Automobile accidents are common given the number of vehicles on the road. Truck accidents are also common, but the damages are much more severe because of the relative size of trucks. It is highly recommended that you always take care when driving around such large vehicles; if an accident happens, you could be seriously injured. Truck drivers who drive commercially are often the individuals involved in crashes because of the nature of their jobs and the lengths to which they go to complete them. Fortunately, if you are involved in an accident with a truck that is being driven commercially, you could sue the company for your fair compensation and receive coverage for your expenses. The insurance company of the business will pay out the expenses. Star Insurance Company is one such provider that has been insuring businesses since 1930. It was started in Georgia and has been a subsidiary of its parent company for many years. Our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm have had to take legal action against Star in cases involving insured trucks. If you are in need of a Los Angeles truck accident attorney that can sue Star Insurance Company, look no further.
Truck Accident Information
Trucks are generally on the road because they are carrying merchandise from one area to another. The drivers must make long treks in large vehicles that are difficult to operate, which is a risk for all people on the road. For example, truck drivers need to constantly be aware of the other vehicles near them, as they may have many blind spots and be unable to see cars while turning or switching lanes. They also need to be careful of the terrain on which they drive, as they may not be able to appropriately travel on it; trucks that have to traverse hills can be difficult to stop, and some may even stall if they are going up mountains or steep roads.
Some other reasons truck accidents happen include:
- Fatigue of drivers: Trucks that deliver goods often have deadlines, and to meet these deadlines, drivers must travel through all hours of the night because of the likelihood of daytime traffic. They may not get enough sleep during this time and come to rely on caffeine or other medication to stay awake. When truck drivers operate their vehicles while fatigued, it raises the risk of accidents; there have been many incidents involving drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel and not noticed, resulting in them running other cars off the road or heading into oncoming traffic.
- Improperly maintained vehicles: Trucks need to have proper maintenance by mechanics, but on more than just the engine. The trailer and hitch need to be inspected and properly fastened to ensure that nothing will fall off or dislodge. Tires need to be properly inflated or they will blow out while on the road, causing the truck to weave or skid.
- Weight distribution: Trailers have a specific way of being loaded that includes placing heavier items evenly throughout the container. If there is too much weight at the rear of the trailer, the slightest impact will cause it to fishtail and swerve, which can make the truck overturn, especially if it’s traveling at a fast speed.
- Reckless driving: Drivers need to obey all laws of the road and not take risks that place others in danger. Some drivers have gone too fast for roads, made sharp turns, switched lanes without signaling, driven under the influence of drugs or alcohol, ran red lights and stop signs, improperly or negligently merged onto freeways, and more.
To learn more, contact a law firm that can file a lawsuit against Star Insurance Company for a truck accident. A lawyer for Star Insurance Company truck accident lawsuits will give you all the information you need to know.
Injuries from Truck Crashes
You can be severely injured in truck accidents, more so than in car crashes because of the size of trucks. A truck traveling at 40 mph can do more damage than a car traveling at the same speed because of the larger mass; head on collisions with trucks can be fatal, for example. Truck drivers may not even get hurt, though, because of how much higher up they are in their cabins and how much more protection they have. They may not even hit a car with the cab; a truck driver can easily turn and have his trailer swipe a car, for instance.
Examples of injuries that can be sustained in truck accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Strained or torn muscles
- Crushing injuries
- Severed limbs
- Neck and spinal cord damage
- Concussions and brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Death
The extent of your injuries can make life extremely difficult. You may need multiple surgeries to repair compound fractures or you may be confined to a wheelchair for months – perhaps even permanently. The effect that the injuries have on your life is one of the factors that will be used to determine your compensation. For more information, call an attorney in Los Angeles who can sue Star Insurance Company for a truck accident.
