The highways of Ontario Province see some of the heaviest traffic in Canada, many of which are seeing growing numbers of semi-trucks or truck and trailer combos. Due to their immense size and the longer stopping distances required, accidents that involve these massive trucks and smaller vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries. In some cases, these injuries are fatal. So if you or a loved one has sustained serious injuries in an accident involving a semi-truck or truck and trailer, it’s crucial that you have legal representation provided by an experienced personal injury lawyer in Milton.
Common Causes of Car-Truck Collisions
On average, semi-truck and trailer combos weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles. This sheds a considerable amount of light as to why there is such a high rate of fatalities in car-truck accidents. All it takes is a single mistake for one or more lives to be tragically extinguished. The more common causes of car-truck collisions include:
• bad weather
• defective or poorly-maintained equipment
• distracted driving (talking or texting)
• driver fatigue
• excessive speed
• hazardous weather conditions
• impaired driving (alcohol or drugs)
• improperly loaded trucks
• inability to stop quick enough
• lack of experience or proper training
• negligent driving
• poor road conditions
• vehicle safety issues
Although accident benefits should be available to you after a collision, the cause of it may determine who is at-fault or responsible for the accident. If the truck driver has exceeded the maximum number of hours that he is allowed to be behind the wheel, the trucking company could be held responsible. On the other hand, if faulty air brakes are the culprit, you may be entitled to compensation from the truck manufacturer instead.
Getting Compensated for Your Injuries
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a collision with a semi-truck and trailer, you could be entitled to compensation for damages and all financial losses attributed to the accident. You can file a claim for no-fault accident benefits with your insurer and be legally represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer that specializes in these types of vehicular accidents.
A personal injury lawyer can keep the lines of communication open with the insurance company and help you navigate through the legal process. Most importantly, they will ensure that your rights to compensation for damages and financial losses are protected. In addition to filing an accident benefit claim, the lawyer will also help you file a lawsuit against the driver of the truck, if that becomes necessary. It is ensured that there are no upfront fees to pay the lawyers, as the lawyers work on contingency fee basis.