Fatal Truck Crashes
When a truck accident takes your loved one, our wrongful death attorneys take action
When a truck accident takes your loved one, our wrongful death attorneys take action.
Honor your loved one's memory by demanding accountability. You have rights.
Losing a loved one in a truck accident is devastating. There are no words that will ever capture the profound emptiness left when someone is taken so suddenly and senselessly.
When families are confronted with having a loved one taken from them, it’s understandable why legal action may not be top of mind. After all, your loved one is irreplaceable and there is no amount of money that will ease your pain or return them to you.
But the law is about more than money.
It’s about justice. It’s about accountability. It’s about honoring your loved one and returning dignity to their life and legacy.
It can feel insensitive and degrading when the justice system asks you to put a price tag on a loved one's life. At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our experienced attorneys recognize this and approach these conversations with the utmost sensitivity and expertise, understanding that compensation is only a part of what full and fair justice means.
While no amount of money can turn back time, pursuing compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit plays a vital role in helping families heal:
- It ensures your family's financial security in the wake of your loss
- It sends a powerful message that when someone takes a life there are real, lasting consequences
- It can drive systemic changes to prevent future tragedies
- It can provide a sense of catharsis to know that others heard your story and validated the injustice of something so great being taken from you.
It can feel insensitive and degrading when the justice system asks you to put a price tag on a loved one's life. At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our experienced attorneys recognize this and approach these conversations with the utmost sensitivity and expertise, understanding that compensation is only a part of what full and fair justice means.
While no amount of money can turn back time, pursuing compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit plays a vital role in helping families heal:
- It ensures your family's financial security in the wake of your loss
- It sends a powerful message that when someone takes a life there are real, lasting consequences
- It can drive systemic changes to prevent future tragedies
- It can provide a sense of catharsis to know that others heard your story and validated the injustice of something so great being taken from you.
When deadly truck accidents occur, families deserve answers and support. They deserve to have their voices heard. They deserve compensation. And they deserve justice.
And justice demands The Law Firm for Truck Safety.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we use our unmatched legal and practical expertise to pursue justice and fully hold accountable those responsible for taking your loved one from you.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, We Stand with You.
We fight to:
- Provide justice and restore hope, helping families reclaim their dignity in the aftermath of tragedy.
- Uncover the truth, revealing how and why this devastation occurred to give families the answers they deserve.
- Hold all unsafe people and companies accountable, ensuring no negligence goes unchallenged.
- Prevent future tragedies by advocating for stricter safety measures and keeping dangerous drivers off the road.
- Secure financial support for unexpected expenses, easing the burden of medical bills and funeral costs.
- Honor the legacy of your loved one, ensuring their story is heard and they're remembered as more than another life lost to traffic violence.
Take the First Step Towards Justice
If you've lost someone in a truck accident, you don't have to face the road ahead alone. Contact our lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us help you navigate this difficult journey and seek the justice your loved one deserves.
Your loss matters. Your loved one’s legacy matters. Let us help you make a difference.
Contact The Law Firm for Truck Safety
Our Case Settlement and Verdicts:
Fatal Truck Accidents
Our track record in wrongful death settlements following fatal truck crashes speaks for itself. These results reflect our commitment to securing justice for families devastated by fatal semi-truck accidents.
The Alarming Reality of Truck Accidents
The alarming reality of truck accidents is stark and deeply troubling. In 2022 alone, 5,963 people were killed in fatal truck accidents – a 50% increase over the past decade. This staggering number sickens us, especially because our extensive experience in litigating these wrongful death claims has shown that these tragedies are almost always preventable.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our mission is clear: to help affected families find answers and restore hope after so much has been senselessly taken from them.
We fight tirelessly to provide justice, uncover the truth, hold wrongdoers accountable, recover compensation, and prevent future tragedies from happening. We work to secure financial support for families like yours and, most importantly, to honor the legacy of your loved one.
Contact The Law Firm for Truck Safety to get the justice your loved one’s life deserves.
Schedule my Free Case Consultation
Someone I Love Was Killed in a Truck Accident.
Do I Need an Attorney?
If someone you love was killed in a truck accident and you believe another party was at fault, you need to contact an experienced truck accident attorney immediately. Proving that another party is responsible for an accident — and should therefore be held accountable — is, unfortunately, very difficult in trucking cases. It is even more difficult to secure the appropriate funds to cover medical expenses and burial costs.
In wrongful death claims, your personal injury attorney must prove the negligence of the defendant(s). And the reality is insurance companies and defense attorneys are highly skilled at combating these claims. They are experts at finding loopholes that allow their clients to avoid paying the full and fair amount of compensation owed to families destroyed by their clients’ reckless actions.
How The Law Firm for Truck Safety Can Help
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our truck crash attorneys have successfully fought these tactics countless times.
