Side-impact truck accidents, also called T-bones, are especially dangerous because it means 40 tons of metal has slammed into a car at the point where the driver and passenger have the least protection: the door assembly. Catastrophic injuries result, including to the head, neck, brain, and sometimes leading to paralysis. Beyond the physical injuries, these crashes can leave those impacted with emotional, financial, and psychological issues.
You may pride yourself on your safe driving record, always vigilant and cognizant of others’ safety. However, all it takes is one careless driver to breach the duty to drive safely and cause a side-impact truck accident in Aurora. If it happens to you, call the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. to speak with a diligent truck collision attorney and get the compensation you will need to fully recover.
Causes of Side-Impact Truck Accidents
Truckers and truck companies often try to circumvent federal and state laws concerning how many hours truckers can drive in a day. Excessive hours on the road can mean cargo arrives early, thereby boosting profits, but they also can mean accidents are more likely because truckers are exhausted.
Truckers have routinely pressed themselves to skirt the law when they are offered bonuses. They may take drugs to stay awake and drive beyond federal maximum hours, doctoring their requisite logs in the process. Circumventing the law and exhibiting behavior that falls below the standard of a reasonable person is negligent and actionable if someone is injured because of it. Side-impact truck accidents include:
- A trucker loses traction of an 18-wheeler and incorrectly brakes, causing the truck to jackknife and careen into the side of a vehicle
- The trucker runs a stop sign and smashes into a passenger car traveling through the intersection
- The trucker’s brakes fail
- The trucker is driving distracted by texting or talking on a cell phone, eating, or being impaired by drugs or alcohol
Approximately 10,000 people each year are killed in T-bone truck accidents, which does not even account for the thousands more who are injured. Aurora attorneys seek justice and adequate compensation for those injured by T-bone truck collisions.
Establishing Negligence
Trucking companies that encourage negligent behavior, fail to train truckers beyond their schooling, do not vet drivers through background checks, bribe drivers to circumvent federal law, and fail to authorize truck maintenance are negligent. If there are any defects to the truck parts or systems, manufacturers can also be held liable. Thus, a truck driver may not be the only possible defendant when you are injured in a side-impact truck crash. Legal counsel could work with you on identifying all potentially liable parties.
Compensation Available After a Side-Impact Truck Crash
If a jury finds a defendant negligent and liable for damages in a side-impact truck accident, you are entitled to economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those that come with a price tag, such as medical care, lost wages, and property damage.
Non-economic damages are subjective, and the jury must decide what to award for pain and suffering, disfigurement, and the knowledge that you might be disabled or disfigured for life.
A personal injury attorney advocates for maximum compensation after you are T-boned by a truck near Aurora and provides evidence of these damages to the court or in settlement talks.
Call Us to Handle Your Side-Impact Truck Crash in Aurora
When a commercial truck driver T-bones your vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries they cause, because truckers have a duty to others sharing the roads to drive responsibly. Truckers are educated to handle 18-wheelers, including specific braking techniques, defensive actions to drive safely in inclement weather, and how to abide by federal safety rules. Acting below an acceptable standard makes truckers liable for compensating accident victims.
T-bone accidents can impact you for the rest of your life and we realize this can cause financial struggles. With over 40 years’ experience in the field, we fight for you and your quality of life after a side-impact truck accident in Aurora. Call us to schedule a consultation and learn how you could get the restitution you deserve.