Getting hit by a truck can be a traumatic experience, both physically and emotionally. Because trucks are so large and powerful, if they hit a passenger vehicle or a vulnerable road user, there can be disastrous consequences. Your injuries could be catastrophic enough to prevent you from working at the same time that your medical bills start piling up. In those circumstances, what are your options? The first thing you need to do is hire one of our Levittown truck accident lawyers.
At Wapner Newman, we have devoted decades to helping clients who have been injured because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct. You don’t have to go through the process of filing a claim on your own.
Do you need help getting compensation after a truck accident? Contact one of our Levittown truck collision lawyers by calling Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900.
Why Choose Us?
The Benefits of Hiring Experienced Levittown Truck Accident Lawyers
Filing a personal injury claim is not easy. It’s not something you want to tackle on your own, especially when you’re dealing with injuries. By hiring our team of truck accident lawyers, you have the chance to maximize your compensation. We have more than 40 years of experience helping clients who have been in truck accidents and suffered losses. These years of experience help us to fiercely negotiate on your behalf and even litigate your claim in court if that’s the right way of getting you fair compensation.
When you choose our team of truck accident attorneys, you get the support you deserve. The process of filing a claim can be very stressful, and it can require that you relive the traumatic experience. Our compassionate lawyers will offer both legal and emotional support so you know you’re not alone in this journey.
Basics of Filing a Claim After a Truck Accident
Our Levittown truck collision attorneys want you to know some crucial basics about filing a claim after being injured in a truck accident.
Limited and Full Tort Insurance
One of the challenges of filing a claim after a truck accident involves understanding Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault insurance laws. Unlike other states, which follow either at-fault or no-fault laws when it comes to traffic accidents, you have options in Pennsylvania — it all comes down to the insurance you choose.
If you opt for limited tort insurance, you can file a no-fault claim against your insurer and receive compensation for economic losses. You’re not able to recover non-economic damages, however, and you can’t file a personal injury claim unless you’ve suffered serious injuries. Full tort insurance is the other option you have. It’s a bit more expensive than limited tort, but it lets you pursue a personal injury claim no matter what injuries you’ve suffered. This means that you can recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Establishing Liability
If you have full tort insurance or have suffered injuries serious enough to allow you to file a lawsuit, you will need to demonstrate that the other party holds most of the fault for the accident. In the majority of cases, you will have to establish negligence. To do so, you need to meet some requirements, beginning with showing that the defendant owed you a duty of care that they breached.
Any driver operating a vehicle has to obey traffic laws and drive safely to ensure that others on the road are not at risk from their conduct. That’s their duty of care. If a driver breaks the law, they’ve breached that responsibility.
The next part of proving negligence is to show that the party’s conduct caused you to suffer losses for which you can receive compensation. If the accident led you to suffer a concussion that sent you to the hospital, for example, you’d be able to file a personal injury claim.
This can seem very complex, but you don’t have to worry about establishing negligence on your own. At Wapner Newman, our Levittown truck crash lawyers can gather the necessary evidence and take care of this for you.
Statutes of Limitation
You don’t have an unlimited amount of time to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party in a truck accident. Most people have two years from the moment the accident occurs. While this can seem like plenty of time, it’s imperative that you contact our Levittown truck accident lawyers as quickly as possible. There are circumstances when you have less time to file a claim, and the last thing you want is to miss the deadline.
The Wapner Newman team helped recover $2 million for a tractor-trailer accident that caused two fatalities.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Steps That Can Help Your Claim
The moments after a truck accident can be a blur, yet they’re some of the most important ones if you’re planning on filing a personal injury claim. Our truck crash lawyers offer some guidance on the steps you should take.
Ensure Your Safety
Before you focus on anything else, you need to make sure you’re out of danger. Get off the road and don’t make any abrupt movements until you have a clearer idea of the injuries you’ve sustained. If you’re in a lot of pain or you’re bleeding, try to move as little as possible and call emergency services. Once the paramedics get to the scene, have them examine you. This will allow you to not only get immediate medical care but also start keeping a record of the injuries you sustained.
Call the Police
If they’re not already at the scene, call the police. You will need to have their report to file a claim. Once an officer arrives, give them your account of the accident. Offer as many details as possible.
Gather Evidence
If you are well enough to do so, start gathering evidence right there at the scene of the accident. Take pictures and videos of the truck and your vehicle, and document your injuries. You may also want to speak with eyewitnesses and get their contact information so our truck crash attorneys can reach out to them later.
Alert Your Insurer
You want to let your insurer know about the accident as soon as you can. Offer the facts and keep the conversation short until you can speak with one of our lawyers.
Call a Levittown Truck Crash Attorney
Contact our team at Wapner Newman right after you let your insurer know about the accident. We can rapidly schedule a consultation to see what your claim options are.
Truck Accident FAQs
Do you have questions about filing a claim after a truck crash? Our team offers answers to some of the most common queries clients have.
What are the most frequent causes of truck accidents?
Truck accidents usually occur as a result of driver error. Distracted driving and operating a truck while intoxicated are common. Because truckers spend so much time on the road, they often drive while fatigued, which can lead them to be more distracted and even fall asleep at the wheel.
It’s not always driver error, however. Sometimes roads are in bad condition, or truck parts may be defective. Our team of Levittown truck accident attorneys will investigate the accident to understand what caused it.
Can I still recover damages if I was partly responsible for the accident?
Yes, you can still recover damages as long as you don’t hold the majority of the blame for the collision.
What damages can I claim after a truck accident?
After a truck crash, you can claim economic and non-economic damages if you pursue a lawsuit. Economic damages compensate you for financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages, as well as loss of earning potential if your injuries don’t allow you to return to work.
Non-economic damages compensate you for non-financial losses, including pain and suffering. If the accident resulted in a loved one’s death, you can claim loss of consortium, which compensates you for the loss of support and companionship you’ve suffered.
How can a personal injury lawyer help?
When filing a claim, our lawyers can investigate the accident and gather evidence that can prove you deserve compensation. We’ll also negotiate with insurance companies, which is one of the most challenging aspects of these claims. If we see that the insurer isn’t offering a fair settlement, we can take your case to court. This is something you should never do on your own.
To hear more about the process of filing a claim, schedule a consultation with the Wapner Newman team.
Get Experienced Representation on Your Side
If you’ve suffered losses in a truck accident, you need to have lawyers ready to fight for your rights. At Wapner Newman, our truck collision attorneys bring decades of experience to the table. With our support, you can put all of your attention toward healing while we handle the claims process on your behalf. Don’t wait to begin your claim.
Schedule a free consultation with the lawyers at Wapner Newman by calling (215) 569-0900.