Kansas Semitruck Accident Lawyers

Kansas Semitruck Accident Lawyers

Have you been injured in a Semitruck Accident?

An accident involving an large semitruck is not like a common auto accident.  Anyone who has ever driven a big-rig or or been involved in a semitruck accident knows the hurtling mass of a 20-plus ton truck is not easy to maneuver, and as a result it often causes destruction to everything in its path.  While semitruck accidents are not the most common type of accident, they are often the most deadly category of accident on Kansas roads.

If you’ve been injured in a semitruck accident, Patterson Legal Group, LC may work on your behalf to obtain compensation for the injuries sustained by you or your loved one.

Act Promptly and Consult with a Semitruck Accident Attorney

Accident scenes where semitrucks are involved change very quickly and the memory of witnesses soon fade.  It may be critical for your claim to take action immediately.  It’s important to preserve evidence of your medical condition and injuries, and evidence of what happened at the accident scene.  Many professional semitruck companies operate “SWAT team” style cleanups and get to the accident scene immediately.  These corporate employees are the first to take photos and measurements before the accident scene is cleared, which may happen before you are able to take them.

The police may also take crash-scene photos and allow evidence to be cleared from the scene.  If you have the chance, ask that police do take pictures.  If your condition allows you to take pictures on your own, any photographic evidence you are able to collect may be helpful.  Photographic evidence you can collect at the scene may help an accident reconstruction expert explain to you, your attorney, and perhaps a judge and jury, what happened to cause the 18-wheeler or semitruck accident to occur.

Common Causes of Kansas Semitruck Accidents

Many semitruck accidents are caused by drivers who are speeding, suffering from driver fatigue, or who are not paying attention to the road.  While truck drivers are regulated to the number of hours they can drive and have mandated rest periods each day, sometimes these rules are violated.  It may be necessary to review drivers’ logs to look for violations before they disappear following an accident.

Other types of trucking accidents may include:

  • Aggressive driving;
  • Failure to inspect truck equipment (tires, brakes and lights);
  • Tailgating;
  • Illegally work-shifts;
  • Oversized loads;
  • Driver boredom or cell phone usage;
  • A lack of side mirrors or unusually large blind spots;
  • Dangerous lane changes;
  • Jackknifing; or
  • Speeding, ignoring posted reduced truck speed limit.

Difficulties of Semitruck Accident Cases in Kansas

The trucking industry is in the business of sending vehicles on the road and works to produce studies and evidence to shift the blame for a semitruck crash from the truck driver to a passenger car driver.  An experienced Kansas truck accident lawyer should be aware of misleading information truck companies provide and have knowledge of how to counter these tactics in court.  Other common difficulties truck accident attorneys encounter include:

Falsification of Truck Driver’s Logs:

Drivers are often pressured by their employers to make deliveries quicker than road conditions allow. Prior legal cases have revealed truck drivers may be pressured to falsify a driving log, sometimes to show they are fit to be driving on the road. Not all lawyers are aware of the tricks truck drivers use in order to falsify their driving records.

Company Policies:

Trucking companies often have policy manuals that appear great on paper and meet every standard as required by the professional industry.  However, it is not always a reality that the company requires semitruck drivers to follow the policy set forth in the company manuals.  Federal and state regulations designed to prevent truck drivers from substance abuse, overuse of stimulants in order to work long hours, are frequently abused.  Attorneys who are experienced in truck accident litigation have the ability to identify these deficiencies in company policies, which may be necessary for recovery in your case.

Finger Pointing from Employees, Companies, and Manufacturers:

When more than one person or company is in charge of equipment that has injured you, there may be more than one person who is legally responsible for your injuries. However, tracing the origins of where a defect may have started is very difficult.  Often, it is beyond the ability of an attorney, which is why it is necessary to hire a team of investigators and industry experts to pin down the real cause of your accident and to hold accountable the parties responsible for your injuries.

Financing your Case:

Commercial, private, and governmental semitruck operators have deep pockets they are willing to use to defend themselves from semitruck crash claims and property losses. It may be necessary to hire multiple experts to determine the level of responsibility for each party involved to determine your amount of recovery. Prosecuting a truck accident claim is complex and you should only select a firm with resources to represent you against a large and well-financed defendant.

The Party that Acts Quickest Gains an Advantage:

The trucking company involved in an accident may have representatives on the scene minutes after it happened, while you may be coping with an injury, in the hospital or dealing with the loss of a loved one. The most effective way to counter the tactics used by a large trucking company is to start the investigation of your accident immediately. This starts by obtaining effective legal representation, without delay.

Preservation of Evidence:

Driver’s logs, computer records, and “black box” data must be secured before it disappears or is lost. Large commercial companies have policies to routinely destroy data as quickly as possible, which they view as a way to reduce potential liability they may owe to an injured victim.  Federal regulations permit trucking companies to destroy drivers logs and other essential data after a period of six months.  These items may be critical for your lawyer or an accident reconstruction expert to determine the surrounding circumstances and cause of your truck accident.  These pieces of evidence should be safely secured and stored by your attorney to help your case.

CONTACT OUR SEMITRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Patterson Legal Group, LC works on a contingency fee basis and does not charge a fee unless you collect. Our Kansas semitruck accident lawyers are experienced with handling semitruck accident cases.  If you, or someone you love, have suffered and injury as a result of a semitruck accident, contact our lawyers for a free case evaluation.

Case Results

  • $161,000: Drivers collide at sharp curve in middle of roadway as cornfield obstructed view
  • $395,000 auto accident
  • $290,000: Minor Injured in ATV Accident
  • $500,000: Auto Accident
  • $550,000: Motorcyclist Killed
  • $2,650,000: Vehicle Rollover Accident
  • $6,000,000: Negligence
  • $250,000: Auto/Bus Collision

More Results

Testimonials

Constance O.

I felt my case was handled with the utmost care and efficiency.  Thank you for all your hard work on my behalf.

TS

It was comforting knowing that I had the Patterson Legal Group on my side while I was injured in a hit by a drunk driver.  It was nice to be able to heal & recover & not have to worry about the legal part of the insurance company.   Thank Patterson Group for all your help!

Douglas H

I don’t know how my wife and I could have navigated my recovery from a spinal cord injury/auto accident and the accompanying legal and insurance complexities without the help of Gary and his staff. From the day following my injury, they guided, advocated on my behalf, and managed to track all of my medical bills. […]

Debbie S

They were very understanding of my issues and worked with me to complete the necessary forms and documents. This process took several months and they kept in touch with me and kept me informed through the whole process. My attorney was always available to answer any questions that came up and she was very prompt […]

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