Pine Bluff Truck Accident Attorney
Commercial trucking is a crucial element of the supply chains of the United States, and most drivers in Pine Bluff will encounter large commercial trucks on the roads regularly without issue. However, truck accidents can and do happen in various ways, and due to the size and weight of these vehicles, these accidents tend to be far more damaging than most other vehicle crashes. A Pine Bluff truck accident lawyer can assist with your recovery after such an accident.
Experienced Legal Representation for Truck Accident Claims in Pine Bluff, AR
The Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC, has years of experience handling all types of motor vehicle accident claims for clients in Pine Bluff and surrounding areas, including commercial truck accidents. These cases tend to be more challenging to resolve than most other vehicle accident cases due to the severity of the damages they cause and the complex questions of liability that might arise.
With our assistance, you can approach the recovery process with peace of mind. We know the challenges you are likely to face in the aftermath of your accident, the questions you are likely to have concerning your recovery options, and how to address your concerns regarding compensation for your damages. Rest assured that with the right Pine Bluff truck accident lawyer on your side, you will have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery.
Pine Bluff Truck Accident Lawyer
Call Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC today at 870-376-3068 for your Free Consultation!
Determining Liability for a Truck Accident in Pine Bluff
One of the most challenging aspects of many truck accident cases in Pine Bluff is proving liability. In Arkansas, the fault rule applies to all vehicle accident cases, meaning the driver at fault for an accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages, and a victim cannot recover compensation for their losses until they prove fault for the accident. In a truck accident case, it is possible for more than one party to share fault for the accident.
A truck driver may be to blame for your recent accident, but it is also possible for their employer to share fault under the legal concept of “vicarious liability”, as employers are often responsible for negligent acts committed by their employees.Also, the trucking industry requires employers to meet specific regulations. If a trucking company failed to do soandthis failure contributed to their driver causing an accident, this could be a basis of liability for the company.
It is also possible for a third party to be responsible for the accident, such as a mechanic who performed faulty maintenance on the truck or the driver of another vehicle who crashed into the truck, causing it to crash into you. This is just one way determining fault for a truck accident can be challenging. These accidents can happen for the same reasons other accidents occur, but they are also vulnerable to additional safety issues like improperly loaded cargo.
Claiming Compensation for a Truck Accident in Pine Bluff
Recovery from any vehicle accident in the state usually begins with an auto insurance claim. State law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements, and this obligation applies to trucking companies and their employees. In fact, many trucking companies have greater insurance coverage than the average individual private driver. However, this does not mean that filing your claim will be easy.
It is wise to expect any insurance company to push back against your claim in whatever waythey can. An insurance company will almost always fight a claim for coverage, looking for any and all justifications they can find to deny a claim or offer the lowest possible settlements. Some insurance company representatives will even engage in bad faith, hoping to take advantage of unwary injured claimants who are desperate to obtain compensation for their losses.
Working with an experienced Pine Bluff truck accident lawyer is the optimal way to ensure you achieve good results with the insurance claim filing process. Your attorney can help you file your claim correctly and ensure all supporting documentation and evidence is attached to the claim. If any disputes arise, your attorney can be ready to argue on your behalf and make certain that the insurance company processes your claim in good faith and in a timely manner.
Truck accidents can have devastating effects, and it is possible that your insurance claim payout will not fully cover your losses. In this situation, a personal injury suit offers the optimal path to recovering as much compensation as possible for your damages. If you can successfully establish fault for the accident, you can seek compensation for:
- Property damage. When insurance cannot or does cover your vehicle repair or replacement costs, the defendant who caused your accident must compensate for these losses.
- Medical treatment costs. Truck accidents often result in severe traumatic injuries. The defendant is not only responsible for the immediate medical care you need after the accident but also for future treatment if you suffer any serious injuries or otherwise have an injury with long-lasting effects.
- Lost income. When you are unable to work because of your accident, the at-fault defendant is liable for the income you are no longer able to earn. This can include lost future earning capacity when you have been permanently disabled by a truck accident. The amount you can claim will generally depend on your age, how much you earn, and how long you would have otherwise been able to continue working if you hadn’t been injured.
- Pain and suffering. Arkansas law allows an injured plaintiff to claim financial compensation for the physical pain and psychological suffering they experienced because of a defendant’s actions. Generally, the more serious the plaintiff’s injuries, the more they can secure in pain and suffering compensation.
The Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC, can work closely with you to accurately determine the full scope of the damages you are legally eligible to claim after a truck accident in Pine Bluff. We can assist you with your negotiations with an insurance carrier and verify that they have handled your claim in good faith. If a personal injury suit is necessary, trust your Pine Bluff truck accident lawyer to build a compelling case on your behalf.
FAQs
Generally, car accidents are resolved with a fault-based system, meaning the driver at fault for causing an accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages, and their insurance will go toward paying for the victim’s losses. The fault rule means that you will need to prove liability for your accident before you can recover any compensation through auto insurance and/or a personal injury suit.
Fault for a truck accident in Pine Bluff may fall to the driver of the truck, and it is also possible for their employer to share fault for the accident. If the employer fails to follow or enforce trucking industry regulations—for example, a violation of rules about how long operators can drivewithout taking a break—that contributed to causing the accident, the trucking company can be held liable for the resulting damages. It is also possible for a third party in another vehicle to have caused the truck accident you experienced. /p>
If you were partially responsible for the truck accident, the state’s modified comparative fault rule will apply to your case. You will still be eligible to claim compensation for your damages as long as you were less at fault than the defendant, but you should expect to lose a percentage of your case award equal to your percentage of fault. If you have concerns about bearing partial responsibility for a recent truck accident, you need to consult an experienced attorney.
The amount of compensation you can claim for a truck accident in Pine Bluff will depend on multiple variables. If you can prove another party is responsible for causing the accident, you can hold them accountable for any economic losses you sustained, such as the cost of medical treatment for your injuries, the income you are unable to earn during your recovery, and the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering.
You should hire a Pine Bluff truck accident lawyer because you will be significantly more likely to not only succeed with your case but also maximize your compensation when you have legal counsel you trust advising you. The right attorney can help you navigate the complex details of your claim, uncovering all the various channels of compensation available to you. They can also usually help you resolve the case more quickly than you could manage alone, with better results.
The time required to resolve a truck accident case will depend on several variables. If the fault for the accident is clear and you have the right attorney handling the case, it is possible that you could receive a settlement offer from their insurance company in a matter of weeks. However, even when everything lines up perfectly, cases usually are not resolved that quickly. And the main goal is to resolve your case fairly, not just fast.Your attorney can help you ensure that you receive a fair settlement offer from the insurance company, and they can streamline a personal injury suit if necessary to ensure the fullest recovery.
Contact Our Pine Bluff Truck Accident Attorney Today
The Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC, can provide comprehensive legal representation for all stages of your truck accident case in Pine Bluff. Our team has helped many past clients recover compensation for their damages, and we can put this experience to work in your impending case. You have a short time to pursue your recovery, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with our firm to learn how we can assist you.