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Truck Accidents
Accidents caused by large trucks, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles are different than car crashes – both in terms of the harm that can be inflicted and the compensation that can be obtained.
Injuries to drivers and passengers in cars, light trucks, and SUVs are often more severe in truck accidents because of the size and weight of these large vehicles, and the available recoveries for those injured also can be higher, often significantly.
The highly experienced injury law attorneys of Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner will help you pursue the compensation you deserve for medical bills, potential future medical costs, physical and emotional pain and suffering, lost wages from missed work, disability issues, and other challenges resulting from a truck accident.
The possibility of higher recoveries for victims of truck accidents stems in part from the higher mandated levels of insurance for large trucks and complex insurance arrangements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets insurance coverage requirements according to federal law. The levels are based in part on the weight of the vehicle and what it’s transporting.
For example, large trucks carrying freight must have minimum commercial liability insurance coverage of between $750,000 and $5 million, depending on commodities transported, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The minimum for non-hazardous freight moved only in vehicles weighing under 10,001 lbs. is $300,000.
Some members of Congress argue that those limits are far too low and have sponsored the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act, H.R. 6884, which was referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit in January 2024.
It would raise the minimum threshold from $750,000 to $5 million, as well as indexing the new minimum insurance requirement to inflation, which would pave the path for truck accident victims to receive much higher compensation in legal actions handled by an experienced injury attorney.
Liability in accidents involving large trucks that leave you and others injured can be complex. It ranges from negligence on the part of the driver and/or the entities with ownership of the vehicle or responsibility for its safe operation, negligent hiring and training for the transportation company, liability for dangerous or hazardous materials, shipper and broker liability, as well as the governmental entity responsible for ensuring safe road conditions where the accident occurred.
In some accidents caused by trucks, it may be possible to file a claim against more than one party, sometimes including multiple entities with ownership stakes in a single tractor trailer rig on the highway, for example. The cab, trailer, and cargo might all have different owners – and each one may have some liability for an accident.
Additionally, third parties that perform maintenance and inspections on large trucks and tractor-trailers may have liability for circumstances contributing to an accident – and even the parties that loaded a truck could be implicated.
It’s important for anyone injured in an accident caused a truck to contact a seasoned Personal Injury lawyer with significant experience handling the nuances and complexities of truck accidents, and a track record for going up against the insurance companies that handle coverage for large trucks and commercial vehicles.
Contact Our Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Contact the Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner Personal Injury team as soon as possible following a truck accident for a free consultation to determine your legal options and the best path to obtaining the compensation you deserve.
We will meet with you at our office, at your home or even at the hospital caring for your injuries. Contact us today through our online contact form or call 860-232-3000 to schedule a free consultation.
Partner Alan J. Rome has been practicing law since 1989. His extensive litigation practice focuses on Personal Injury and he has secured multiple outcomes exceeding $1 million.
Partner Christopher A. Sica focuses his practice on protecting the rights of those who are injured in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation and malpractice cases. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, recovering millions of dollars.
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