Some of the most dangerous types of accidents are truck accidents. They tend to cause very serious injuries – even death. This is because no passenger vehicle stands a chance against a giant tractor trailer. Your Bentonville truck accident lawyer will do what it takes to get your family the compensation you deserve.
A lot of people hate sharing the road with truck drivers. They tend to go too fast. Tractor trailer drivers are paid to transport cargo from one side of the country to the other. So, it’s not surprising that they try to cover as much ground as possible. This can lead to some very nasty accidents.
When dealing with a truck accident, your Bentonville injury lawyer may have to pursue multiple parties. You’re not just dealing with the truck driver. You will have to file a claim against the company they work for. You may also have to pursue other third parties for your damages.
It’s important that you have an experienced trucking accident attorney by your side. These cases can become very complex. And, you’ll probably be suffering from very serious injuries. You need to focus on getting better. Let your truck accident attorney in Arkansas handle the legal side of things for you.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bentonville Truck Accident Lawyer?
The last thing you’ll want to think about after your accident is coming up with the money to hire a lawyer. The good news is that The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A charges tractor trailer accident clients on a contingency basis.
A contingency agreement means that your lawyer doesn’t get paid until they win your case. So, no matter what your financial position, you can rest assured that you’ll have competent legal counsel handling your case.
You’re have the best legal services you can find. This is important because you’ll be going up against the legal teams representing the trucking company and their insurance companies. You don’t want to face this on your own. You’ll be at a serious disadvantage.
Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?
There is no law that says you need an attorney to handle your truck accident case. However, you’re much better off having an experienced truck accident attorney in Bentonville by your side.
You want to make sure you receive as much compensation as possible. This will require filing a claim against the insurance company. It may also require that you file a truck accident lawsuit against the driver’s employer. These cases can get very complicated. A truck accident lawyer knows exactly what it takes to handle this type of litigation.
Your truck accident attorney in Bentonville will do all of the following things on your behalf:
- Review police and accident reports
- Interview witnesses
- Investigate the accident scene
- Examine truck driver’s logs, maintenance records and credentials
- Analyze the damage to the vehicles
- Determine if all traffic laws were obeyed
- Identify other parties who may have contributed to the accident
- Identify all lines of insurance coverage available
The experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. will prepare a case that uses all possible evidence to prove the trucker was at fault. They’ll hire the necessary experts to prove your case. Some of these experts include:
- Forensic engineers
- Truck accident investigators
- Accident reconstruction specialists
- Medical experts
Your truck accident attorney will also use tools such as mock trials and focus groups to prepare for court. They’ll do what it takes to maximize your chances for compensation.
What Should I Do After My Truck Accident?
The first thing you need to do after your truck accident is make sure you’re safe. If possible, remove yourself and your vehicle from the flow of traffic. If you believe your vehicle may be on fire or likely to burn, move as far away from your car as possible to avoid further injury
The next thing you need to do is call 911. They’ll arrange for medical transport to the hospital. They’ll also conduct a thorough investigation. They’ll review the accident scene and talk to witnesses. They’ll check to see if either driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
In truck accident cases, the police may also ask to see the truck driver’s maintenance and work logs. These will show the officer if perhaps the truck wasn’t maintained as required. It can also show if the driver had exceeded their hours as required by federal law.
Your truck accident lawyer in Bentonville will need this police report. It has information they may not be able to access later on. It’s important that you always call the police after any sort of accident. If the truck driver tries to convince you to not call the police, don’t agree. There’s never a good reason to agree not to call the cops.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Most trucking accidents are caused by negligence. This means the truck driver made a mistake and it caused them to crash into another vehicle. If you’ve been the victim in a truck accident, you know how scary they can be.
These accidents tend to be a lot more complicated than a typical car accident. This is because commercial drivers are subject to special rules. In addition to obeying regular traffic laws, they also have to obey federal guidelines for tractor trailer drivers.
