Do I Need an Attorney that Specializes in Truck Accidents?

Let’s say a semi-tractor trailer driver fails to check the lane next to him before making a lane change, and it hits another vehicle. In this scenario, it’s obvious to everyone that the case would be considered a “truck accident case.”

However, there are many situations where it might not be so obvious that your case is really is a trucking case. That’s why it is essential that you find an attorney that specializes in truck crash cases to ensure that your recovery is maximized.

How are truck crash cases different from car accident cases?

Trucking cases are any case that involves a “commercial motor vehicle” (CMV). A commercial motor vehicle is a term of art within the transportation industry and legal community. 

CMV operators have many more rules and regulations that they must follow than most drivers. Why? Because CMVs spend more time on the road and their size makes them much more dangerous than a sedan.

Many types of vehicles qualify as CMVs that you might not expect to. While many semi-tractor trailers weigh approximately 80,000 pounds fully loaded, a vehicle can be considered a commercial motor vehicle if it weighs as little as 10,000 pounds.

Oftentimes, the at-fault driver doesn’t even know they’re driving a Commerical Motor Vehicle

Recently, we had a case in which our client was struck by a roadside service truck. The company had retrofitted an old ambulance by removing the large box trailer and installing a smaller service repair trailer. Essentially, the vehicle looked like a slightly larger Ford F-350 – a vehicle that any licensed driver can lawfully drive on public roads.

Because the company was licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the 12,000-pound vehicle was considered a CMV. The roadside service company itself failed to recognize that the modified vehicle qualified as a CMV and was subject to countless additional regulations.

Similarly, the defense attorneys representing the company failed to recognize it as a trucking company. They hired an expert who had absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

After several years of litigation, the trucking company and their attorneys ultimately learned that their vehicle was a CMV, and they failed to follow the rules. Upon this realization, the insurance company paid every penny of their policy limits.

In another case, the defendant driver was driving his pickup truck with his friends. His pickup truck was trailing a large trailer.

Driving such a long and heavy vehicle requires special training and skill. That’s why that combination truck and trailer qualified the vehicle as a CMV.

Again, the defendant driver failed to follow the rules; he didn’t possess the driver’s license certification required to drive that vehicle. Predictably, the driver dangerously attempted to make a left-hand turn from a right-hand lane that ended up permanently injuring our client.

When you or someone close to you is involved in a vehicle crash, it is essential to have truck accident lawyers on your side that can identify CMVs even when the company operating the vehicle cannot.

Do you have a truck accident case? Contact us today.

You may have a truck accident case if the bad driver operates a heavy vehicle or if the other vehicle is operated by a corporation. Your advocate must analyze whether the vehicle is a CMV and subject to the hundreds of additional regulations.

At Shannon Law Group, our lawyers always investigate a car accident and turn over every rock. We check to see if a company was responsible for the crash.

If you were in a truck crash, contact us today to speak with one of our attorneys. Call us 24/7 at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get started. Our consultations are always free.