Proving Negligence of a Truck Driver
In order for you to file a claim against a truck driver, you must be able to prove four points of negligence. An injury lawyer for truck accident claim against Star Insurance Company can give you more detailed information on each, but they are as follows: you were owed a duty of care, the duty of care was breached, the breach led to an accident, the accident caused physical harm. These may sound simple, but it can be very difficult to establish them as rue, as they all build off one another.
For example, in a truck accident, you should not have a hard time proving that you were owed a duty of care; everyone is to be protected by other drivers on the road, and truck drivers must take care not to hurt anyone with their driving. A truck must then have driven recklessly or participated in an action that clearly violated that protective duty, which in turn led to an accident of some sort. That accident must have caused some kind of physical harm or you would not be able to file a claim.
All of these points can be proven with the help of an attorney who can fight Star Insurance Company for a truck accident injury lawsuit.
What You Can Earn
A lawsuit can net you various types of settlements and different amounts of compensation. Our lawyers for Star Insurance Company injury claims have been able to win millions for our clients, including coverage for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more. Many clients come to us with questions about how much they could earn, but truthfully, there is no injury calculator that determines your case’s value when you have been injured. Instead, an insurance agent will measure your damages and make an offer based on how extensive the damages were and how impactful they were on your life. This means that if your damages made you change careers or made it hard for you to work, if not stop working at all, then you could receive a fair amount of compensation. Numerous medical bills could also increase the value.
To learn more about the different amounts that are possible, you can read about the different cases below. We have provided sample results for you to consider. They are meant to show what can be earned in some situations; if your case is similar, you have a chance at facing the same reward.
- $550,000 Verdict: A truck driver was hurt when a car negligently tried to turn around while in front of the vehicle. After the illegal U-turn, the truck driver suffered neck and back injuries. There were various psychological effects, leading to the driver’s wife receiving compensation for loss of consortium, and some was paid off in a worker’s compensation lien.
- $1,100,000 Settlement: While crossing the street, a pedestrian was suddenly hit by a pick up truck that did not adhere to the right of way. The driver negligently turned into the crosswalk, but did so after claiming he was temporarily blinded and could not see the plaintiff in his way. The victim suffered a broken hip and arm and needed surgery on both.
- $1,680,000 Settlement: A tanker truck rammed into another vehicle that contained three young children. Initially, the tanker had stopped his truck to avoid an accident on the road ahead, but when he tried to merge back onto the freeway, he did not properly yield and struck a passing vehicle. Two of the children suffered minor injuries, while a third was seriously hurt.
To get a more reliable estimate, contact one of our lawyers with experience in truck accident cases against Star Insurance Company.
Bilingual Attorneys
At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers speak Spanish so we can effectively communicate with those who do not speak English as a first language. We know that many victims of accidents choose to forego legal representation because they do not speak the language and feel that they will not have a chance to win any compensation. We aim to erase that hesitation. A Spanish speaking truck accident attorney will be available to communicate with you and provide adequate translations of forms and procedures. You should not feel as though you are missing out because of a language barrier. A Los Angeles lawyer for accident injury claim with Star Insurance Company can help.
Our Law Group
Some people ask us what the best law firm to sue Star Insurance Company for a truck accident is, and we tell them quite simply that it is our Los Angeles law group, Normandie Law Firm. A lawyer that can sue Star Insurance Company for a truck accident injury will be available to take your case, and you will not have to worry about handling legal documents and negotiating. We will represent you and aggressively work to secure you the settlement you deserve. We are willing to take your case to court and to do whatever it takes to walk away with a settlement that satisfies you.
Contact our law group today to speak with a lawyer who is experienced with truck accident cases with Star Insurance Company in a free consultation. We’ll look over your case and tell you what we believe we can bring you, and we invite you to ask us whatever is on your mind. You will also learn more about our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not have to pay any expenses for our services. We will only get paid if we win, and Star will pay for our fees. If we lose, you owe us nothing.
To speak with the best attorney for Star Insurance Company truck accident claims, reach out to Normandie Law Firm today.
