Trucks are big and intimidating, and they can cause a lot of damage when their drivers lose control or make bad choices. When you suffer loss in a collision caused by an at-fault truck driver, you can depend on an experienced Hattiesburg truck accident lawyer from Harris Law Firm to protect you from further harm and champion your rights.
At Harris Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys are highly experienced and have recovered millions on behalf of individuals who were harmed by the negligence and misconduct of others. We are ready and here for you when you need help recovering the legal relief you deserve in a truck accident claim.
The Crash Statistics Are Daunting
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 415,000 police-reported truck accidents in 2020—4,444 that were fatal and 101,000 involving injuries. Whether you experience the devastation of losing a loved one in a collision or the difficulty of physical, mental, or financial injury in a crash, you should be compensated for what you have suffered.
How Do I Recover Damages in a Truck Accident Case?
In many cases, you can seek compensation for your injuries through an insurance claim settlement or a lawsuit against the other driver or their employer. To prove your entitlement to damages, you must prove that the other driver or their employer was negligent or engaged in some type of wrongdoing that caused the crash.
Your proof of negligence or misconduct could be based on the defendant’s failure to do any of the following:
- Properly maintain its truck and react to mechanical failures,
- Follow standard driving rules,
- Take reasonable action on the road, or
- Comply with FMCSA regulations.
Identifying a defendant’s negligence or failure to follow relevant laws before the crash can be a challenging task. In truck accident cases, proving your position often requires a thorough understanding of intricate regulations and expert analysis. Also, Mississippi law reduces your damages by the amount of fault you had in the accident. To put yourself in the best position to win everything you are owed in a claim, you should consult with a Hattiesburg truck accident attorney immediately.
What Can I Recover in a Truck Accident Case?
When someone else is at fault for the losses you have experienced from an accident with a truck, there are several types of damages you can recover in a trial award or a settlement. The kinds of damages available to you depend on the facts of your case. Your damages also depend on whether you were involved in the accident or suffered the loss of a loved one who was involved in an accident. But whatever damages are available in your case, a Hattiesburg truck accident lawyer from Harris Law Firm can maximize your compensation.
Damages When You Are Involved in an Accident
When you are part of a collision and file a complaint, you have the potential to receive the following types of compensation:
- Economic damages to pay for your financial losses, including the loss of wages or earning capacity, medical costs, property repair or replacement costs, and any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident;
- Non-economic damages to compensate you for your pain and suffering, which can include changes in your quality of life, emotional distress, physical pain, disfigurement, embarrassment, and physical impairment; and
- Punitive damages to penalize the at-fault driver for behavior that was malicious, grossly negligent, fraudulent, willful, wanton, or reckless.
Proving some of your economic damages can be a matter of providing receipts and invoices to the other side or the court. But proving the amount you should receive for your lost earning potential, future financial needs, non-economic losses, and punitive damages can be difficult without the help of an attorney.
Damages When You Lose a Loved One in an Accident
If one of your immediate family members passes away because of an at-fault driver’s actions in a trucking accident, you can initiate a wrongful death action against the at-fault party. Damages you can recover in a wrongful death claim include:
- Payment for funeral costs,
- Compensation for property damage,
- Reimbursement for medical costs, and
- Related expenses.
When you are in mourning, fighting for your right to compensation for your loss can prove too much. With Harris Law Firm, you can lean on a skilled and compassionate truck accident lawyer in Hattiesburg who knows how to win every legal remedy you deserve.
What Evidence Do I Need to Prove My Case?
After a collision occurs, you need to start gathering evidence immediately. Every accident claim is different, but information that most crash victims should collect includes:
- Accident reports,
- Witness information,
- Medical records,
- Wage records,
- Employment records
- Expert witness information,
- Receipts and invoices, and
- Accident reports.
A Hattiesburg truck accident attorney from Harris Law Firm can gather the evidence most useful for your case while you take the necessary time to heal from the effects of an accident.
How Long Do I Have to Initiate a Lawsuit?
In general, you have three years from the time of your accident to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver. This deadline can pass quicker than you expect, and you must be careful about the timing of your complaint. You want to give yourself sufficient time to heal so that you have the most thorough understanding of your accident-related medical needs before you file your lawsuit. However, you cannot wait too long to file your complaint, because missing the deadline means that you lose your right to recover damages for the harm an at-fault driver caused you. Speak to us right away about your accident so that we can meet your deadlines and maximize your damages.
We Are the Advocates You Need
When you need a truck accident attorney in Harrisburg, you can call Harris Law Firm. Our attorneys are highly skilled, are on the cutting edge, and can handle the most complex accident cases for crash victims in Mississippi. And if you are looking for an attorney with experience, we are the ones for you. We have been in practice for more than 40 years. Whenever you need help, you can give us a call at 662-335-4171 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.