Truck Accidents

Due to the size and force of semi-tricks and 18-wheelers, getting into a truck accident can cause severe physical damage. If you need to file a personal injury claim as a result of a truck accident, you might not necessarily be suing the truck driver. Commercial vehicles are operated by companies that can be held liable for accidents even if the company owner was not the person driving the truck at the time of the accident. There are multiple parties involved in the liability of a truck accident. Any of these parties can be held responsible:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the truck
• The driver’s employer
• The shipper of hazardous material
• The manufacturer of hazardous material

Determining the party or parties at fault for truck accidents is a complex process. Let our personal injury lawyers at Ganim Law guide you through this difficult process and help you make the best decisions. Call Atty. Ray Ganim at 203-377-7700 today.

Proving Fault

When you are injured by another party in Connecticut, the law allows you the opportunity to prove your case. To receive compensation from the at-fault party, you must prove two things:

• You must prove that you sustained an injury or multiple injuries.
• You must prove that these injuries were a direct result of the recklessness or carelessness of the at-fault party.

For example, if you are in a car accident, and you are injured because your airbag does not properly deploy, the injury is not the fault of the driver who caused the accident. Instead, you should prosecute the company that made the faulty airbag, since the bag is what caused your injury. Similarly, you cannot necessarily receive compensation just because you have been in a car accident. If someone else caused an accident but you were not injured in the crash, there is nothing for which to receive compensation.

Proving your Injuries

You must prove your injuries when you file a personal injury claim.

You can use the following evidence:

• Photographs of your injuries
• Eyewitness testimony
• Records of examination outlining the injuries
• Medical bills
• Hospital bills

Proving the other party is at fault

You will have to prove that the other party acted recklessly or with negligence and that these actions directly caused your injury. Some examples would be, texting while driving, driving under the influence, speeding, illegal or dangerous passing, etc.

Compensation

If it is determined that the defendant in the case is at fault for your injuries, you are entitled to compensation. The purpose of compensation is to make you whole – to restore you to the same position financially as you would have been had the accident never occurred. You can receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Some examples of economic damage are bills for:

• visiting the Emergency Room
• doctors appointments
• hospital visits
• X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or other tests
• surgeries
• physical therapy
• medication
• medical tools such as a wheelchair, cast, crutches, etc.
• loss of income due to an inability to work
• any other bills related to the injury

Examples of non-economic compensation include money for:

• pain and suffering
• emotional issues resulting from the accident
• depression

Negotiations

Not all personal injury cases go to trial. You will have the opportunity to negotiate a settlement with the other party. Going to trial will depend on the settlement offered and the strength of your case. If you have been injured in a truck accident, please give our office a call at 203-377-7700 today.