Wyoming has some of the most dangerous roads in the country for truck drivers and those who share the road with them. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that of all the fatal crashes in the United States in 2020, Wyoming had the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving large trucks. Due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, truck accidents are often far more devastating than car crashes. Victims of truck crashes tend to sustain severe damage and catastrophic injuries. In this post, we will discuss the increased severity of truck accidents and how the personal injury attorneys at The Fitzgerald Law Firm can help if you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident.
Common Forms of Truck Accidents
While any motor vehicle crash can be devastating, incidents involving large commercial trucks can be incredibly destructive. The most common forms of truck accidents include:
- Rollover Incidents: When a truck tips onto its side or roof.
- Jackknife Crashes: A trailer is usually hitched to a truck in a way that allows for some freedom of movement. During a sudden stop on ice, the trailer’s momentum may cause it to swing forward, striking other vehicles or pedestrians.
- Override and Underride Incidents: When a truck rear-ends a car, its height and size sometimes cause it to run over the vehicle in front, crushing it.
- Squeeze Play Crashes: When making a right turn, for example, a truck may first swing wide to the left to make room. If the truck driver fails to signal the turn properly, a car may then drive to the right of the truck and be trapped between it and the curb, known as a squeeze play.
Large trucks can also be involved in many common types of car accidents. Learn more about catastrophic incidents caused by commercial trucks here. These types of accidents often result in severe, life-changing injuries, impacting not only the victims but also their families.
Catastrophic Injuries From Truck Accidents
The injuries sustained from truck accidents can be life-altering and affect the day-to-day livelihood of the victims and their families. Common catastrophic injuries from truck accidents can include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) & Spinal Cord Injuries
- Amputations
- Burn Injuries
- Internal Injuries
- Fractures and Crush Injuries
Chronic pain, emotional trauma, and disability are only some of the lasting effects of catastrophic injury. No matter what kind of devastating injury you have experienced, working with an experienced Wyoming trucking accident attorney team with extensive resources is vital to help you with your claim.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in Your Case?
Under Wyoming law, damages can be awarded when a jury finds the defendant’s negligence caused injury or death. The company or driver at fault for a car accident is financially responsible for all the damage caused by the wreck. If the negligence of the trucking company or its driver caused personal injury, the potential damages include:
- Disability and/or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress experienced as a result of the injuries and those reasonably probable to be experienced in the future
- Loss of enjoyment of life and any loss of enjoyment of life reasonably probable to be experienced in the future.
- Loss of earnings and earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Caretaking
In a wrongful death case, those filing the claim are also entitled to seek economic damages (earnings lost), and non-economic damages (loss of companionship).
Trust The Fitzgerald Law Firm With Your Personal Injury Case
Navigating the complexities of a truck accident case can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with catastrophic injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. This is where experienced legal guidance becomes crucial. At the Fitzgerald Law Firm, our Wyoming truck accident attorneys have decades of experience helping families and individuals recover from events by getting them the compensation they deserve.
Our founder, Jim Fitzgerald, has been selected for membership in the Trucking Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10 list, and our firm holds the record for the largest injury and death verdicts ever upheld on appeal in Wyoming.
If you or someone you love has been affected by a truck accident, contact our skilled team of attorneys today.