Individuals involved in accidents involving trucks often suffer permanent lifelong disabilities due to the traumatic injuries sustained in the accident. A personal injury claim allows the accident victim to receive compensation for his or her damages. Common injuries that are associated with collisions involving commercial vehicles include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Injuries to the back, neck, joints, and muscles
- Wrongful death
Due to the severity of the injuries sustained in a truck accident, victims incur substantial damages including medical expenses, lost income, property damage, physical pain, and emotional suffering. A personal injury attorney specializing in commercial truck accidents can help accident victims seek financial compensation for these damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver, the truck company, and/or any other party at-fault for the accident.
Determining Fault in a Truck Accident
The trucking industry is known for pushing drivers to deliver loads as quickly as possible even though the schedules and deadline may result in drivers exceeding federal driving limits. When truck drivers attempt to drive while fatigued, accidents occur. Bad drive decisions are much more likely to happen when truck drivers are tired.
Unfortunately, when a truck driver falls asleep or makes a mistake, the consequences are severe. Other examples of driver error includes speeding, driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, driving while distracted, and failing to follow traffic laws. However, truck drivers are not the only cause of truck accidents.
Other factors that may contribute to a truck accident include:
- Defective truck parts
- Shifting cargo during transport
- Overweight vehicles
- Improper maintenance of the truck and/or trailer
- Missing or broken safety systems such as warning devices, reflectors, and lights
- Lack of sufficient training for the driver
To receive compensation for your injuries, you must prove that the truck driver and/or another party was negligent in causing the accident. If you prove that the driver or another party was at-fault, you are entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs.
In addition to your actual monetary losses, you are entitled to receive compensation for your physical pain and emotional suffering. An experienced trucking accident attorney can help you receive justice.
How To File A Claim Against The Company At Fault
To File a claim, you will need to visit the “Contact Us” tab on their site. There you will find a downloadable accident form that you can either fill digitally or print and fill out.
The following information is what you will need to submit your claim:
- Your contact information
- Date and location of the accident
- Information of the operator of the truck.
- The company the Ryder truck driver was driving for
- A description of the accident and injuries sustained
You will also be required to gather evidence, which is where it will be helpful to hire an attorney. An experienced Personal Injury attorney will help you gather:
- The police report
- Witness statements
- Medical Documentation
- Accurate damage estimates
Once you have gathered all that information, you will then send it over to the Ryder claims office by either fax or email.
Have You Been Injured In A Vehicle Accident Involving A Truck?
A truck accident attorney will likely have extensive experience conducting a truck accident investigation to identify and preserve key evidence used to prove negligence. A truck accident case is very different from other types of vehicle accident claims. You need an attorney who has experienced handling commercial truck cases in order to maximize your chance of receiving a fair and just settlement.
Commercial trucks are governed by a complex set of federal and state trucking regulations and laws. Trucking accident cases often require the attorney to have a thorough understanding of these rules and regulations. Because your damages are extensive, you may not want to rely on an attorney who does not specialize in truck accident cases.
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Ryder Integrated Logistics, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
