Jeffersontown Truck Accident Lawyer

Every day, commercial trucks travel in and around Jeffersontown, Kentucky. With the city being home to nearly 2,000 businesses in sectors that range from service and retail to manufacturing and distribution, deliveries go on around the clock. This doesn’t include the Amazon, FedEx, and UPS trucks that serve both businesses and the general public. 

With so many trucks on the road, collisions inevitably occur. While many of them are sideswipes or fender benders, others result in injury and death, especially if passenger vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians are involved. Trucks are huge and heavy vehicles that inflict massive damage when operated in a reckless or negligent manner.

Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a collision involving a truck? At The Schafer Law Office, our experienced and top-rated Jeffersontown truck accident lawyers are ready to assist you. When we take on your case, we go the extra mile to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. 

Types of Truck Accidents in Jeffersontown, KY

According to data from the Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety, there were 9,453 truck accidents on state roads and highways in 2021. 117 of these accidents were fatal while 1,410 caused some form of injury.

In addition:

• 21% of all truck collisions occurred on city, county, or other streets
• 34% happened on interstates or parkways,
• 45% took place on U.S. and state-numbered routes.
• 36% of hazardous cargo collisions occurred on interstates and 51% on U.S. and state-numbered routes.

In a collision, factors such as the size, style, and weight of the truck may play a significant role in the outcome:

• Semi Trucks: Semi-trucks are massive vehicles that can run with or without a trailer. Even when they aren’t hauling freight, they can inflict devastating injuries in a crash due to their size and weight.

• Tractor-Trailers: Tractor-trailers are 18-wheeled trucks with a cab pulling a closed trailer. They have large blind spots and require extra space around them for safety reasons.

• Flatbed Trucks: A flatbed truck may also have 18 wheels, but instead of transporting cargo in an enclosed container it hauls an open flatbed trailer. A flatbed is often used to transport odd-shaped cargo, such as lumber or cars.

• Tanker Trucks: A tanker truck may carry hazardous materials like gasoline or toxic liquids. If these dangerous materials are released or ignited during a collision, it can be fatal.

• Delivery Trucks: Delivery trucks employed by USPS, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS may have distracted drivers who struggle to keep their eyes on the road while watching for house numbers. Many of them cause bicycle and pedestrian accidents in neighborhoods.

• Utility and Garbage Trucks: These trucks often haul heavy loads of trash, gravel, dirt, and other materials. With their limited visibility and large blind spots, they are frequently involved in bicycle and pedestrian accidents.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Unless proper safety standards are met, trucks can be extremely dangerous on the road. Below are a few common causes of truck accidents:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers can experience fatigue when they drive for long periods of time and are only required to take breaks after 14 hours. Sleep deprivation and unhealthy eating habits can also cause fatigue. 
• Drug and Alcohol Use: Impaired drivers injure and kill thousands of people every year. When they’re operating a huge commercial truck, any accidents can be especially catastrophic.
• Mechanical Issues: Poor maintenance and defective components can cause mechanical issues that lead to accidents. They include brake failure, engine problems, and broken safety devices.
• Cargo Issues: Improperly loaded, unbalanced, or overweight trucks can cause leaks, spills, and other dangerous conditions for passenger vehicles. Properly loading a truck can reduce auto accidents caused by cargo.
• Blind Spots: A large commercial vehicle has more blind spots than a smaller vehicle like a regular car. It is not uncommon for another car to get lost in a truck’s blind spot and cause an accident.
• Road Conditions: Poor weather conditions and low visibility can cause complications when driving a commercial motor vehicle. It takes trucks longer to stop or change lanes in dangerous weather, making it hard to avoid sudden accidents.

Regardless of the cause, a truck accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries like the following:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Burns
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Whiplash
• Internal organ damage and bleeding
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury

You should seek medical attention immediately after a collision, even if you don’t think you were hurt. Not all injuries immediately display symptoms, and you’ll want medical documentation for a future claim. Once an examination has confirmed the nature and extent of your injuries, speak to a Jeffersontown personal injury lawyer who can provide an accurate value of all accident-related losses and negotiate with the insurer for the money you need to recover.

FAQS

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Crash in Jeffersontown, KY?

There are multiple parties responsible for making the trucking industry run, and an act or omission by any of them can cause a truck crash. They include:

• • Truck Driver: Often, truck accidents are caused by a driver’s negligence. In such cases, the truck driver can be held responsible.

• Trucking Company: A trucking company may be held liable if its driver causes a crash. It may also be found responsible for an accident if it fails to maintain or repair equipment, pushes a driver beyond their limits, or sends poorly trained drivers out on long trips.

• Truck Owner: In cases where someone other than the driver or trucking company owns the truck, they could be liable for accidents caused by driver negligence or poor maintenance practices. 

• Freight Loader: When an accident occurs due to an improper or unsafe load, the company that loaded the trailer may be responsible. Truck accidents are often caused by shifting loads.

• Manufacturer: An accident caused by a defective truck or part may result in liability for the manufacturer.

Due to the many laws and regulations related to trucking, truck accidents are also more complex than car accidents. Liability is also more complicated to determine. Therefore, you’ll want to work with a Jeffersontown truck accident attorney who knows how to investigate delivery truck accidents, semi-truck crashes, and other incidents involving large commercial vehicles.

How Much is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?

There are many factors that determine the value of your truck accident case, including your injuries, their projected impact on your ability to work and function, and any property damage you may have suffered. In most cases you can claim economic and non-economic damages like the following:

• Medical bills
• Physical therapy or rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Rental car costs
• Vehicle repairs
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death

If the trucking company or driver acted recklessly or with malice, you may also qualify for punitive damages. Unlike some states, Kentucky has no cap on punitive damages, so they can form a significant portion of your award. 

At The Schafer Law Office, we understand the unique dynamics involved in each type of truck crash. Using these insights, your semi-truck accident injury lawyer can expertly investigate the collision, identify liable parties, and guide you through the process of seeking financial compensation for all of your losses.

Get a Free Consultation From a Jeffersontown Truck Accident Lawyer

When delivery trucks, semi-trucks, and 18-wheelers cause an accident, the severe injuries that result can leave you with high medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain. Stress from dealing with insurance companies and getting the settlement you deserve should be the last thing on your mind.

Let The Schafer Law Office help. Your truck accident attorney can negotiate with trucking industry insurance companies and other defendants in pursuit of fair compensation, and take your case to trial if they don’t offer a fair settlement. To schedule a free consultation with an automobile accident lawyer in Jeffersontown, please contact us online today.