Dover Truck Accident Lawyer

A collision with a tractor-trailer is one of the most serious motor vehicle accidents you can be involved in. If you’ve been harmed in a big rig accident, contact a Dover truck crash lawyer for help.

People who are hurt in trucking crashes often suffer debilitating injuries that will require extensive recovery time and keep them out of work for months or years. The financial insecurity can be just as difficult as the accident itself, especially for those who are living from paycheck to paycheck. This uncertainty can severely hinder your ability to recover with ease.

When you’re ready to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party, work with an experienced Dover truck accident lawyer at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor. We will advocate for full compensation that will meet your needs during this trying time.

In Dover Truck Accidents, Serious Injuries Are Common

Those who survive a collision with a big rig suffer serious wounds that can take a significant amount of time to heal. It is not uncommon for survivors to endure organ failure, third-degree burns, spinal cord injuries, amputations, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord can be incapacitating, permanently changing your life. Likewise, damage to the brain has similar repercussions. Trauma to the brain often requires victims to undergo many years of physical and occupational therapy so they can re-learn basic tasks like eating, speaking, walking, and others.

Those are only a couple of the serious injuries a Dover trucking collision victim could suffer. You could also face several types of emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety stemming from the accident. These can be just as disabling as physical injuries and take even longer to recover from.

When someone else is the cause of the 18-wheeler accident you’ve been involved in, he or she should be responsible for covering any and all costs associated with your injuries. The effects of such traumatic injuries are enough to deal with without cumbersome medical bills and everyday expenses that will still need to be paid while you’re out of work and recovering.

Who Is Liable for a Dover Tractor-Trailer Crash?

Various people could be held accountable for the part they’ve played in causing your 18-wheeler collision in Dover. Generally, there are three primary entities whose carelessness continues to destroy the lives of the individuals involved in crashes with big rigs:

The Trucking Company

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a federal office that oversees the operation of tractor-trailers across the United States. This office also implements critical safety regulations and imposes sanctions when necessary.

Although the FMCSA does not normally have claims brought against it, when a trucking company or truck owner chooses to ignore safety regulations and other laws set forth by the FMCSA, we can bring a personal injury claim against the negligent party for any damages that result.

For instance, if the company employing the truck driver who hit you violated FMCSA hour and shift length regulations, the trucker might have become drowsy and fallen asleep at the wheel. If this ultimately resulted in your injuries, your truck accident lawyer in Dover could pursue compensation from the trucking company.

The Driver of the 18-Wheeler

Truckers are usually the first ones to be blamed for accidents. While it is true that truck drivers are commonly found to be at least partially liable for their accidents, they aren’t always the primary cause.

However, if a truck driver was driving while distracted, operating the truck while drunk, or driving aggressively by following too closely, speeding, or changing lanes without signaling, his or her level of liability for your injuries will increase.

Those Responsible for the Safety of the Truck

If the safety of the truck is called into question, those responsible for its care and maintenance will be examined for their contribution to the cause of your Dover semi-truck accident. Cargo loaders, technicians, safety inspectors, parts manufacturers, and any other individual who was hired to ensure the safety of the truck but failed to do so can be brought to justice for their negligence.

When the safety of the truck itself becomes an issue, those in charge of its care will be questioned for information pertaining to how the safety issue caused the accident and who’s to blame for this mistake.

Securing the Compensation You Deserve

People who don’t work with personal injury law are unlikely to understand how much their Dover truck wreck claim should be worth. As your attorneys, we will consider each area of your life that has been impacted by the accident and your injuries as we calculate the value of your claim. Your damages could include the following:

  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of future earnings
  • Replacement or repair of your vehicle
  • Loss of consortium
  • Effects of disfigurement
  • Wrongful death
  • Medical expenses, such as:
    • Copays
    • Hospital bills
    • Medical equipment
    • Costs of prescription medications
    • Transportation costs to and from doctor visits
    • Adjustments to your home to accommodate medical equipment

When applicable, other damages can be included in the calculation of the value of your claim. At no point should you need to assume the costs of your injuries when, if it wasn’t for the irresponsibility of another, you would have never been involved in a truck accident in the first place.

In addition to the previously stated losses, the court could determine that you should be awarded punitive damages as a punishment to the liable party and to set an example for individuals who might make the same unfortunate decisions. If you are awarded punitive damages, you can expect your compensation amount to increase substantially.

Dover Truck Accident FAQ

People who are lucky enough to survive a commercial trucking accident in Dover typically have many questions about personal injury claims and how the process works before they are willing to move forward. Here are some of the more common questions our clients have asked us.

Can I sue if the truck driver is from another state?

Which state the truck driver is from shouldn’t make any difference. What makes a difference is the state in which the collision happened. Our firm can work with truck accidents that occur within the limits of Delaware. So, as long as the accident occured within the state, your case should be viable.

Should I prepare to go to court?

You should always be ready to go to court, but in many cases, we are able to successfully negotiate with the insurer or trucking company so you are awarded a reasonable out-of-court settlement. In the event that the other side fails to compromise, our best chance at receiving the compensation you deserve could be to have your case heard in court.

The insurance company has asked me for a statement. Should I provide one?

We do not encourage you to speak with the insurers because they have a reputation for taking well-intentioned statements and twisting them to their advantage by making it seem as though you hold a higher percentage of fault for the accident than you actually do.

Call a Dover Semi-Truck Accident Attorney

You don’t have to let the people who have negatively impacted your life take advantage of you for another second. Get in touch with the experienced team at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor if you require a group of qualified professionals who will work diligently and battle for the full compensation you deserve.

Schedule your free consultation with a Dover truck accident lawyer today by contacting us via telephone at 302-734-8400 or via the convenient contact form we have provided at the bottom of this page.