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What To Know About Getting Into An Accident With A Semi-Truck

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If you get into an accident with another driver on the road, you likely have some expectations about what will happen when dealing with the other vehicle's driver. However, things may be a bit different if you are involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Here is what you likely want to know about semi-truck related auto accidents.

Do Semi-Truck Drivers Follow Different Rules?

The first thing you need to be aware of is that semi-truck drivers have their own set of rules that they need to follow, since they are driving a commercial vehicle that is much bigger than the standard car. For example, semi-truck drivers have stricter laws regarding their BAC levels when it comes to drunk driving. There are also rules regarding how many consecutive hours a truck driver is allowed to be on the road without rest.

Will A Trucking Company Defend The Driver?

One of the challenges of getting into an auto accident with a semi-truck is that you are not only dealing with the driver of the truck, but the company that hires them as well. Both the company and driver are going to be working against you in several ways. For example, they'll likely send their own investigator to the scenes of the accident to skew the facts of the accident in their favor. The trucking company may even know that their driver is breaking the rules about how many hours the driver can work and try to hide any evidence of a wrongdoing.

What Do You Do If You Are In An Accident With A Semi-Truck?

It's a good idea to hire a lawyer from the start if you are involved in a semi-truck accident, because so many people will be working against you to ensure you receive as little compensation as possible. You'll need to see that your medical care is paid for, since a major accident with a semi-truck can leave you with injuries and big medical bills. The driver of the truck will also be coached on what to say, so it is very unlikely that they will slip up and say something that will help your case. 

Even if you do have a solid case against the truck driver and the trucking company, you need to know how much your case is worth so that you can seek the right amount of compensation. Trucking companies have the insurance policies to pay for the damage that they caused you, so you don't have to worry about underinsured or uninsured drivers.

for more information about semi-truck accidents, call a semi-truck accident attorney, such as those found at the Law office of Troy B. Jones, so you can be prepared for your case.


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