Lexington Truck Accident Lawyers | Tractor-Trailers and 18-Wheelers

Truck accidents are some of the scariest crashes on Kentucky’s roads. Trucks weigh much more than passenger vehicles, and when the two collide, it’s those in the smaller vehicle who suffer the worst injuries.

It can take months, and sometimes even years, to recover from a truck accident. Some individuals never make a full recovery, and tragically, families sometimes lose loved ones to these senseless accidents.

It takes courage to push forward with your life after a devastating truck accident. It takes courage to stay tough through painful medical treatments. It takes courage to fight aggressive trucking companies and insurers. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we provide the Kentucky Courage you need to get through this difficult time.

Call us now to speak to a Kentucky big truck wreck lawyers who can help. The consultation is free.

Do You Have a Truck Accident Claim?

Not every truck accident in Kentucky will result in a personal injury lawsuit. However, you should speak with one of our truck accident lawyers if you:

Believe someone else was at fault for your accident
Suffered injuries that required more than simple first aid
Had to go to the hospital or urgent care

Require follow-up treatment
Are missing time from work
Can no longer enjoy the activities you once loved

Do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation to talk through your legal options after a truck accident. Your recovery should be your top priority, and you should never be forced to pay for someone else’s mistake.

Benefits of Hiring a Kentucky Truck Accident Attorney for Your Claim

There is no law stating that you must work with a big truck accident attorney when filing an accident claim. However, there are many ways in which our Kentucky truck accident attorneys can help. During your truck crash claim, our attorneys will:

Communicate with insurance companies (there are often many involved after a truck crash)
Investigate and collect evidence to prove liability
Organize your medical bills and records
Ensure healthcare providers properly document your injuries so you can prove damages
Work with medical specialists and other experts to determine how your injuries will affect you in the future
Accurately estimate the total value of your claim, including lost income and pain and suffering
Aggressively negotiate for a fair settlement with insurance companies and at-fault parties
Take the case to trial, when necessary, to fight for your best interests

These are just a few of the ways our attorneys can help with your truck accident claim. Essentially, our law firm will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Truck Wreck Claim?

Financial pressures can quickly become overwhelming after a serious truck crash, and it’s not just the medical bills. If you cannot go back to work right away, you may also struggle just to make ends meet on your everyday expenses. Then, of course, there’s the added toll that an accident can take on you mentally and emotionally.

When you choose Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to stand by your side, we will do everything in our power to make you whole again. We will fight for maximum compensation for:

Medical expenses
Future treatment costs
Damage to your vehicle
Lost wages

Future lost income
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional distress

It is important to understand that it is impossible to put a value on your case immediately after your accident. This is why you cannot trust a quick and easy settlement offer from an insurance company. You need to know how your injuries will affect you in the long run, and what future costs you can expect, in order to know what fair compensation should be.

Talk to our Kentucky truck accident lawyers now in a free consultation, and let us get to work on your case.

Get a Free Consultation: 877-809-5352 Contact Us Online

Evidence We May Use in a Truck Accident Case

Evidence is crucial when proving fault after a truck accident. The different types of evidence our lawyers may use to prove fault include:

Black box recorders
Truck cameras
Drug and alcohol test results
Truck driver logs
Internal records from the trucking company

Reports from accident reconstruction experts
Eye witness statements
Police reports

These are just a few types of evidence that may be used in your truck accident claim. After reviewing the details of your case, a big rig accident lawyer will collect all the necessary pieces of evidence and use them to build a strong claim for maximum compensation.

How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?

There are many ways you can determine and prove who was at fault for your truck accident.

Police reports are often used to help determine who was at fault for a crash. This is one reason it’s so important to call the police after any crash. Law enforcement will come to the scene, investigate the evidence, and determine who was at fault. During their investigation, they will also likely take statements from each driver and any eyewitnesses.

Once law enforcement has determined how the crash happened, the officers will then write and file a report. The information contained within this report can be very useful in your personal injury claim.

Our commercial truck accident attorneys will also perform our own investigation to determine fault after a wreck. Our attorneys will use many resources in their investigation, including accident reconstruction specialists who can determine how the accident happened.

Why Truck Accidents Are More Complicated

Truck accident claims are very different from claims involving two passenger cars, and they are certainly much more complex. A truck crash attorney from our law firm can explain what to expect every step of the way as we navigate the details of your case.

One reason why truck accidents are so much more complicated is because the resulting injuries are so much more serious.

Any time a personal injury case involves severe or catastrophic injuries, it is going to be more complicated. Before you can file your claim, you must understand not only your current medical expenses, but also any costs you’ll incur in the future. This means you must have reached maximum medical improvement, meaning you have recovered as much as possible from your injuries. This can take time, complicating your claim.

Liability in truck accident cases is also more complicated to determine.

This is because the truck driver may be at fault, but the trucking company could also be to blame. Additionally, any company that loaded the cargo on the truck could be liable if they did so in a manner that was unsafe. It is crucial that our attorneys identify every potentially liable party as we investigate your claim.

Insurance is always an issue after any accident, and this is even more complicated when it comes to truck wrecks.

Insurance companies don’t want to pay out on large claims. There could also be multiple insurance companies involved. Trucking companies, truck drivers, and other companies involved in the vehicle’s operation will all have their own insurance policies. Each will go back and forth, assigning fault to the other company, which can take more time and complicate a case.

Lastly, truck accidents are also more complex than car accident claims because the trucking industry has many more laws and regulations.

Trucking companies and truck drivers must follow certain state and federal laws, of which there are many. Although you may not be familiar with these laws, a semi-truck accident lawyer will be able to explain how they apply to your claim.

