Truck Accident Lawyers in Delaware

Helping Clients Secure Compensation After Big Rig Collisions

Every year, Delaware drivers are involved in tens of thousands of motor vehicle accidents. In most cases, these result in nothing more than property damage. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Looking at the latest data available, over 100 drivers in our state die in such accidents in a given year, and the economic loss of these collisions is more than $1.1 billion. While any vehicular collision has the capability of causing serious injury, statistics show that wrecks involving big rigs and tractor-trailer vehicles are particularly dangerous. If you or a loved one has been in such a collision, a truck accident lawyer in Delaware may be able to help.

Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law deal with all manners of personal injury cases. Unfortunately, we’ve far too often seen the detrimental and tragic consequences that a trucking accident can leave behind. Perhaps you suffered serious injuries, or maybe you’re dealing with intense emotional distress. In a worst-case scenario, a loved one may be incapacitated or even face wrongful death. Regardless of the specifics of your situation, the Delaware truck accident attorneys at Schwartz & Schwartz will provide a review to help you better understand your rights. Contact us today.

How Dangerous Are Commercial Truck Accidents?

Most people can look at tractor-trailers — or even modern large pickups — and understand how a trucking accident can be so devastating. Fully-loaded big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 lbs under federal law, and new pickups weigh in excess of 4,000 lbs. Each of these is massive compared to the relatively paltry weight of a 3,000-lbs sedan. This size differential easily explains why it’s rarely the truck drivers in these accidents who end up seriously injured. Sadly, it’s not just an assumption that wrecks involving commercial trucks are more destructive. Our auto accident lawyers can assure you that statistics back up this hypothesis.

For instance, a tractor-trailer accident is a relatively rare event in Delaware. In fact, less than 5% of all crashes in our state involve such large trucks. Even so, over 7% of all fatal collisions involved these trucks. This shows that there’s a disproportionate rate of deaths when there’s a truck driver involved, and in most cases, it’s individuals in passenger vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians that make up this statistic. If you or a loved one is injured in such a collision, it’s important to get your truck accident case started immediately. Time is of the essence when filing personal injury and wrongful death claims, so don’t hesitate to contact us today.

What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in the past, you may already have a solid understanding of what causes many tractor-trailer collisions. That’s because most of the same negligent actions that lead to passenger vehicle accidents can cause big rig wrecks. Of course, there are obviously some major differences as well. After all, a sedan carrying two passengers certainly won’t encounter the same issues as a vehicle with a 30,000-lbs trailer behind it. Recognizing these differences is vital to understanding potential liability in your case.

• Driver fatigue
• Violation of federal regulations
• Distracted driving
• Mechanical failure
• Improper loading
• Negligent hiring practices
• Unsafe roadways
• Inclement weather

As evidenced by the above list, it’s not always the tractor-trailer driver who is at fault for collisions. For instance, government agencies could face liability if they failed to repair damaged roadways. The trucking company or shipping business could also be at-fault for failing to properly maintain their vehicles. However, statistics have shown us that — when a tractor-trailer accident occurs — the drivers of passenger vehicles are at fault 80% of the time. If you believe you share some level of blame for your injuries, though, you should still reach out to a truck accident lawyer in Delaware.

This is because Delaware is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that — even if you are partially at fault for a tractor-trailer accident — you may still be entitled to recover financial losses. Court awards will be reduced by your level of fault, and you won’t be able to recover if you’re more than 50% at fault. However, in many cases, it’s still possible that you could get a settlement or court award to help you cover lost wages, medical expenses, and other losses you endured due to the accident.

Do I Need an Attorney After Sustaining Serious Injuries?

After involvement in a tractor-trailer accident, you may wonder whether you need legal representation. In fact, this is one of the most common questions that law firms hear when providing consultations for injury victims. Many mistakenly believe that they’ll get exactly what they deserve if liability in accidents caused by truck drivers is clear. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. In fact, who’s at fault for your injury may not even be as clear as you think.

Any accident involving a tractor-trailer will inevitably result in a call from an insurance company. They’ll tell you that they care about your well-being — and that their goal is to help you get the compensation you deserve. In reality, their primary goal is profit. Your securing maximum financial restitution is in direct conflict with that. This is the case with every personal injury claim. However, a legal professional can ensure you’re not taken advantage of.

Personal injury attorneys will also know when settlement negotiations are futile. If the insurance company will not make a fair offer, you need an attorney who will take your case to trial. The overwhelming majority of cases — even those involving semi-trucks — do not get to this point. However, you don’t want to face off against insurance company attorneys on your own if litigation becomes necessary.

Contact Our Truck Accidents Lawyers in Delaware Today

Any motor vehicle collision has the potential to cause serious injuries, but when truck accidents occur, this risk is greatly amplified. If you or a loved one were injured in a wreck with a tractor-trailer — or if you were a pedestrian or other accident victim — it’s important to seek the compensation you deserve. Lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and a variety of other difficulties can become costly very quickly. You shouldn’t have to face these struggles on your own, and with Delaware personal injury attorneys on your side, you won’t have to. This means you can focus on healing and caring for your family while the legal process plays out.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, our legal professionals have spent years fighting to secure maximum compensation for our clients who were injured in accidents involving commercial trucks. tractor-trailers are necessary for our economy, but when negligence is thrown into the mix, the results can be devastating. While our Delaware truck accident lawyers might call “The First State” home, we also serve clients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and New Jersey. Contact us today by calling (302) 678-8700. With experienced truck accident lawyers on your side, you’ll have a legal advocate who will fight relentlessly to ensure you get justice.