Staring at a tractor trailer truck, as it heads straight for them on an interstate highway, is a terrifying experience for any person. That fear is supported by the fact that, that person is four times more likely to die than the truck driver. Of course injury in this type of accident is highly likely. It is critical that anyone involved in a Tractor Trailer Accident Louisville incident contact a lawyer that specializes in tractor trailer accident law immediately after the accident.
Almost all tractor trailer trucks have black boxes similar to what airliners use. They also have sophisticated GPS trackers and electronic log books to document their activities. However these might be lost or disappear as an investigation begins. The motorist can also count on the trucking company sending out lawyers and investigators soon after the accident to document the scene. It is possible that the less savvy motorist might say something that will inadvertently jeopardize their case. It could be something as innocent as saying that they aren’t injured and don’t need to go to the hospital. Within a few hours the symptoms of a concussion or whiplash might hit them as the shock of the accident wears off. A good personal injury lawyer that understands this and will work quickly to protect a client’s rights.
Even if a person has been killed his family and estate have the right to file a Wrongful Death claim. Many people don’t have the money to fight a large trucking company, so they might never file a lawsuit. They should realize that most attorneys take personal injury claims involving trucking companies on a contingency basis. That means that they don’t charge for their services unless they win the case and get a financial settlement for their client. Then they take a percentage of the settlement. In most cases it’s about 30 percent. While that might sound high to some people, they have to realize that the law firm invested a lot of time and money to prepare the case. They sent out investigators to the accident location, interviewed witnesses, hired expert witnesses and spent countless hours preparing for trial. If they lost the case, there would be no reimbursement for these costs.
