Due to their size and, often, their weight when carrying cargo, accidents involving trucks may cause a considerable amount of damage to other vehicles and injuries to the occupants of those other vehicles.
A truck recently rear-ended a school bus in Hazle Township. The bus then crashed into another vehicle. In all, the accident sent around 40 people to the hospital, including many young children who were riding the bus. The injuries were reportedly all non-life-threatening, though significant damage was done to both the truck and the bus.
Filing a personal injury claim due to injuries sustained in a truck accident may be complex. Multiple parties and insurance companies may be involved, including the driver, the company, the manufacturer of the truck, the company who loaded the cargo and others.
A personal injury claim begins with the accident investigation. The reports from the law enforcement investigation that occurred after the accident will be reviewed. Law enforcement does attempt to determine fault in an accident, and looks for any criminal activity that may have attributed to the crash.
In addition, attorneys often hire independent investigators to work with them on determining the cause of the accident. The investigator will look at possible causes that are sometimes found in truck accidents, including driver fatigue, inadequately trained drivers, falsified logbooks, companies who encourage drivers to drive at fast speeds or exceed the regulated number of driving hours, and poorly maintained vehicles.
A claim against a negligent truck driver may provide compensation for expenses such as medical bills, lost time from work, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
Source: WETM-TV, “School Bus Crash Injures Dozens,” Ben Locke, July 26, 2013