Any motor vehicle collision has the potential to cause significant injuries and property damage. Certain types of crashes are more likely to prove financially devastating than others.
When a semitruck collides with a passenger vehicle, the smaller vehicle is likely to sustain massive damage. The occupants are at risk of life-altering, catastrophic injuries. These collisions often prove fatal for the people in the smaller vehicle.
Those dealing with the aftermath of a recent semitruck collision may have vehicle repair costs, medical expenses and lost income to address. What options for compensation do people have after crash where the commercial vehicle was at fault for the collision?
Commercial insurance can be helpful
State insurance requirements fall far short of the actual costs generated by semi collisions. Thankfully, commercial vehicles are subject to much stricter federal regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds carry at least $750,000 of liability coverage.
Those larger policies make it possible to address the catastrophic medical expenses and wage losses associated with commercial vehicle crashes. Unfortunately, the negotiation process often proves relatively intense due to the coverage available. People trying to settle claims can anticipate more challenges when compared with settling a claim for a standard passenger vehicle crash.
Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits
The law permits those affected by collisions to file lawsuits in certain circumstances. Specifically, when there is proof of negligence or misconduct, it is possible to hold individual drivers or businesses responsible for crash costs.
It may be possible to take legal action against the driver of the semitruck, especially if they are a self-employed owner-operator. The people affected by the collision may also be able to take legal action against the trucking company, the business clients that required transportation services or even businesses associated with the manufacturer or maintenance of the semi-truck involved in the crash.
Reviewing what caused the collision and the impact on the people involved can lead to an appropriate strategy for those in need of compensation. Both insurance claims and lawsuits can be beneficial for those dealing with the aftermath of a recent semitruck crash.