FAQs

Primary liability insurance protects truckers from damage or injuries to other people as a result of a truck accident. You select your limit of coverage at the time of purchase.

If you are involved in a tractor-trailer accident, you can sue the driver and the trucking company responsible for causing the accident. You might also sue the owner of the trailer and the shipper as well as any other driver, person or entity who in any way contributed to the accident, such as the manufacturer of one of the vehicles involved in the accident. An attorney who specializes in tractor-trailer accidents will best guide you.

Common causes of truck accidents involving automobiles include:

• Inadequate training as to driving technique
• Safety issues and defensive driving
• Driver fatigue
• Drug or alcohol use by the driver
• Speeding
• Mechanical failure
• Defective parts
• Improper loading or overloading the truck

Personal injury law allows for the recovery of compensation for hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical expenses, loss of future earnings, loss of quality of life and funeral expenses. For a free evaluation of your accident, contact us now.

A truck accident has a greater probability of causing significant or fatal injuries than a car accident because of the weight and size of the truck. In most cases, a tractor-trailer or big rig carrying a load of cargo may weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds, while a typical passenger vehicle weighs an average of 3,000 pounds.

Yes. Commercial truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license if:

1. They drive a vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 lbs
2. They transport themselves and 16 or more passengers
3. They transport hazardous materials

To get a commercial driver’s license, a driver must pass a knowledge and driving skills test; the driving skills test must be taken in a truck that is similar to the type of truck the driver will drive.

Yes. Your recovery in a personal injury action can include payment for income lost through missed work and compensation for any loss of earning capacity resulting from the accident.

Tractor-trailer accidents occur for a number of reasons, including:

• Speeding
• Ignoring posted traffic signs; for example, warnings for trucks carrying a certain amount of weight or those of a certain height
• Driver fatigue
• Driver distractions
• Driving over the limited number of hours per shift (12 hours)
• Driving too fast for weather conditions
• Difficulty seeing properly at night
• Tailgating
• Truck not being properly maintained; maintenance can be expensive but it is important for safety reasons!