Serious Truck Wrecks Require Serious Legal Representation
A collision with a tractor-trailer or commercial truck is not an ordinary car accident. These crashes can cause catastrophic injuries and death, and the companies and insurance carriers involved often begin investigating immediately.
At Bates & Slone Attorneys at Law, we have represented injured people in Kentucky for decades, including people hurt in crashes involving tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a truck wreck, you need an attorney who understands that these cases require more than simply obtaining a police report and filing an insurance claim. Evidence must be identified and preserved, the trucking company’s records must be investigated, and every potentially responsible party and available source of insurance coverage should be examined.
Call Bates & Slone at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different
Commercial trucking cases can be significantly more complicated than ordinary automobile accident cases.
A tractor-trailer may weigh many times more than the passenger vehicle it strikes. The tremendous forces involved can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, amputations, permanent disabilities, and fatalities.
But the seriousness of the injuries is only one difference.
Commercial drivers and trucking companies operate under state and federal safety requirements. A truck accident investigation may involve records and electronic information that simply do not exist in an ordinary car-wreck case.
Depending upon the circumstances, important evidence may include:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) information and driver logs
- Engine control module and other electronic vehicle data
- Driver qualification and training records
- Hours-of-service records
- Cell-phone and electronic communications
- Dispatch records
- GPS and location information
- Dash-camera and other video
- Vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair records
- Drug and alcohol testing records when applicable
- Bills of lading and cargo records
- Trucking-company safety policies and procedures
- Prior violations and driving history
- Photographs, measurements, and physical evidence from the crash scene
Some of this evidence may be lost or overwritten if action is not taken quickly. That is one reason it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a serious commercial truck collision.
We Investigate More Than the Truck Driver
The driver may not be the only person or company responsible for a tractor-trailer crash.
Depending upon the facts, potential responsibility may extend to the trucking company, motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo-loading company, or other businesses involved in the truck’s operation.
An investigation may also reveal claims involving negligent hiring, training, supervision, or retention; unsafe company policies; inadequate vehicle maintenance; or pressure placed upon drivers to operate in an unsafe manner.
At Bates & Slone, our goal is to determine why the crash happened, who is legally responsible, and what insurance and other resources are available to compensate our client.
Common Causes of Kentucky Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Truck wrecks can occur for many reasons. Common causes include driver fatigue, excessive speed, distracted driving, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, failure to maintain control, improper turns, driving too fast for road or weather conditions, inadequate training, defective or poorly maintained equipment, overloaded or improperly secured cargo, and violations of trucking safety regulations.
Eastern Kentucky’s mountainous terrain and winding highways can make safe operation of a large commercial vehicle particularly important. A fully loaded tractor-trailer traveling too fast or operated by an inattentive or fatigued driver can cause devastating injuries in seconds.
Trucking Companies May Begin Investigating Immediately
After a serious truck wreck, the trucking company and its insurance carrier may begin protecting their interests before the injured person has even left the hospital.
Investigators may photograph the scene, inspect vehicles, interview witnesses, obtain electronic information, and begin evaluating potential defenses.
The injured person deserves an investigation conducted with their interests in mind.
When appropriate, an attorney can take steps to demand preservation of important evidence and investigate the collision independently.
Federal Trucking Regulations Can Matter
Commercial motor carriers and drivers engaged in interstate trucking may be subject to regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Those regulations address matters such as driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and other safety requirements.
A violation does not automatically determine the outcome of every case, but trucking records and regulatory compliance can be important evidence in determining how and why a collision occurred.
Injuries From Commercial Truck Accidents
Because of the enormous difference in size and weight between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle, truck crashes frequently result in life-changing injuries.
We represent people suffering serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal and neurological injuries, amputations, severe fractures, internal injuries, permanent impairment, chronic pain, scarring and disfigurement, and other catastrophic injuries.
We also represent families in wrongful-death claims arising from fatal motor-vehicle collisions.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Every case is different, and no attorney can guarantee a particular result. Depending upon the facts and Kentucky law, an injured person may be entitled to seek compensation for losses such as:
Medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, impairment of the ability to earn money, pain and suffering, permanent injury, and other damages allowed by law.
In a fatal truck accident, Kentucky law may permit additional claims associated with the victim’s death and estate.
We investigate not only the damages but also the insurance policies and potentially responsible parties that may provide compensation.
Do Not Assume the Trucking Company’s Insurance Carrier Is Looking Out for You
An insurance company’s responsibility is to its insured and its own financial interests—not to the person injured in the crash.
You may be asked to provide a recorded statement, sign authorizations, or discuss an early settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known.
You are entitled to obtain legal advice before dealing with the trucking company’s insurance carrier.
If you have been seriously injured, talk with an experienced Kentucky injury attorney before signing documents or accepting a settlement.
Why Choose Bates & Slone?
Bates & Slone is a Kentucky law firm representing injured people and families.
We understand that a serious injury case is not simply a claim number. Our clients may be dealing with hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, permanent limitations, and uncertainty about their future.
We prepare our cases with the understanding that the insurance company may not voluntarily pay fair compensation. When a case cannot be resolved fairly, we are prepared to pursue our client’s claim through litigation.
You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Truck Accidents
What should I do after a tractor-trailer accident?
Seek appropriate medical care first. If possible, preserve photographs, witness information, insurance information, and anything else related to the collision. Avoid disposing of physical evidence. Contact an attorney promptly so important evidence can be identified and, when appropriate, steps can be taken to preserve it.
Should I give the trucking company’s insurance adjuster a recorded statement?
You should consider speaking with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company. Statements made shortly after a collision may later become important evidence in the case.
What happens to the truck’s electronic data?
Modern commercial vehicles may contain electronic information relevant to the truck’s operation before a collision. Other relevant information may be contained in electronic logging devices, GPS systems, dispatch systems, cameras, or other equipment. What information exists varies from case to case, which is why prompt investigation can be important.
Can the trucking company be responsible even if the driver caused the wreck?
Potentially. The answer depends upon the facts and applicable law. A trucking company’s responsibility may involve its relationship with the driver as well as its own conduct in hiring, training, supervision, retention, maintenance, or other aspects of the operation.
How much does it cost to hire Bates & Slone for a truck accident case?
We handle personal-injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. We can explain the fee agreement and treatment of case expenses during your consultation.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Kentucky?
Deadlines depend upon the particular claim and circumstances. Waiting can also make evidence more difficult to obtain. Contact an attorney promptly rather than relying upon a general deadline found online.
What if my family member was killed in a tractor-trailer accident?
Kentucky law permits certain claims following a wrongful death. The proper person to bring the claim and the damages that may be recovered depend upon Kentucky law and the circumstances of the case. We can evaluate the collision and explain the family’s legal options.
Serving Truck Accident Victims Throughout Eastern Kentucky
Bates & Slone represents injured people and families in Hindman, Hazard, Pikeville, Prestonsburg and communities throughout Eastern Kentucky and across Kentucky.
Whether the collision involved a tractor-trailer, dump truck, delivery vehicle, commercial van, or another large commercial vehicle, we can investigate the circumstances and explain your legal options.
Injured in a Truck Wreck? Talk to Bates & Slone.
The trucking company may already be investigating the accident.
You should have someone protecting your interests too.
Call Bates & Slone Attorneys at Law at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation.
No attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.