Common Questions After a Truck Crash

Truck Accidents

What am I going to do about something to drive?

This depends on your insurance policy. You may be able to have a rental car provided to you through your policy. As soon as we’re able to identify the insurance company for the at-fault party, we contact them and demand they provide you with a rental car until your vehicle can be repaired or replaced.

Who will pay my medical bills?

In Kentucky, the insurance carrier for the automobile you occupy at the time of the accident is responsible for up to $10,000 in medical bills. That insurance company will seek reimbursement from the at-fault party’s insurance company. If you have health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, they may pay your medical expenses. If they do, they will seek reimbursement from any money that you may ultimately recover from the at-fault party.

How much compensation will I get?

There is no easy answer to this question. Many factors, including the degree of the severity of the injuries, the amount of medical expenses and lost wages, and the amount of available insurance coverage, play roles in the amount of compensation you may receive.

When will I get my check?

Dealing with a big truck accident and the insurance companies is a long process. While the insurance company may offer you a quick check, if you take it, you may be losing out on getting maximum compensation. Before you talk to any insurance company, sign anything, or agree to a quick settlement, let our Kentucky big truck attorneys take a look at your case to make sure you’re getting a fair amount. Call us today for help.

Who Can Be Sued in a Truck Accident Case?

One of the biggest reasons truck accidents are so much more complicated than car accident claims is because there are so many more potential liable parties. After a crash involving a commercial truck, liable parties may include:

The truck driver: If the driver behaved negligently while behind the wheel, accident victims can sue them. These are typically the first potential defendants in truck accident cases.
Trucking companies: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring they are hiring skilled and experienced drivers, and that they are training them properly. When they fail to live up to those responsibilities, accident victims can sue.
Truck manufacturers: If the truck had a defect or mechanical failure that caused the accident, the manufacturer that made the truck or the defective truck part can be held liable.
Truck repair shops: If the truck had recently been taken in for repairs or an inspection and maintenance wasn’t performed properly, that can cause an accident. When that is the case, the repair shop can be sued.
Cargo companies: If a truck’s cargo was not loaded properly or secured safely, a shift or spill in cargo can cause a serious accident. When this happens, victims can hold those who loaded the cargo responsible.
The government: If a defect in the road or improper infrastructure caused a crash, accident victims can sue government bodies or contractors responsible for maintaining the roadway.

An experienced truck wreck lawyer can help accident victims determine who was liable for the crash and then pursue maximum payment for all losses suffered.

What Rules Must Truck Drivers Follow?

Truck drivers have many rules they must follow when on the road. These include:

Having a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Taking mandated 30-minute breaks every eight hours and following Hours of Service regulations to ensure they are not driving while fatigued
Proper loading of the truck to keep the vehicle under certain weight limits
Maintaining the truck
Safely carrying hazardous waste

These (and many other) rules are in place for a reason. When truck drivers break them, others on the road can be seriously hurt and, in the worst cases, killed.

Get a Free Consultation: 877-809-5352 Contact Us Online

Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits in Kentucky

Kentucky, like all states, has a statute of limitations on personal injury claims. This is the amount of time you have to file your claim after an accident. In Kentucky, this time limit is two years from the date of the accident. If you file your claim after this time, the courts will likely throw it out and you will be barred from receiving any compensation.

Many people think two years is a long time to file a claim, but it’s not. Before filing a claim, you must gather evidence, understand the severity of your injuries, and much more. It’s important to speak to a truck injury lawyer as soon as possible after a crash. An attorney will collect all the necessary evidence and information in order to support your claim for full compensation.

What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?

Unfortunately, there aren’t many people on your side after a truck accident. The insurance companies will try to work against you to avoid paying out on large settlements. The at-fault parties and drivers will work against you to protect themselves against liability.

Although this sounds troubling, the attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer have your back. We give you the Kentucky Courage you need to fight for what’s yours.

Some of the steps that we recommend you take to protect yourself after an accident include:

Get the name and contact information for the truck driver and his or her employer.
Get the names and contact information for any witnesses.
Call the police.
Take pictures of the truck (including any names or numbers on it), your vehicle, your injuries, and the crash scene as a whole.
Do not sign anything. Do not provide a recorded statement.
Never apologize or admit fault.

The most important thing you can do after a crash to protect your rights is to speak to an attorney. A truck accident injury lawyer will act as your representative to ensure nothing you say or do hurts your case, and to protect your rights at all times.

Wrongful Death in a Truck Accident

Too many lives are lost to truck accidents every year in Kentucky. When this happens, it’s important that loved ones understand that they can file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death in Kentucky is any death that was caused by the negligence of another person.

Through a wrongful death lawsuit, family members can seek compensation for:

Any pain and suffering experienced by the loved one before he or she died
Medical costs the deceased incurred before death
Funeral and burial costs
Loss of the deceased’s future income

Loss of any potential inheritance
Loss of the value of other services such as housekeeping and taking care of children
Loss of care, guidance, and nurturing from the deceased
Loss of love and companionship

A semi-truck crash attorney can help your family understand your rights in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Talk to a Kentucky Big Rig Accident Lawyer Now

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, it’s important to speak to a Kentucky truck accident lawyer who will protect your interests at all times. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we know how devastating truck accidents are. That’s why we are so dedicated to giving victims the Kentucky Courage they need to fight to move forward with their lives.

Please contact us today for your free consultation. There is no charge to start work on your personal injury claim, and our truck accident law firm only gets paid if we win money for you.