If you or someone you love suffered debilitating injuries in a commercial trucking accident, you may be anxious to demand justice. However, the catastrophic nature of your injuries may make it difficult or impossible for you to do anything other than recuperate. But that does not mean you have to wait to get started on your insurance or civil claims.
With help from a highly skilled North Providence truck accident lawyer with over 50 years of trial experience from Gemma Law, you can heal while we handle every legal detail. Once you have a reputable North Providence personal injury lawyer at our firm handling your case, you do not need to feel overwhelmed.
Contact our legal team to request a free consultation today and find out more about which legal options are best suited for your case, what your damages are worth, and how you can maximize your financial compensation.
Make the Liable Party Compensate You for Every Loss
There is no reason the liable party should be able to move on with their life while you are stuck absorbing the fallout. With help from Gemma Law, you can ensure anyone and everyone who shares liability for your damages is held accountable. Here are some of the parties most frequently named in truck accident insurance and civil claims:
Truck Driver Negligence
One of the top causes of trucking accidents is truck driver negligence, according to the FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study. Truck drivers may be forced to work until they are too drowsy to drive safely, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or simply drive aggressively to meet trucking deadlines.
In any case, those who hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are held to a higher standard than other motorists, according to the FMCSA’s Commercial Driver’s License Program.
If they fail to meet these standards, they can face serious penalties. Not only can you file a personal injury lawsuit against them with help from your North Providence car accident and injury lawyers, but the at-fault party could face criminal charges, depending on how the accident occurred, or even have their CDL suspended or revoked. This could have a significant impact on the trucker’s ability to provide for themselves and their families.
Reckless Trucking Companies
Trucking companies often prioritize their profits above all else. It is not unusual for trucking companies to hire truck drivers without doing due diligence. When inexperienced or dangerous truck drivers are hired, the risk of serious bodily injury or death can significantly increase.
Trucking companies are responsible for not only their truck drivers but the 18-wheelers as well. If a trucking company fails to make necessary vehicle repairs or conduct safety inspections, these records could be used to prove negligence in court. It is common for both trucking companies and truck drivers to be named in civil lawsuits.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving North ProvidenceCall 401.467.2300
North Providence Truck Accident FAQ
What Is the FMCSA?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for overseeing commercial truck safety, maintenance, and operation across the United States. The FMCSA has multiple laws that truck drivers and trucking companies are expected to adhere to.
This includes hours of service regulations under 49 CFR 395 and weight load restrictions per the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) Compilation of Existing State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws.
How does the Statute of Limitations work?
The statute of limitations is a deadline you must follow. If you do not file your truck accident lawsuit before the statute of limitations expiration date, the court system can refuse to hear your case. Generally, under RI Gen. Laws §9-1-14, you have up to three years from the date of your collision to file a suit.
What Happens When You Hire a Truck Accident Attorney in North Providence on Contingency?
When you should get a lawyer for a truck accident depends on a few factors. However, hiring a truck accident attorney in North Providence on contingency can help make the decision easier. You no longer have to worry about covering the costs of a legal advocate out of your own pocket. We cover every expense and only get paid our attorney’s fees if we are successful in recovering compensation for your damages.
The Truck Driver Blamed Me for the Accident. What Happens Next?
Believe it or not, it is more common than you might think for parties, especially truck drivers, to blame injury victims for the accident. This is partly because liable parties are rarely willing to accept responsibility for their negligent actions. However, in Rhode Island, the state follows pure comparative negligence laws.
Under RI Gen. Laws §9-20-4, sharing blame will reduce your settlement. Your percentage of blame will be reflected as a deduction from your payout. For instance, if you are assigned 20% of the liability for the accident, you would only receive 80% of your truck accident award.
How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?
We know you are interested in learning more about how much your truck accident settlement could be worth. However, there is no average truck accident settlement that you can compare to. The various factors are too many to give an accurate representation of how much you could be entitled to.
Our team will carefully evaluate the many ways you have been affected by the truck accident injuries you sustained to find out how much your case is worth. This does not only include your economic damages but also your non-economic losses as well. After reviewing the specific details of your case, we will also have a better idea as to whether punitive damages could be awarded per General Laws of Rhode Island §10-7-7.1.
North Providence Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 401.467.2300
Get Help from an In-Demand Truck Accident Lawyer in North Providence Today
Fighting for the fair compensation you deserve can be physically and emotionally taxing. This is not something you should have to take on when you are still in the throes of your healing journey. Fortunately, you do not need to go at it alone when you have a reputable North Providence truck accident attorney from Gemma Law advocating for you.
We will never let the insurance company take advantage of you or convince you to accept a settlement that is less than what your damages are worth. A North Providence truck accident lawyer is not afraid to bring your case to trial and fight for the just compensation you are entitled to before a judge and jury.
Fill out our online contact form or call us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as today.
Call or text 401.467.2300 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form