Our lawyers are prepared to:
1. Provide compassionate support during this challenging time.
2. Investigate the circumstances of the accident thoroughly to find answers.
3. Fight for justice and the full and fair compensation you deserve.
4. Work towards preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.
Our lawyers are prepared to:
1. Provide compassionate support during this challenging time.
2. Investigate the circumstances of the accident thoroughly to find answers.
3. Fight for justice and the full and fair compensation you deserve.
4. Work towards preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.
FAQs: Fatal Truck Accidents & Wrongful Death Claims
We understand that legal matters may be the last thing on your mind. However, having a caring and experienced attorney by your side can make a world of difference during this challenging period.
Your attorney will handle the complex aspects of your case with sensitivity and expertise.
They'll gather crucial evidence, including:
- the driver's logbook
- maintenance records
- police reports
- dashcam footage
- cell phone records from the trucking company
In some cases, they might even work with medical experts or accident reconstruction specialists to build a strong case on your behalf.
Should your case go to trial, your attorney will present your story in a compelling and respectful manner. They'll also help you understand and pursue fair compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. This ensures that while nothing can truly make up for your loss, you won't have to face financial hardship on top of your emotional pain.
Economic costs
- Medical bills
- Loss of loved one’s earning capacity
- Funeral and burial or cremation costs
- Property loss
- Legal expenses
- Childcare costs
Non-economic costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of household support
- Loss of parental guidance
Tractor Trailers
Accidents involving large commercial vehicles are often more catastrophic than those with passenger cars, primarily due to their immense size and weight:
- Weigh up to 80,000 lbs when fully loaded. This is 20 to 30 times heavier than a passenger vehicle.
- Can take up to 40% longer to stop.
- Are more difficult to maneuver, requiring the driver to have special training to safely operate
- Are at a higher risk for creating a deadly hazard in construction zones, large cities, when speeding, or when the driver is distracted or engaging in unsafe driving behaviors.
Industry Pressures and Their Consequences
Truck drivers often face intense pressure to meet delivery deadlines, leading to:
- Extended 11-hour shifts
- Skipped rest breaks, safety checks, and vehicle maintenance
- Improper cargo loading
These factors significantly elevate the risk of a truck accident. Additionally, drivers may resort to speeding to compensate for time lost in traffic, further increasing both the likelihood and severity of a fatal truck crash.
Fatigue and Impairment
The demanding nature of long-haul trucking can result in:
- Drowsy driving
- Substance abuse to stay awake or cope with stress
- Distracted driving (e.g., using phones or other electronic devices)
Legal Recourse
If you've lost a loved one in a truck accident potentially caused by:
Driver negligence or driver fatigue | Impaired or distracted driving | Unsecured loads | Speeding | Defective equipment
Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with The Law Firm for Truck Safety to explore your legal options and connect with an experienced fatal truck accident lawyer ready to fight for you.
Speak to A Truck Accident Attorney Near Me
When you're ready to consider legal action, one of the first steps your truck accident attorney will take will be to sit down with you to map out the road ahead. This will include determining the parties that need to be held accountable with your wrongful death lawsuit. A compassionate and skilled attorney will guide you through this process finding all liable parties, ensuring you understand each step and why each defendant is being included.
It's important to know that in some states, like Illinois, Ohio, and Oklahoma, you may still have a case even if your loved one’s actions contributed in part to the crash. This is where your attorney's ability to find and prove negligence comes into play.
Understanding Potential Liable Parties
Trucks are commercial vehicles, so unlike a car accident, those responsible for the crash can extend beyond the truck driver and their employer. While this may seem complicated, it actually means you may have more avenues for seeking justice for your loved one.
In wrongful death lawsuits, it’s not uncommon to sue:
- The truck driver: If the truck driver involved in the accident was distracted, driving while fatigued, drunk or otherwise impaired, if they failed to perform regular maintenance or properly secure their cargo, or if they were speeding, they could be found responsible for the crash.
- The trucking or logistics company: If the trucking company hired unqualified drivers or drivers with a bad record, if they failed to train drivers or schedule enough rest time, or incentivized drivers to skip their scheduled rest times, or if they failed to maintain their fleet, they may owe you restitution.
- Maintenance crews: If the driver or trucking company outsources maintenance efforts to a third party and that business fails to catch or resolve an issue that fully or partially caused the accident, the maintenance company could be found liable as well.
- Parts manufacturers: When a crash is caused by a mechanical failure in the truck, truck accident lawyers will investigate the company that manufactured the faulty part. If the manufacturer of the truck or truck part failed to conduct appropriate testing or knew the part was faulty but didn’t recall it, they could be sued.
- Third-party partner: Depending on the circumstances around the crash, there are several other third-party companies that could be named in your lawsuit. For instance, if the crash was caused by an unsecured load and someone other than the driver packed the cargo and loaded the vehicle, they could be named in your suit as well.
