Cement trucks are large and imposing vehicles that carry heavy mixing drums. When one of these trucks becomes involved in an accident, the damage can be devastating. The weight of the vehicle can easily smash or crush other cars, and the property damage can be significantly worse if the drum contains wet cement at the time of the accident.
You may be eligible for significant compensation after a cement truck accident, but there are often several parties that share in the liability. A dedicated cement truck accident lawyer can help you understand how to get a favorable outcome in this complex situation.
Many commercial truck accidents happen due to driver error or poor company oversight. However, cement trucks can be especially risky due to the unique design and strict maintenance requirements for these vehicles.
Some of the most common causes of cement truck accidents include:
There are regulations that exist to enforce safe practices for professional drivers and their employers. For example, there are federal hours of service regulations that limit how many hours a commercial driver can spend operating the vehicle in a single day. When the company, the driver or any other affiliated party violates these types of regulations, it makes a cement truck accident much more likely.
Even the most minor collision between standard passenger vehicles can cause significant injury, but a cement truck is exponentially more dangerous when an accident happens. Not only are these trucks massive, but they also carry up to 10 cubic yards of wet cement. That equates to up to 40,000 pounds of weight that can crush nearby vehicles.
The mixing drum on the back of a cement truck is an “unstable load” because the wet cement within is constantly churning. The drum also gives the truck a high center of gravity. What this all means is that the truck can easily rollover if the driver loses control during an accident.
These dangerous factors make certain types of injuries very common in cement truck accidents, such as:
Cement truck accidents can cause damage in a wide area, so the first thing you should do is check yourself and others for injuries. If you are able, help other people who are hurt or stuck.
Call 911 immediately and wait at the scene. Police officers will arrive to investigate the accident, and first responders will check you over for injuries. It is important to cooperate with EMTs even if you do not feel any pain or effects from the accident because many injuries might not manifest symptoms until later.
If you do not require immediate hospitalization, you should take the time to document the scene before leaving. Take photographs of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries you sustained. It is also a good idea to take photos of the surrounding area. Exchange insurance information with the cement truck driver and get contact information from anyone who witnessed the crash.
There are many people responsible for the safe operations of cement trucks, more so than most other commercial vehicles. If you experience a cement truck accident, one or more of these parties may be liable:
Determining exactly who is at fault requires establishing negligence. Each of the parties involved with the cement truck has a duty of care toward all drivers who will share the road with that truck. If one or more of those parties violate that duty of care by being negligent toward safety standards, they owe compensation to the people harmed as a result.
When you file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, you can recover all of your economic and non-economic damages caused by the other party’s negligence. This includes:
The exact value of your settlement may vary, but it is important to hold the other parties accountable for the full amount of damage caused to you. That is why it is so important to have an attorney who will investigate every individual and company that might share in the blame. If you do not file a claim against every liable party, you might not get the full coverage you deserve.
If you suffered serious damages in a cement truck accident, it is worth using every resource at your disposal to get suitable compensation. If you do not recover all of your damages, medical bills and property damage costs can add up and cause significant financial disruption in your life.
Even if you only suffered minor damages, it is still important to hold negligent drivers and businesses accountable. Your settlement could be worth more than you might think.
At The Collins Law Firm, our team makes sure you get suitable compensation by:
At The Collins Law Firm, we understand the serious physical, emotional and psychological effects that a major truck accident can have. That is why we are eager to give you the chance to focus on resting and recovering from your injuries.
Contact us today to learn how our cement truck accident lawyers can help. We offer a free case evaluation so you can understand your legal options.
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