Tips for Choosing a Semi Accident Attorney

If you were involved in a semi accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your lifelong injuries. You may be dealing with anxiety and fears for years after the accident, and you deserve a settlement that is fair and just. Most tractor-trailer accidents result in extensive damages and devastating injuries, and you deserve to receive a settlement that will cover these costs. Here are some tips for choosing a semi accident attorney. Read on to learn about these legal options.

Trucking is a dangerous business

As a truck driver, you are at risk for many different kinds of injuries. In fact, one in every two truck drivers will be injured on the job. Heavy trucks are notoriously dangerous, with over ten thousand injuries attributed to collisions. Additionally, large trucks have twice the rate of fatalities than cars. If you work for a trucking company that doesn't address safety risks, you could also be at risk.

In the United States alone, trucking is responsible for more than 500,000 traffic accidents annually. This makes truck driving one of the most dangerous occupations on the planet. In addition to being physically strenuous, truck drivers face numerous risks from equipment-related injuries to lifestyle-related illnesses. There are several reasons why trucking is such a dangerous business, and the following are just some of them. To prevent accidents from happening, truckers must ensure that they follow safety guidelines.

Trucking accidents are caused by distracted or impaired drivers

The federal government has banned actions that require a driver to use a cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle. This law holds both the driver and trucking company accountable. Distracted or impaired driving increases the risk of truck accidents. Distracted drivers also increase the severity of an accident. In addition, distracted drivers are more likely to make a mistake than a driver who is not distracted. Distracted driving also puts the lives of other drivers and passengers in jeopardy.

Distracted or impaired drivers are the number one cause of trucking accidents. These accidents result in severe injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, burns, and disfigurement. Often fatalities result from distracted driving. Financial damages may include medical bills and rehabilitation costs, as well as lost income due to inability to perform daily duties or due to scarring. Accident victims may also face lost future income due to permanent scarring.

Non-economic damages are meant to compensate victims

Economic and non-economic damages are different. Non-economic damages do not have a dollar amount, but are intended to compensate the victim for non-monetary losses. Economic damages include medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages, however, do not relate to specific monetary losses and compensate victims for their mental and emotional suffering. However, they can still be valuable in certain circumstances. Because they are more difficult to calculate, these damages often require the expertise of a lawyer.

In addition to compensation for physical injuries, victims may also seek non-economic damages. These damages are meant to make up for the emotional and mental suffering that victims experience as a result of the crash. The most common form of non-economic damages is pain and suffering. This category includes emotional and physical pain, as well as the loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident. Disfigurement, for example, can permanently alter the victim's appearance and cause a lifetime of pain.

Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant

Although punitive damages are often awarded in personal injury cases, the purpose of this type of damage is not to compensate the plaintiff, but to send a message to the defendant. The amount of punitive damages depends on how serious the plaintiff's injuries were and how much damage was caused by the defendant's actions. Punitive damages are not awarded in all cases, however, and may be awarded only in some cases.

Although the legal standard for punitive damages in a personal injury case is similar to that for compensatory damages, the burden of proof is higher. Punitive damages require a defendant to have committed gross negligence in the event of an accident. Because they are meant to punish the defendant, the burden of proof is much higher than for compensatory damages. In addition, punitive damages must be justified by clear and convincing evidence.