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Trucks get the big jobs done, but they also present a big threat to those sharing the roadways with them. Victims of truck accidents typically face a long–and expensive–road to recovery. When the accident is not their fault, victims should not have to pay for the losses they sustain in the accident aftermath.
A Cowesett personal injury lawyer is here to help if you have been hurt in a truck accident. Gemma Law has been supporting Rhode Island’s injury victims for over 45 years, and a Cowesett truck accident lawyer is ready to put that experience to work for you.
Statistics on Truck Accidents
Truck accident numbers have gone up in recent years. The National Safety Council (NSC) reported a 1.8% rise in the number of trucks–5,837– involved in fatal accidents from one year to the next, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports 4,764 fatalities from those truck-involved accidents. Of those deaths,
- 17% were truck occupants
- 66% were occupants of other passenger vehicles
- 16% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists
The NSC also notes a rise in injuries from truck-involved accidents. In a recent year, 120,200 large trucks were involved in injury-causing crashes. This number represents a 2.5% increase in occurrences from the previous year.
The most recent full year of data collection by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) includes specific statistics for Rhode Island’s truck accidents:
- 183 truck-involved accidents
- 4 fatalities
- 135 injury victims
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving CowesettCall 401.467.2300
Why Truck Accidents Are so Dangerous
Truck accidents are especially dangerous. Trucks are used to haul cargo, carry construction materials or complete construction work, collect garbage, and perform other massive jobs. Whatever the type of truck involved in the accident, its size and weight far exceed the dimensions of other motor vehicles.
Trucks are also more difficult to maneuver and easier to lose control of than other vehicles. Operators may load cargo improperly, drive too fast, or mis-navigate turns, sending the truck off balance and into a jackknife or rollover. If a semi-truck carries hazardous materials, those materials can ignite upon impact, adding flames to an already dangerous collision.
The FMCSA recognizes the specific dangers that come with large vehicles and has established sweeping regulations to mitigate the hazards of commercial vehicles.
The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) has additional standards for trucks used for work. Truck operators, truck companies, mechanics, inspectors, and other relevant parties must comply with every rule as any failure compromises the safety of those traveling the roads.
Cowesett Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 401.467.2300
An Attorney Can Help You Move Toward Recovery
Trucks are more complex than other vehicles, and similarly, truck accident claims are complicated compared to those generated by crashes involving privately owned passenger vehicles. Investigating a truck accident requires peeling back layers of details to determine what happened and discover who is at fault.
Your Cowesett truck accident attorney from Gemma Law has the experience and resources to carry out this examination effectively.
Your attorney will likely consult with accident reconstructionists to re-engineer the accident and find its cause. The truck may be equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
These devices record information about the truck’s speed, operation, hours in motion, and other elements leading up to the accident, and your lawyer will seek to secure and analyze this potentially valuable information.
Count on your truck accident lawyer in Cowesett to explore all avenues of evidence and file your injury claim against the appropriate party. The truck driver, truck company, vehicle or part manufacturer, mechanic, or third-party driver are all possible at-fault parties.
Your claim could also be against a government entity if the involved truck is government-owned, and though the procedures for pursuing compensation from the government differ from those applicable to private individuals or companies, Gemma Law knows what to do.
Rhode Island’s Legal Filing Deadline
Title 9 of the Court and Civil Procedures establishes Rhode Island’s three-year statute of limitations for filing injury claims. If your claim is against the government, that legal deadline is shorter. For the best case outcome, you should get a lawyer for a truck accident as soon as possible after the event.
Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
Victims often ask, “How much is my case worth?” Without knowing the details of your particular case, it is impossible to predict a settlement or verdict amount. That said, truck accidents often incur substantial damage, and you can depend on your truck accident attorney in Cowesett to fight for the highest compensation possible.
Your attorney will factor every loss into your settlement demand, including:
- Medical bills and anticipated costs
- Income loss and future lost earnings if you are permanently unable to work
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
- Other expenses related to the accident
- Emotional trauma
- Physical pain, disability, and disfigurement
- Reduced enjoyment of life
Do not accept any settlement offer without first speaking to your attorney. Insurance companies often present victims with an initial offer far lower than what the accident damages warrant. Victims may accept, feeling relieved to have the devastating episode over, without realizing the true extent of their losses and regretting their decision later.
We Negotiate for You
Leave all settlement negotiations to your Cowesett truck accident lawyer. The team at Gemma Law knows how to value a case and the rules of Rhode Island’s personal injury laws and will be armed with convincing evidence to prove the value of your claim and the extent of the other side’s negligence. We will not be fooled or strong-armed into accepting inadequate offers.
Personal injury cases are commonly settled through negotiation, but there are times when the at-fault party refuses to cooperate. If this happens in your case, trust your attorney to present you with your options and give you insightful guidance about how to proceed.
Going to trial may be in your best interests, and your Cowesett truck accident attorney will provide superior representation at every court date.
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We Want to Help
Gemma Law cares about Rhode Island’s injury victims–our clients matter to us as people, not just as case numbers. When you put your case in our hands, we take that trust personally, fighting hard to honor it by securing you a favorable resolution.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, there is still hope for a bright future, and a Cowesett truck accident lawyer from our team is here to help you reach it.
Call or text 401.467.2300 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form