Like other areas in Nebraska and throughout the nation, Grand Island relies on goods and services brought by large commercial trucks. As necessary as trucks are to the supply chain, they also far outweigh smaller vehicles on the road, leaving motorists vulnerable to serious or catastrophic injuries in accidents. It’s even more devastating when a truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence caused the accident. If this happened to you or a close family member, you don’t have to be left with financial anxieties as well as physical and emotional pain. Instead, call Steffens Law to speak with a Grand Island truck accident lawyer about your rights.
Why Choose Us as Your Truck Accident Law Firm In Grand Island, NE?
At Steffens Law Accident Injury Lawyers, our compassion for injury victims has led to an assertive legal team dedicated to advocating for injury victims, even against powerful defendants and their large insurance companies. We offer the following:
- A free consultation and contingency-based payment, so you only pay us after we’ve obtained compensation for your damages
- Our renowned reputation in both the local community and legal community lends a well-respected voice to your claim
- Our team of Grand Island injury lawyers bring decades of experience, knowledge, and access to key resources, such as accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts, to your case
We have a history of achieving exceptional results, including recent recoveries of $1,800,000 for a woman injured in a Nevada truck accident and an $800,000 recovery for the victim of a rear-end collision truck accident. Our track record brings clients the reassurance and confidence they need to move forward after a serious injury.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents In Grand Island?
Large commercial trucks may legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, far outweighing average 4,000-pound vehicles. They are also difficult to maneuver, have extended blind spots, require longer braking distances, and take wide turns, creating inherent dangers for others sharing the roadway. For this reason, trucking companies and their drivers must carefully adhere to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to minimize the risk of accidents. Still, common causes of truck accidents in Grand Island and elsewhere include the following:
- Speeding, driving too fast for road and weather conditions, and speeding around curves
- Making unsafe lane changes (blind spot accidents)
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Tailgating
- Illegal passing
- Improperly merging
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Mechanical failures
- Tire blowouts
- Sudden shifting of improperly secured loads, causing jackknifing
In some cases, other entities cause or contribute to truck accidents. For instance, if a negligent road maintenance agency fails to repair a dangerous pothole or a road planning agency designs an exit or entrance ramp with unsafe merging conditions for commercial trucks. Under Nebraska’s fault-based accident laws, any entity that causes or contributes to the accident can be held liable for its portion of the damages caused to an injury victim.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident In Grand Island, NE?
Truck accident claims are often significantly more complex than typical car accident cases. This is due to the many parties responsible for keeping a truck properly maintained, safely loaded, and driven by a well-qualified, rested driver. Determining the liable party or parties, proving the negligence that caused the accident, and pinpointing the appropriate insurance company or companies to file a claim with requires an experienced investigation. Common liable parties include the following:
- The trucking company for negligent hiring, monitoring, or training practices
- The truck driver for careless or reckless driving
- A negligent truck maintenance company
- A negligent freight loading company for failing to properly balance or secure cargo
- The manufacturer of a defective tire or truck part
- A negligent road maintenance or road-planning agency
- A third-party driver
Insurers investigate accidents with the goal of minimizing their policyholder’s liability at your expense. They often try to assign an undue percentage of fault to an injury victim, which allows them to reduce the payout on a claim by the injury victim’s percentage of fault. Your attorney from Steffens Law will conduct an independent investigation to protect your best interests.
Understanding Truck Accident Injuries In Grand Island
Because of the tremendous size and weight discrepancies between commercial trucks and family vehicles, those in smaller cars are at a significant disadvantage in a collision. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 70% of truck accident injuries happen to motorists in other vehicles, not the truck driver. Common injuries in Grand Island truck accident claims include the following:
- Single and multiple fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck and back injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, torn ligaments, and tendon injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Facial and dental trauma
- Burns
- Traumatic amputations
Damages add up quickly when a truck accident causes injuries and property damage to a vehicle. In the worst cases, a serious commercial truck accident causes wrongful death under Nebraska’s wrongful death statute. In these cases, a family member may file a wrongful death claim against the liable party.
What Are the Recoverable Damages In a Truck Accident Claim?
An accident happens in an instant, but the physical and financial consequences can be long-lasting or even permanent, especially in crashes involving large trucks. Common damages recovered in successful truck accident claims include the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Projected future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket injury-related costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or reduced future earning ability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Catastrophic injury damages in cases of permanent injuries, such as loss of limb, organ loss, disfigurement, severe scarring, disability, or the loss of one of the senses.
A wrongful death lawyer can represent a close surviving family member after a fatal truck accident in Grand Island.
Call or Contact Steffens Law Accident Injury Lawyers After a Truck Accident In Grand Island, NE
Taking on a legal process doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, even if you are still recovering from the accident. Instead, hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer allows you to concentrate on your physical recovery while your attorney handles your financial one. Contact Steffens Law today so we can assess your case and begin a strong legal strategy on your behalf.