If you or someone you care about has been injured in a truck accident, there are important and immediate steps you can take to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. At Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., we encourage clients to seek legal help from our firm as soon as possible after truck accidents. Trucking companies and their insurers employ many investigators and lawyers to help them find reasons to reject claims. You need someone who has your back.
Our firm can assist anyone injured in the following types of accidents:
The trucking industry is heavily regulated. Nevertheless, accidents happen quite frequently, and they have many causes. Some of the more common involve trucker negligence or error, such as:
Our firm has represented both trucking professionals and members of the public who have been injured in truck accidents. This broad experience allows us to fully represent our client’s interests in any lawsuit.
Members of the public face many challenges to receiving compensation. One problem is identifying why the accident happened. Ultimately, we need to analyze the crash to assign fault. If a person or entity is at fault, then they should pay compensation to cover the full cost of your injuries.
Civilians tend to ride in smaller, lighter cars and SUVs. Consequently, they can suffer devastating injuries following a truck accident. These accidents can cause lifetime impairments or disfigurement, which can make a return to normal life difficult. Some accidents are so serious that civilians are permanently disabled and suffering from constant pain.
Anyone injured in a truck accident should meet with an attorney to discuss bringing a claim. Compensation is warranted when someone has injured you negligently or recklessly.
Once civilians identify who is at fault, they can submit a claim for compensation or file a lawsuit. In our experience, we tend to name the following as defendants:
Many injured civilians quickly feel overwhelmed in the weeks following an accident. They are struggling to get well and spend most of their days meeting with doctors, specialists, and physical therapists. Because rehabbing an injury feels like a full-time job, they don’t have much time to dedicate to the legal side of their case.
That’s where we come in. Our legal team can represent clients from start to finish. We begin getting to work right away to fully understand how the accident happened. We can talk to witnesses, inspect all vehicles involved, and even visit the accident scene.
Clients benefit from our experience in these types of cases. Truck accidents are very different from regular car wrecks, and you deserve a lawyer who can see the differences. For example, truck accidents involve different evidence.
Did you know that most modern commercial vehicles are outfitted with electronic monitoring systems? These devices contain a wealth of information about the truck leading up to the crash. We can find out how long the truck was in motion and whether the driver braked before hitting you. This information often serves as the foundation of a legal claim to show how the wreck occurred.
Our lawyers know how to preserve this and other helpful evidence after an accident. You can then focus on getting better.
It is entirely possible to avoid a lawsuit. Trucking companies and their insurers have an incentive to settle any claim against them. Other possible defendants (like manufacturers) have the same incentive.
In our experience, few truck accident cases go to trial. Nevertheless, we always negotiate realizing that a trial might be the best result. If a defendant cannot offer fair compensation, then filing a lawsuit in court might be the only step to take.
A fair settlement should cover your medical bills, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering. If an insurer or trucking company reaches out to you, please avoid accepting the first offer made. It is rarely fair or in your best interest to take it.
There are many state and federal laws regulating how long a truck driver can operate their vehicle in one sitting. Trucks can do a lot of damage to an average car and the people inside, and truck drivers who drive for too long are more prone to making mistakes. This is why it is imperative truck drivers adhere to the laws.
Federal trucking regulations state that:
Unfortunately, many employers incentivize truck drivers to break these rules by offering bonuses for deliveries made before the deadline. Additionally, some truck drivers will not receive payment until the delivery is made, further encouraging them to break the rules. Trucking companies are often the ones who will be paying compensation when their drivers get into an accident. Investigating how they treat their employees could be beneficial to your case.
On March 13, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an emergency declaration that temporarily lifts hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers transporting certain goods and personnel directly connected with coronavirus relief. Less than a week later, on March 18, the FMCSA expanded the suspension to include additional truck drivers transporting items not initially included in the original emergency declaration.
Currently (as of April 16, 2020) the temporary suspension of hours-of-service regulations affects drivers transporting:
While the temporary suspension of federal hours-of-service regulations allows truck drivers to transport goods and personnel to hard-hit areas, it also places truck drivers at a heightened risk of being involved in accidents. At Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, P.C., we provide dedicated legal representation to those involved in devastating truck accidents, including truck drivers.
Our firm represents people who have been injured in truck accidents as well as truckers who have been injured in on-the-job truck accidents. Our firm’s experience helping injured truckers with workers’ compensation claims also includes third-party liability claims involving truck accidents.
We have seen third party claims sustained against all sorts of entities, including:
In some situations, the selection of jurisdiction is an important component in maximizing compensation. For instance, if you have been injured in a state other than Iowa or Nebraska but are a resident of Iowa, we will determine which jurisdiction is most beneficial for you. Each state has a different calculation of benefits and different ways of handling medical issues. We do this as part of our client-oriented approach to ensure our clients receive fair compensation for their injuries.
Our truck accident attorney in Council Bluffs has represented injury victims throughout Iowa and Nebraska. It is important to start building your case not long after the accident. The faster the investigation begins, the more evidence can be gathered to justify your injury claim. After a few months or even weeks, evidence can easily start to disappear.
Call our firm today at (712) 323-0999 to arrange a free consultation with experienced Council Bluffs truck accident attorneys who will fight for the compensation you deserve.
