly and cause accidents.
- Long hours: It’s typical for truck drivers to put in long or odd hours in order to get their cargo delivered on time. Lack of sleep can hinder focus and alertness behind the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Typical Injuries Resulting from Truck Accidents
If you’ve been in a truck accident and sustained injuries, it’s likely they are severe. Even if your injuries are not major, however, you still have a right to seek compensation. Some typical injuries that result from truck accidents include:
- Limb fractures
- Internal wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Skin burns
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord fractures (SCIs)
Why You Should See a Doctor Immediately After the Accident
Some of these injuries can be debilitating and may lead to serious consequences if not treated right away. We strongly encourage you to visit a doctor after you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Lake County. You might not notice any outward signs of injury but you could have internal complications. It’s also possible that your injuries will surface in the days or weeks following the accident.
Visiting a doctor right away is also important for insurance reasons. If you wait to see a doctor and later try to seek compensation for your injuries, your insurer or the other party could argue that you delayed medical treatment and thus your injuries aren’t severe enough to grant you compensation.
Recoverable Damages from a Truck Accident
After experiencing a traumatic event like a truck accident, you understandably want compensation for your suffering. At Yosha Cook & Tisch, we work tirelessly to help you recover this compensation.
You may be able to receive the following damages after a truck accident in Lake County:
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses include all the money you paid or must still pay for emergency room visits, drug prescriptions, medical treatment, therapy, hospital bills, and future medical costs.
- Lost wages: Losing the ability to work after your truck accident can be a stressful experience. How will you pay your medical bills and other expenses if you can’t work? If the injuries you sustained from the accident prevent you from going to work and you lost income, you may be able to recover those lost or reduced wages.
- Lost or reduced earning potential: Your injury might be so severe that not only are you prevented from working temporarily, but you also cannot return to work or must change jobs. If that’s true, you could also seek compensation for it.
- Non-economic damages: You haven’t only suffered financial losses because of your accident. You may also have experienced pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, disability, and other damages. Putting a dollar value on non-economic damages can be challenging so we will do it for you and fight to help you get what you deserve.
- Property damage: It’s likely your vehicle or personal property were damaged in the accident and require repair or replacement. You may be able to receive compensation to cover these expenses as well.
- Wrongful death damages: Losing a loved one in a truck accident is devastating. Although no compensation can truly make up for your loss, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death action. This could provide you end-of-life expenses such as funeral and burial arrangements and final medical bills. You may also be able to receive compensation that covers the deceased’s income.
Is There a Time Limit on Your Case?
After you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, it’s important to start taking action right away. We understand that you may be struggling with medical bills, not being able to work, trauma, or grieving, but there’s a limit on the time you have to pursue legal action.
In Indiana, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the date of your accident. If you or the victim was disabled or under 18 when the accident occurred, this time limit can be paused, however.
The sooner you start working with a truck accident attorney in Lake County, the better. It will take time to review your case and gather the necessary information. Your attorney will also want to ensure your case stays on track and that you don’t miss any important deadlines. If you do miss these deadlines, you could lose the right to seek compensation for the damages you’ve suffered as a result of your accident.
How a Lake County Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
After everything you’ve gone through, legal action may not be on your mind. Seeking justice for the damage that’s been done to you, a loved one, or your property can give you peace of mind, however. Filing a lawsuit and obtaining compensation can also help you get your life back on track if you’ve experienced debilitating losses from a truck accident in Lake County.
It’s difficult to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death case without proper legal training. When it involves a truck accident, the case becomes even more complex. With the help of a specialized truck accident attorney, you have a better chance of getting the justice you deserve.
When you choose to work with Yosha Cook & Tisch on your truck accident case, we will guide you through the process step by step and explain everything. We can advise you on the merits of your case and let you know what your legal options are for seeking fair compensation. We’ll also put all our best resources on your case, including forensic investigators to collect important evidence.
You can expect our attorneys to do the following as part of your truck accident case:
- Determine all the parties responsible for your truck accident which may include the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the company that loaded the truck’s cargo, the truck’s parts manufacturer, the company responsible for maintaining the truck, the municipality that maintains the roads where the collision occurred, or others.
- Handle your insurance claims and negotiate with the insurers of the other parties involved.
- Gather and document witness testimony to support your account of events.
- Represent you in meetings with the opposing parties.
- Collect evidence such as the police report, video footage, photos of the vehicles, photos of the crash site, and photos of your injuries.
- Filing a lawsuit against the liable parties if no settlement is reached.
- Fighting for you in court if the case goes to trial.
Our attorneys have the resources and expertise to support you as you seek justice for your Lake County truck accident.
Call Us Now for a Free Case Review
At Yosha Cook & Tisch, we’ll be by your side every step of the way. We keep your best interests at the forefront of our efforts and we’re ready to defend your rights throughout the entirety of the case, even in court if necessary.
We care deeply about getting our clients the justice they deserve, so we work on contingency. That means that you do not pay anything upfront. We only take payment from you if you recover monetary compensation for your Lake County truck accident. We only get paid if you do.
Don’t fight your legal battles alone. Let our dedicated and experienced attorneys fight them for you. Call our firm today at (317) 334-9200 for a free consultation.
