National Indemnity is an insurance company that is a subsidiary of the large Berkshire Hathaway corporation. The company was founded in 1940 by a pair of brothers in Nebraska. Initially, it offered insurance to taxi cabs, but it eventually expanded into rental cars, public transportation, and long-haul trucking companies. The company insures trucks nationwide, which is fortunate – the need for insurance is visible when accidents happen, and many truck accidents happen each day. Victims of truck crashes must be compensated for their damages, and commercial insurance covers those injuries and expenses. Companies must provide their drivers with adequate insurance; failure to do so can result in heavy lawsuits and hefty fines, even a revocation of a business license. If you have been involved in a truck accident, call our law group, Normandie Law Firm, to speak with a lawyer that can sue National Indemnity for a truck accident injury. We will work hard to bring you the compensation you are entitled to.
Truck Accidents – The Details
Truck accidents are similar to auto accidents in many ways, but they are usually relatively more severe because of the size of the trucks. Simple car crashes that result in rear-end collisions may not incur any bodily damage to you, but the very same impact from a truck might cause intense back problems. The injuries you can receive seem to magnify when you are involved in a truck accident. As such, the payouts are usually much larger, but only if you have an expert injury lawyer for truck accident claim against National Indemnity.
There are many reasons that truck accidents happen. In some cases, other drivers may be at the root of the problem. A truck is usually confined to the right-most lane of a highway and made to travel below the speed limit. It is also a law that truck drivers must engage in low gear when traveling downhill with a steep grade. In some situations, drivers may push the limits of what they can do around trucks, and wind up in accidents.
For example, some drivers try to pass trucks on the right despite many trucks having warning and hazard signs to refrain from doing so. The reason is simple: it is hard for a truck driver to see a small car on its right, and he may turn into the vehicle. Additionally, trucks make wide turns, and a car might not be able to get out of the way if it is intending to pass on the right. Some individuals also tailgate, and they may not be able to stop if a truck suddenly slams on its brakes.
However, other times, truck accidents can be directly attributed to the driver in some way. We have outlined some reasons below for you to consider.
- Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers are usually on the road for hours at a time, especially if they are taking trips across numerous states. They must meet deadlines and be at specific locations to pick up or drop off merchandise, and the only way to do so on time is to drive for extended periods. Traffic may cause them to lose a lot of time during the day, so they opt to continue the trek at night when they are tired. Fatigued truck drivers can drift off the road or turn into lanes unknowingly.
- Recklessness: Some truck drivers tailgate, speed, turn without using signals, ignore right of way laws, and drive under the influence of mind-altering substances, which is extremely dangerous to everyone else on the road.
- Rough Terrain: When traveling uphill, in mountainous areas, in inclement weather, or on unfamiliar roads, it is important that the truck driver pay careful attention to everything around him. Trucks are not the most nimble vehicles, and a simple curved road can cause a truck to topple onto its side, causing an accident.
- Truck Defect: Trucks need to be properly inspected before the drivers leave for trips. Mechanics should see to it that the tires are all adequately filled and are not in danger of popping, that the brake lines work, that the fluids are all topped off, and more. Any defects should be fixed immediately and prior to leaving. Further, some trucks carry loads, and if the load is not properly affixed to the truck, the trailer can become unhitched and cause a crash.
- Loading and Weight Distribution: Trailers must be properly loaded or the weight will be uneven, which will cause the trailer to tip over at the slightest impact. This is something that must be done by the dock workers and other employees responsible for filling the container with goods.
- Road Hazards: Truck drivers need to be aware of hazards on the road, whether they are construction sites, hills, or bridges. Many trucks have gotten stuck under bridges because the drivers did not heed the sign that warned of the height, which can lead to accidents below.
If you need more assistance, consult with a Los Angeles lawyer for accident injury claim with National Indemnity. We will help you understand the details of truck accidents.
Injuries from Truck Crashes
The different types of injuries you can receive will lay a large role in your compensation. If you mostly suffered minor injuries that heal quckly and do not have a lasting impact on anything, your compensation will likely not be as high as it would bee. If you were gravely injured and suffered long-lasting or permanent damage, for example, your settlement offer would be much larger. Some of the injuries that are most commonly sustained in a truck accident include:
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Severed limbs and digits
- Broken ribs
- Neck and back injuries
- Closed head injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Sprains and strains
- Cuts, bruises, abrasions, and lacerations
- Torn muscles
- Damaged nerves
- Spinal cord troubles, like herniated discs
- Knee injuries
- Paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Coma
- Death
No matter what kind of injuries you receive, you should consult with an attorney in Los Angeles who can sue National Indemnity for a truck accident. We will make sure that you receive the coverage you need for such damages.
