Negligent drivers on Connecticut interstates put you and thousands of other private motorists at risk for an accident on a daily basis. That risk gets compounded when you consider what kind of damage a negligent truck driver can do to their fellow motorists. The size of the average semi-truck threatens to turn even a slow-speed accident into a devastating crash.
The good news is that truck accident survivors like you throughout Middletown and greater Connecticut have the right to consult with personal injury lawyers in Middletown and take legal action against a truck driver they believe to be negligent or reckless behind the wheel. Injured CT truck accident lawyers in Middletown can help you build a personal injury claim and demand the damages you need to recover.
Taking Action After a Truck Accident in Middletown
The days immediately following your truck accident may be a blur of medical treatment and tough conversations with local police officers. You do have steps you need to take, though, if you want to secure the financial support you need to contend with the bills that plague accident survivors in the wake of a crash.
It is in your best interest to take the following steps following a dangerous truck accident:
Explore Your Right to a Civil Claim
You have the right to contact an attorney within minutes of a truck accident. If you want help communicating with police officers and a liable party, you can request that an attorney join you on the scene as soon as possible.
You can alternatively reach out to a truck accident attorney in Middletown days, weeks, or even months after your initial accident. So long as you’re operating within a possible case’s statute of limitations, our team can advise you as to what your next best steps look like.
Contact an Insurance Provider
Most insurance providers want to hear about the nature of your truck accident within 24 hours of the initial crash. If you’re not in the position to call a representative, you can request that a family member or attorney do so for you.
Most insurance providers will want to discuss the extent of your accident’s losses. In turn, these providers can send adjusters out to assess the economic value of your accident.
Unfortunately, many adjusters dramatically underestimate the value of your truck accident losses. As such, the support you receive from an insurance provider throughout your recovery may prove underwhelming.
When to File Your Truck Accident Claim
If you want to take legal action after a truck crash, you need to do so within the statute of limitations Connecticut places on its personal injury cases. General Statutes of Connecticut section 52-584 states that local accident survivors have no more than two years to investigate their losses and compile relevant civil claims.
What does this mean for you? It means you only have until the second anniversary of your truck accident to make claims regarding truck accident liability and the value of your accident’s losses. If you’re still recovering from serious injuries or otherwise limited by an accident-based disability, it may feel impossible to file your claim within that deadline.
Our attorneys understand that you need time to recover from your accident. We get you that time by tackling the specifics of a personal injury claim on your behalf. While you work with medical professionals to restore your previous quality of life, we investigate your losses, compile your claim, and manage your communications with the relevant legal parties.
What Information to Include in a Truck Accident Civil Claim
When you move to file a civil claim against an offending truck driver, you need to ensure that said claim is as comprehensive as possible. While you may have the opportunity to expand on the information presented in your claim during discovery or in later negotiations, the document you present arguing for your right to a case should detail:
- Who you think bears the responsibility for your accident
- What negligence you believe led to your accident
- What the overall value of your accident’s losses is
- The evidence you have on hand to defend your assertion of fault and accident value
Our Middletown truck accident lawyers can ensure that all of this information makes its way into your complaint in an organized and persuasive manner.
How to Assign Liability After a Truck Accident
The question of truck accident liability can be unclear. The first thing you want to do when trying to determine who to hold liable for your accident is to investigate the scene for signs of negligence. Negligence tends to serve as the common denominator in truck accident civil cases. You must have the means to prove negligence when fighting for damages.
The evidence you can bring forward to prove that a truck driver violated the duty of care owed to you at the time of an accident can include:
- Video footage of your accident
- Statements from bystanders
- Input from expert witnesses
- Physical debris and related analysis
- Black box data
Our team goes back to the scene of an accident on your behalf to gather this evidence. You can count on us to bring this evidence forward and analyze it before integrating it into your personal injury claim.
Who to Hold Responsible For Your Truck Accident Losses
Determining who to hold liable for your truck accident means considering more than the physical debris and signs of negligence available at your scene. You also have to consider what contracts exist between the parties involved in your accident. Truck drivers’ employment can be nebulous, meaning that their status can impact who you name as liable in your claim.
More specifically, most truck drivers operate either as independent contractors or employees within a broader agency. Truck drivers who work as employees within a broader company can often turn to that company when they face accusations of roadway negligence. In turn, those corporations can offer survivors settlements or represent their employees in court.
Alternatively, independent truck drivers have an obligation to protect themselves from legal action. Any driver operating in a freelance capacity must secure their own truck accident insurance and defend themselves in civil court. With that in mind, make sure you know a truck driver’s employment status before you try to bring the wrong party before a judge.
Injured CT Defend Your Right to Post-Accident Legal Action
You don’t have to let a truck accident dictate your financial future. Injured CT’ truck accident attorneys in Middletown can help you investigate your losses. Once we have evidence outlining the negligence that led to your accident, we can present an estimate of your total losses to a civil judge. You, in turn, can fight for the post-accident compensation you need to recover.
Are you ready to learn more about the process of filing a personal injury claim? Contact our team today. We can schedule your obligation-free case consultation and give you more information about what to expect from the personal injury process. Contact us by calling our office during operating hours or reaching out through our online form.