Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer ImageTruck accidents can have life-altering consequences, often resulting in catastrophic injuries that can have long-lasting impacts on your life. The aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming, involving medical treatments, rehabilitation, and significant financial burdens. It can feel impossible to handle it all alone, but help from a Watertown truck accident lawyer is available to support you in a truck accident claim or truck accident lawsuit.

Common Causes of Most Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can result from various factors, including driver behavior and conduct, vehicle maintenance, and environmental conditions for truck crashes. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), some of the most frequent causes of truck accidents include:

  • Distracted Driving – Using mobile phones, eating, adjusting radio or air conditioning controls, or other distractions.
  • Reckless Driving – Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating, improper lane changes, and unsafe passing.
  • Impaired Driving – Operating a truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Speeding – Driving at unreasonable and hazardous speeds.
  • Driver Fatigue – Driving more than legally allowed hours to meet tight deadlines.
  • Improper Maintenance – Failing to properly maintain trucks and their components.
  • Poor Weather Conditions – Failing to adequately adjust to driving in rain, snow, fog, ice, and reduced visibility conditions.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accidents often result in severe injuries due to the size of commercial vehicles and weight disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. Common injuries Watertown truck accident lawyers see include:

  • Back Injuries – Herniated discs can result from the force of an accident, as the discs can rupture or bulge in an accident, causing long-term pain and discomfort.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries – A spinal cord injury can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the injury.
  • Neck Injuries – Whiplash, caused by the rapid, sudden back-and-forth neck movement during a collision, can lead to neck pain and stiffness for weeks after the crash.
  • Head and Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can happen in truck accidents, and TBIs range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Any TBI can cause memory loss, headaches, dizziness, and cognitive impairments.
  • Internal Bleeding – Trauma to the chest or abdomen can cause internal organs to bleed, creating a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
  • Organ Damage – Organs like the liver, spleen, and kidneys can suffer serious injury in a truck accident, leading to potential long-term health issues.
  • Crush Injuries – Heavy debris or being caught between parts of vehicles can crush limbs, leading to severe tissue damage and, in extreme truck accident cases, amputation.
  • Fatal Truck Accident Injuries – Unfortunately, wrongful death situations do occur after serious injuries. In these situations, a Watertown truck accident lawyers can assist family members with a wrongful death claim.

What To Do After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents are terrifying, and the aftermath can be stressful. After a truck accident, you may not be sure what to do next. You can take these steps to protect your health and position yourself to make a personal injury claim for the compensation you’ll need:

  • Seeking Medical Care – Get medical attention immediately after the accident to identify and treat potential injuries. Some brain injuries go undiagnosed until symptoms of TBIs occur.
  • Report the Accident – Call the police if they’re not already at the scene.
  • Avoid Making Statements – Do not speculate or make premature assumptions about the accident and potential causes. When talking to law enforcement, provide factual information about the accident. Also, avoid making statements that might seem as if you think you caused the crash.
  • Contact a Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer – Reach out to a skilled truck accident attorney who can advise you on the next steps, protect your legal rights, and handle your claim.

The Benefits of Having a Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident cases are inherently more complex than regular car accident cases, and having an experienced Watertown truck accident lawyer handling your claim relieves you of the stress that goes with trying to get the money you deserve. Truck accident attorneys can use their experience to handle the diverse elements of truck accident claims, including:

  • Multiple Parties – Unlike car accidents, which typically involve two parties, truck accidents can involve numerous parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck or truck parts manufacturer, and even cargo loaders. Identifying all responsible parties is crucial for a successful claim.
  • Severity of Losses – Due to the size of commercial trucks, accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, requiring extensive recovery and costly medical bills. Evaluating these injuries involves thorough documentation and a clear understanding of the long-term impacts on the victims’ lives.
  • Industry Regulations and Requirements – The trucking industry must follow federal and state regulations to ensure safety, and knowing how these laws apply and whether the trucker or trucking company violated them is crucial for your claim.
  • Insurance Companies and Coverage – Trucking companies and their insurers often utilize aggressive legal teams to delay or avoid paying out claims, and having a Watertown truck accident lawyer can prevent their tactics from hindering a potential settlement.

How a Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer from Turbak Law Office, P.C. Can Help

Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer Image 2After suffering a truck accident injury, you may feel stress and anxiety in addition to physical pain and discomfort. This leaves you with little energy or time to dedicate to handling a claim. Truck accident attorneys can take on:

  • Accident Investigation – Trucking companies have investigation teams that look out for their best interests, but your lawyer can investigate the accident to determine liability.
  • Evidence Collection – Photos, videos, witness statements, police reports, and medical records are critical documentation to include in your claim, and your lawyer can gather and compile this evidence.
  • Loss Calculation – Your lawyer can use their knowledge and understanding of truck accident injuries to accurately evaluate your injury’s potential long-term impact and how much money you’ll need to cover lost wages, medical expenses, and its lifetime costs.
  • Claim Construction – Creating a robust claim to prove you’re entitled to the compensation you need requires preparing evidence and arguments in persuasive ways. Your attorney will handle it all.
  • Settlement Negotiation – Your lawyer can handle all negotiations with the insurer to attempt to reach an appropriate settlement that covers the entirety of your losses.