These federal regulations are intended to keep both truckers and other motorists safe. Here are some of the more common causes of truck accidents in Arkansas:
- Truck driver fatigue usually resulting from falsifying driver logs
- Unbalanced or unsecured loads
- Poor maintenance of both the tractor and the trailer
- Aggressive driving known in the industry as muscling
- Failure to adjust to bad driving conditions
- Failure to follow industry rules and regulations
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Negligent hiring of unqualified drivers.
The truck accident lawyers at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. has more than two decades experience handling these types of cases. They have the knowledge necessary to help get you the compensation you deserve.
Arkansas Trucking Accident Laws
Arkansas is a big state. They have 75 counties and thousands of miles of roads and highways. This means Arkansas sees more than its fair share of motor vehicle accidents. In fact, in 2008, there were more than 50,000 traffic fatalities in Arkansas.
The auto accident laws in Arkansas are a bit complex. This is because they’re a combination of both “no-fault” and “at-fault” laws. Even a lot of Arkansas trucking accident lawyers have a hard time understanding the truck accident laws.
These laws are mostly governed by something called the “Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act”. This law involves accidents involving trucks, big-rigs, or tractor trailers. If you get into a truck accident, you want to hire a lawyer who is familiar with this law. Having the right attorney can make the difference between winning your case and losing your case.
This is why you should call the experienced attorneys at Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. They have the skills to get you justice.
Can I Get Compensation for My Truck Accident?
Arkansas is a bit complicated when it comes to damages for your truck accident. Your medical bills and lost wages are considered part of your “no-fault” damages. This means that each driver has to rely on their own auto insurance policy for coverage of these bills.
This is true regardless of who caused the accident. So, even if the truck driver was at fault, you still need to look toward your own car insurance to cover these types of expenses.
Other types of damages, such as pain and suffering, are considered “fault” based. These are the types of damages you’re going to expect the truck driver’s insurance to pay. If the truck driver was negligent, either his insurance or his employer needs to cover your non-economic damages.How Much is My Case Worth?
It’s impossible to tell you how much your case is worth without reviewing it. That’s why it’s so important for you to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Bentonville.
Your attorney can review your case and all of the information you provide. They’ll look at your medical records and other expenses to determine the value of your case. Given the seriousness of the injuries in truck accident cases, they tend to be worth more than regular car accident cases.
Some of the things that will help determine how much your case may be worth include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental and emotional anguish caused by the crash
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Your experienced truck accident lawyer in Bentonville will look at all of these things. They’ll give you an idea of what your case may be worth. Keep in mind, however, that in order to recover, you have to win your case. This is why you want to have someone by your side with the knowledge and experience necessary to prove your case.
We Handle the Following Types of Injury Cases
While our experienced truck accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve, our team also handles other types of injury cases.
Some of the injury cases we handle include:
- Car Accidents – If you get injured in a Bentonville car accident, we can help get you the damages you deserve. This could include accidents caused by distracted driving, speeding, or any other sort of violation. We can help you file your claim against the other driver’s insurance and, if need be, file suit on your behalf.
- Motorcycle Accidents – These accidents tend to be very serious. There’s nothing to protect you from the other car other than a plastic helmet. Your motorcycle lawyer in Bentonville will get you the compensation you deserve.
- Nursing Home Abuse – If your loved one has been injured at the hands of a fellow resident or a nursing home employee, you need help. Your loved ones deserve to be treated with car and respect. If someone is injuring your mom or dad, you need to call a personal injury lawyer in Bentonville, Arkansas.
- Workers Compensation – If you suffer a work-related injury, you should be entitled to workers compensation benefits. This includes both your medical care and replacement wages. As long as your injuries took place while on the clock, you should be eligible for benefits.
- Wrongful Death – If your loved one dies as a result of an accident, you may have a claim for wrongful death. Most of these cases involve negligence. Your lawyer will have to prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. If so, you may be entitled to damages.
No matter what type of injury you suffer in Bentonville, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers can help. They’ll work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. You need to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let our lawyer handle the legal side of things.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you’re going to need to focus on recovering from your injuries. The last thing you need to do is deal with lawyers and insurance companies. You also don’t want the insurance company taking advantage of you.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced accident lawyer in Bentonville, Arkansas. Let the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield P.A. handle the legal side of things while you focus on getting well. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.