Understanding Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial vehicles play a major role in our economy, and they’re everywhere. Businesses use commercial vehicles to further their business interests, and they are driven by employees of the business. If you’re injured in a commercial vehicle accident that was caused by the commercial driver’s negligence, you can pursue fair compensation through the company’s insurance provider.
Proving Liability and Seeking Recovery in Ottawa
To prove liability in your legal action, you’ll need to prove that the other party was negligent, that their negligence was the direct cause of the accident that caused you to be injured, and that you suffered legal damages as a result. In order to recover on your losses, you can seek compensation through a commercial vehicle accident claim, and having a trusted lawyer in your corner throughout the legal process is always advised.
Major Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents are often the result of negligence on the part of the commercial driver, the company, or both. When the involved business is at fault, such as trucking companies in truck accidents, it’s generally based on their failure to meet the safety standards set for the industry, including:
- Hiring licensed truck drivers who have the necessary commercial driver’s licence, experience, and safety record
- Keeping their fleet of commercial vehicles in good working order
- Having solid safety protocols in place and carefully implementing them
- Ensuring that their commercial drivers don’t exceed the boundaries of safety, such as in an effort to keep up with demand
When commercial drivers are deemed liable, it generally comes down to forms of negligence like the following:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Drunk driving
- Failing to follow the rules of the road
Commercial enterprises and commercial drivers each bear an important responsibility to the safety of everyone on the road.
Injuries from Commercial Vehicle Accidents
The injuries that you sustain in a commercial vehicle accident can be life-threatening, and some of the most common include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
- Serious burns and cuts
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash
- limb loss or injuries that require amputation and other catastrophic injuries
Financial Recovery and Support
In your commercial vehicle accident claim, you can seek compensation for your losses in each of the following primary categories:
- Medical bills for your current and ongoing medical treatment
- Your lost wages
- Your physical and emotional pain and suffering
Obtaining the accident benefits to which you’re entitled is key to your recovery.
What to Do After a Commercial Truck Accident
The commercial vehicle accident that leaves you injured will be unique to your specific situation, but taking the following steps are in the best interests of every commercial accident victim:
- Seeking medical attention as soon after the accident as possible
- Following your doctor’s advice and instructions carefully
- Retaining a dedicated commercial vehicle accident lawyer early in the process
- Allowing your lawyer to communicate and negotiate a settlement with the insurance company on your behalf
- Focusing on your recovery while your lawyer advocates on your behalf
How to File a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawsuit
Your commercial vehicle accident lawyer will ably guide you through the process of filing a successful commercial accident claim, which includes all the following steps:
- Skillfully gathering and compiling all the available evidence
- Building a strong claim that the insurance company is hard pressed to deny
- Knowledgeably negotiating for your claim’s optimal outcome
- Being ready to take your case to court if the need arises
With a focused lawyer backing you up, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your rights are well protected.
The Role of a Commercial Vehicle Lawyer
Your Commercial vehicle accident lawyer will play a critical role in your claim, which includes all the following:
- Guiding you through the legal process,
- Fighting for your rights
- Helping you avoid the mistakes that trip too many claimants up
- Proving the at-fault party’s negligence
- Outlining the full scope of your legal damages – or your physical, financial, and emotional losses
Having a practised commercial vehicle accident lawyer on your side can have a serious impact on the outcome of your claim.
Get Help from an Ottawa Commercial Vehicle Wreck Lawyer
The Formidable Ottawa commercial vehicle accident lawyers at Burn Tucker Lachaîne have the experience, resources, and drive to tirelessly fight for your rights and for your rightful compensation. Our seasoned legal team is on your side and here to help, so please don’t wait to contact or call us at 613-233-6898 for more information about what we can do for you today.