Available Compensation for Truck Accidents

There are several losses you might suffer because of a truck accident. The physical, emotional, and financial toll of truck accidents take can make recovery feel impossible. You might be entitled to pursue compensation for these losses:

  • Medical Expenses – This can include costs for immediate medical care, ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and any future medical needs related to the accident.
  • Lost Wages – Your injury may prevent you from returning to work, and you can pursue compensation for the income you would’ve earned, including benefits and bonuses.
  • Loss of Future Earning Potential – Your injury may have long-term effects, preventing you from continuing your career or occupation. You can calculate what your overall career earnings would’ve been and pursue this compensation as part of your claim.
  • Pain and Suffering – You might be coping with nonstop pain and discomfort due to your injury, and you can seek compensation for your physical pain and emotional suffering.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Your injury and its aftermath could impact your ability to engage in previously enjoyed activities, hobbies, or routines, adding to feelings of distress, sadness, and anguish. You can seek compensation for these losses in your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents

Our clients often come to a personal injury lawyer with questions. Following are answers to some of the questions a Watertown truck accident lawyer from Turbak Law Office, P.C. hear most often.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in South Dakota?

The statute of limitations for truck accident claims allows three years from the date of the accident in South Dakota to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Filing truck accident lawsuits as soon as possible is the best way to pursue compensation to cover your losses.

How Long Can It Take to Resolve a Truck Accident Claim?

Every trucking accident claim and its circumstances differ. Various factors can impact the timeline for resolving a truck accident claim, including:

  • Case complexity
  • Injury severity
  • Liability disputes
  • Court schedules

An experienced truck accident attorney can work to reduce unnecessary delays and obstacles. Experience dealing with truck drivers, trucking companies, tractor trailers, and commercial trucking accidents can be invaluable. This is important in knowing how to handle truck accident cases,

What Types of Evidence Are Crucial for Truck Accident Claims?

Extensive evidence is vital for supporting a truck accident claim, especially evidence related to the truck and truck driver. This includes truck driver logs, maintenance records, and the truck’s electronic logging device (ELD). It also includes police reports, eyewitness statements, and photos or videos of the truck accident victims, and potential damage.

Contact a Watertown Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Have you been injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault? If you’re dealing with a truck accident injury, you must prioritize your health and legal rights. At Turbak Law Office, P.C., our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience in handling truck accident cases. Our experienced Watertown truck accident lawyers understand the physical, mental, and financial toll a truck accident takes on your life. Our team of Watertown truck accident attorneys wants to take as much stress off your plate as possible. A truck accident lawyer in Watertown can pursue the compensation you need to recover fully. Our client testimonials and impressive case results show that we can provide our clients with the care and results they deserve.

Contact us today online or call our Watertown truck accident lawyers today at 605-886-8361 for your free truck crash case consultation. With our skilled truck accident lawyers by your side, you’ll feel confident that we can handle your truck accident claim. We can handle your claim with care while you focus on recovering. Let our truck accident law firm support you every step of the way. Our legal team works on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay anything unless we win your truck accident case.

Results
$11,000,000 Settlement Car Accident
$4,007,015.24 Settlement Semi Truck Collisions
$3,450,000 Settlement Motorcycle Accidents
$2,500,000 Settlement Wrongful Death
$2,500,000 Settlement Wrongful Death
Client Testimonials
a beacon of excellence in the legal field

3 years ago I found myself in the unfortunate position of being involved in a car accident. Amidst the chaos and stress, Turbak Law Office became my guiding light, and I am beyond grateful for their exceptional support and dedication throughout the entire process.

From the moment I reached out to Turbak Law Office, their team displayed a level of professionalism and empathy that immediately put me at ease. They listened attentively to my concerns, thoroughly explained the legal proceedings, and outlined a strategy that gave me confidence in the path forward.

What truly sets Turbak Law Office apart is their unwavering commitment to their clients. Throughout the entire duration of my case, they were proactive in keeping me informed, consistently updating me on any developments, and promptly addressing any questions or concerns I had along the way. Their communication was clear, concise, and always delivered with a genuine concern for my well-being.

I cannot recommend Turbak Law Office highly enough. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care for their clients make them stand out as a beacon of excellence in the legal field. If you find yourself in need of legal representation, look no further than Turbak Law Office – they are truly the best in the business. Thank you, Dillon Martinez, Seamus Turbak, and the entire Turbak team, for all that you have done for me and my family.

Carlito E.
You guys are amazing!

There determination and hardwork helped us settle a claim that I thought was going to be impossible. I was told that Turbak is the best and everyone is right! So thankful for their expertise! You guys are amazing!

Jessie B.
Great people, great service!!

Great people, great service!! Always answered any questions right away! Dillon was also an amazing, helpful, kind person. He always had a smile on his face and took a lot of stress off my shoulders. Not once did I leave there feeling unsatisfied! 10/10 🙂

Quinn L.
exceedingly efficient and effective

I cannot thank Turbak Law enough for the time and effort they put in to bring closure to one of the most difficult times I have ever had to deal with. They were exceedingly efficient and effective in bringing a positive result and were able and willing to work around my schedule. Thank you to Seamus and Erika for all the work and support through all.

Tanya H.
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