Large commercial trucks are constantly traveling through Somerset and surrounding areas of Kentucky as they ship goods across the country. Unfortunately, the demanding nature of the job, long hours on the road, and the stress of managing tight deadlines can take a toll on the drivers who make this vital work possible. The result? Tragic accidents between trucks and smaller, lighter passenger vehicles, which statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate are nearly always worse for the occupants of the smaller cars.
Somerset is a small city in Kentucky that ranks high for commercial motor vehicle accidents. According to Team Kentucky Transportation Cabinet data, Pulaski County ranks 29th for commercial motor vehicle collisions out of 120 Kentucky counties, meaning the county has a potential safety need.
Recovering from the devastating mental and psychological effects of a large truck crash can take months, sometimes years. Recovery can also take a tremendous financial toll on a victim and their family. The experienced Somerset truck accident lawyers with Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer have the Kentucky Courage needed to help you pursue maximum compensation to cope with your serious injuries and financial losses.
Ready to stand up for your rights and demand the compensation you deserve? Then contact our office today to arrange a free consultation to learn more about how our lawyers can help.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Somerset
A 3,000-pound passenger vehicle can’t stand up to the power and size of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer combo. When these two vehicles collide, the occupants of the smaller vehicle bear the brunt of the devastating force, potentially leaving them with severe, life-altering injuries like the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Amputations
- Broken and crushed bones
- Dislocation
- Facial injuries
- Thermal burns
- Chemical burns
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Wrongful death
In addition to the physical scarring and impairments these accidents can cause, the fear and trauma they trigger can also result in emotional and mental distress, leading to mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How Often Do Truck Accidents Happen?
Trucks travel across America every day, meaning accidents are a frequent concern. Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show that 494,000 police-reported truck accidents took place on U.S. roadways in one year. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Center recorded 10,105 truck accidents that year.
Although trucks only account for 5 percent of vehicles involved in Kentucky collisions, they account for 10 percent of fatal crashes.
When Do You Need to Consult with a Truck Accident Lawyer?
The trucking company and its insurers will get their lawyers on the case as soon as they’re alerted that their driver has been involved in an accident. They don’t wait to seek legal counsel to protect their profits.
So, when do you need to consult with a truck accident lawyer? Immediately. You need an advocate as soon as possible to protect your rights and prevent vital evidence from being lost or destroyed. To safeguard yourself and fight for the money you deserve, consult our Somerset truck accident lawyers as soon as possible.
Time is of the essence in part because much of the evidence needed to establish liability in a truck accident case is in the trucking company’s hands. Videos, black box data, safety inspections, cargo manifests, and driver employment records are trucking company property. Handing over valuable evidence to an accident victim is not something a company will do just because you ask politely. Often, it takes aggressive legal representation and issuing a letter of spoilation to collect and preserve evidence crucial to building a solid accident claim. Our tenacious truck accident attorneys know this and are ready to fight for you.
Compensation for Your Truck Accident Claim
The financial aftermath of a truck accident can be devastating. Many victims struggle to cope with astronomical medical bills, but that’s only the beginning. They may be unable to return to work because of their injuries. In addition to out-of-control medical bills, they don’t have the money to make ends meet. There is no doubt that a truck accident can leave you financially vulnerable.
Trucking companies and insurers know you may be in a financially precarious situation. They may hope to exploit that situation and convince you to settle for pennies on the dollar of what your claim may be worth. They may convince you that a speedy settlement offer is better than extended negotiations. Seldom does accepting an initial settlement offer work in a victim’s favor. That’s why you need a skilled truck accident attorney working for you.
Our attorneys can evaluate your claim and calculate the fair value of your losses, negotiating for maximum compensation for you. The overall value of your claim depends on several factors, including the cause of the accident and the severity of your injuries.
Although the specifics of each unique situation determine a claim’s value, accident victims generally can seek money for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of future treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
You don’t have to accept an initial insurance company offer. Discuss your situation with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney from our personal injury law firm to learn more about your rights and the overall value of your claim. You deserve fair compensation for your injuries and financial losses. Let our legal team help you pursue the money you need.
Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits in Somerset, Kentucky
Often, motor vehicle accident victims start by filing an insurance claim seeking compensation for their losses. However, semi-truck accidents tend to cause more severe injuries than regular car accidents, leading to significantly higher medical expenses and long-term health complications. Insurance companies are likelier to fight claims when there’s more at stake. In these situations, the best way to recover meaningful compensation may be to file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, the time to file a Somerset truck accident lawsuit is limited. Accident victims have two years from the date of injury to file their personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses. Filing a lawsuit after the Kentucky statute of limitations expires means the court will most likely dismiss your case, refusing to hear it, leaving you with no other options for recovering the money you need.
Two years can fly by, especially when your focus is on recovering from significant injuries. In that time, valuable evidence may be lost or destroyed, memories can fade, and little information may be available to build a strong case. The sooner you contact our truck accident attorneys, the sooner we can get started investigating the crash, preserving evidence, and building a solid claim long before the deadline for filing a case.
Benefits of Having a Truck Wreck Lawyer in Somerset, KY
There are many benefits to having a truck wreck lawyer in Somerset. Truck drivers and trucking companies have teams of people on their side whose goal is to save the companies money – not to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. You deserve effective and aggressive legal representation to protect your rights and pursue the money you need to cover your medical expenses and other losses. Don’t let the trucking company stay in the driver’s seat. Instead, take charge of the situation by working with our experienced attorneys.
Here are just some of the benefits of hiring a Somerset personal injury lawyer from our firm to help you navigate the legal process in Kentucky:
- We can conduct a complete investigation into the cause of the truck accident.
- We know how to collect and preserve vital evidence.
- We can calculate the true value of your losses.
- We can manage communication between you and the insurance company.
- We can negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement.
- We can prepare a Somerset truck accident lawsuit when necessary.
At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we have recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for injured clients. Our years of experience, considerable legal knowledge, and deep resources help us deliver strong results for the injured victims we work with. We’ve never been afraid to tackle challenging cases or go head-to-head with prominent insurers for the money our clients deserve. We want to help you get back on solid ground following a truck accident someone else caused.
Are you interested in learning more about how our Somerset truck accident attorneys can help you seek justice? Don’t hesitate to contact our office and set up a free consultation. We will take the time to talk to you, review your situation, and outline your options for pursuing compensation for your injuries. We will explore your case from every angle and work hard to build an injury claim that offers you the best opportunity to obtain a favorable outcome.
Contact our office today for a no-obligation case evaluation. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we get paid only if we win your case.