Legal Requirements
In order for you to file a lawsuit, you will have to prove that the truck driver was negligent in his actions. You will have to show that the driver owe you a duty of care that was breached, and that the breach led to an accident that resulted in physical harm. If you were not physically harmed in the accident, you will not be able to file a lawsuit. A lawyer for National Indemnity truck accident claims can help you take action.
You will need to gather as much evidence as you can, including photos of your injuries, statements from witnesses, a police report, a medical report from the paramedics or the hospital, photos of the accident scene, and the contact information and personal details of the responsible driver. All of this will be assembled in a packet to send to National Indemnity. Our lawyers for National Indemnity injury claims will see to it that your claim is handled swiftly and accurately.
If you do wish to file a claim, you must do so within two years from the date of the injury. This statute of limitations is in place to ensure that cases do not take too long to be handled. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that evidence will be lost or that witnesses will no longer be able to provide you with necessary information.
Talk with an attorney who can fight National Indemnity for a truck accident injury lawsuit today. You can learn more about the legal process.
Compensation and Value of Your Case
If you are involved in a truck accident, you should be aware what you can earn from a lawsuit. You may be able to receive ample coverage for your medical expenses from the past and the future, lost wages from your job from the past and the future, damage to your vehicle and personal items, emotional pain and suffering, punitive damages, and wrongful death expenses. A Los Angeles truck accident attorney that can sue National Indemnity will be able to bring you the maximum compensation available under the law.
Clients often ask us how much their cases may be worth, but truthfully, there are many factors that go into determining the value of a truck accident lawsuit. Your injuries and the extent those damages had on your life and career are some of the primary things that insurance agents look at, but many sums are negotiated by lawyers and agents. For this reason, it is crucial that you enlist the help of the best attorney for National Indemnity truck accident claims.
We have provided some sample verdicts and settlements below, though, so you can compare your case. These are merely meant to show what is possible to be earned.
- $1,400,000 Verdict: A woman was traveling alongside a tractor trailer on the highway when the driver moved into her lane, forcing her to crash into the guardrail from the impact. She suffered a herniated disc and aggravated her previous spinal cord injuries. The driver of the truck said that he signaled and the woman refused to allow him to merge.
- $2,200,000 Settlement: A mother and her son were involved in a crash that forced their car off the road. As they were walking up the highway, a truck hit the pair of them, killing the mother and causing the son to suffer severe injuries. The estate filed a wrongful death claim against the trucking company.
- $1,500,000 Settlement: An elderly man on his motorcycle was driving down the highway when a truck turned into his lane without signaling. The impact pushed him into the concrete barrier that separated the lanes of traffic on the highway, causing the motorcyclist to die from his injuries. A wrongful death claim was filed and the family of the deceased man collected a fair sum.
If you have questions and want to try and figure out how much your case is worth, contact a lawyer who is experienced with truck accident cases with National Indemnity.
Normandie: The Top Choice
The best law firm to sue National Indemnity for a truck accident is Normandie Law Firm. Not only are we a law firm that can file a lawsuit against National Indemnity for a truck accident, but we are also a team of aggressive lawyers dedicated to protecting our clients and bringing you the maximum restitution available. Our lawyers will work hard to win your case, and if we need to go to court, we are willing to do so. You should not be worried when filing a lawsuit and you should not have to do the work yourself – legal action is tiring, draining, and requires a lot of knowledge and experience to succeed. Let our qualified attorneys handle your case.
Call us today for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer. You can ask any questions you want about the case. If you need a Spanish speaking truck accident attorney, we will provide you with one. Our lawyers speak Spanish so you are guaranteed to have the best representation possible if you do not speak English.
We will also give you our zero fee guarantee if you choose us to represent you in your lawsuit. You will not have to pay any out of pocket expenses throughout the case. We will only get paid if we win, and National Indemnity will essentially pay your legal bills, as our fees will come from the settlement. If we lose, you owe us nothing at all, and you walk away scot free while we eat the costs of the case.
Reach out to one of our lawyers with experience in truck accident cases against National Indemnity today at Normandie Law Firm.