- A government entity: A government entity could be named in your lawsuit. If the accident involved a city vehicle like a bus, fire truck, or police car, you may be able to sue. The same could be true if you can prove that the roads were poorly maintained and caused the accident. Though immunity may come into play, a seasoned truck accident lawyer may be able to help you recover funds.
Determining liability and which parties to name in your truck accident lawsuit are complex processes. So, it’s essential to reach out for help from an experienced truck accident lawyer. By leaving any liable parties out of your lawsuit, you could be allowing drivers, trucking companies, and other parties to continue their unsafe practices.
The time you have to file your fatal truck accident lawsuit is called the statute of limitations. The location and circumstances of your loved one's crash make this time period vary, but it is often two years.
However, there are some states, like Tennessee, where the statute of limitations is one year. This is why it’s always advised to speak with an attorney as soon as you are able to avoid missing any critical deadlines.
When there is some time between the crash and your loved one’s passing, it’s possible you may have the right to file a personal injury claim in addition to a wrongful death suit.
Regardless of the specific situation, time is of the essence. Families need to act fast to find an attorney, secure critical evidence, and assemble a case before time runs out.
The Importance of Finding Experienced Legal Support You Can Trust
Navigating a truck accident lawsuit while grieving is incredibly challenging. An experienced and empathetic truck accident lawyer can:
- Handle the complexities of determining liability
- Ensure all potentially responsible parties are considered
- Guide you through the legal process with compassion and clarity
- Help prevent similar tragedies by holding negligent parties accountable
Remember, seeking legal advice doesn't diminish your grief or the memory of your loved one. Instead, it can be a step towards finding closure and ensuring safer practices for others in the future.
When you feel ready, consider reaching out to a lawyer who specializes in truck accident lawsuits. At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our lawyers are experienced in handling fatal truck wreck cases and communicating with families in a straightforward and compassionate way. We offer thoughtful, no-pressure, case consultations to help you understand your legal options.
Our goal is to help you map out the best path forward for you and your family.
Navigating a Wrongful Death Claim After a Truck Accident
During this difficult time, you and your family will face challenging decisions about the road ahead. If you are thinking of filing a wrongful death claim to seek justice for your loved one, here's some guidance to help you through the process:
Initial Steps
- Take care of yourself and your family first. Grief is a process, and your well-being is paramount. There will be bad days and better days. Give yourself grace and find an attorney who can meet you where you are.
- Be cautious of early settlement offers from insurance companies. Insurance companies are motivated to keep costs at a minimum for their client. As such these initial offers rarely reflect the true value of your loss.
- Consider speaking with a specialized truck accident attorney before making any decisions.
Choosing the Right Legal Support
When you're ready to seek legal help, look for a personal injury law firm that:
Specializes in truck accidents: Trucking lawsuits involve complex regulations and require specialized knowledge of both the law, the trucking industry, and the mechanics of trucks themselves. An NBTA board-certified truck accident lawyer has proven proficiency in all three of these areas.
Has local experience: A lawyer familiar with your state's laws can better navigate your case.
Holds Record of success: Look for a history of favorable outcomes in similar cases.
Takes a Compassionate approach: Choose a lawyer who understands the emotional toll of your loss.
Is Willing to take your case to trial: Even though the vast majority of personal injury claims settle, working with an attorney who is unafraid to take your case before a jury, will give you peace of mind you are not being short-changed in any settlement negotiations.
Why Experienced Representation Matters
A skilled truck accident attorney can:
Handle complex legal and insurance matters while you focus on healing
Ensure all responsible parties are held accountable
Advocate for fair compensation that reflects the full impact of your loss
Remember, seeking justice for your loved one is your right. The right legal support can help you through this process with compassion and expertise.
Let The Law Firm for Truck Safety Fight for You
The Law Firm for Truck Safety has more National Board of Trial Advocacy–certified attorneys than any other law firm in the country. Five of our lawyers hold commercial driver’s licenses, giving our team direct insights into the rules, regulations, and standards of care to which truck drivers must adhere. This, combined with our extensive trial experience and truck safety expertise allows us to uncover critical case facts other personal injury law firms can’t.
We have recovered more than $550 million for our clients, with more than 60 settlements and verdicts coming in at $2 million or more. We won several record settlements, including:
A $42.4 million verdict — the largest truck crash verdict in Ohio
A $34 million settlement - the largest truck crash settlement the year it was received
A $16 million verdict– Ohio’s largest (consortium only) wrongful death verdict.
During this difficult time, you shouldn't have to navigate the legal complexities alone. At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our compassionate truck accident attorneys are here to listen to your story, honor your loved one's memory, and work tirelessly to seek justice and support your family needs.
Contact our wrongful death attorneys today.