A car crash may send your life into a tailspin in many ways. The damage to your property, the passengers in your vehicle, and your body may range from minor to severe. However, if you find yourself on the receiving end of a crash with a tractor-trailer, a whole new level of damage and hurt may emerge.
Trucks are large and crash with a force that may do more than inflict damage. A truck accident may end your life. A truck can do things like jackknife and roll over — things that motor vehicles don’t. When you have been injured in a crash with a big truck, you may face many uphill battles in your road to recovery. Here are a few reasons these incidents are often the hardest to handle.
You Deal With More People
In a crash with a car, you may wind up having to deal with your car insurance carrier and theirs. However, when it comes to a truck collision, many factors and agencies may make it difficult and confusing to figure out how to get help. Each trucker will have insurance, and the company they worked for will become involved. If the trucker was an independent contractor, then the company for which they were hauling goods will be in the loop. Finally, since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration makes rules that a trucker and the company they work for must follow, there may be representatives involved from this agency. With so many parties in the mix, it may bog down the process and drown out your cries for help.
Investigations Take Much Longer
Inquiries may go on for months, and your entire case for help after a crash with a truck may stall. If you are filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one who died as a result of an accident with a semi, this timeframe may be extended. A fatal truck crash may have to go through a series of private and government agency investigations before a final determination on the cause is reached. Until then, all you can do is keep up with the case as best as you can through your attorney or representative.
The Injuries Are Severe
Crashes with trucks usually result in catastrophic injuries. These injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal injuries
- Multiple fractures
Any of these injuries is cause for lengthy hospital stays, rehabilitation and high bills. The process to get help when the trucker was at fault may seem to go on that much longer. A truck accident lawyer, has the insight to assist in these matters. Consult with one in your area to find out how long the process will take.