When a Wreck Involves Truck Negligence

Personal injury lawsuits are based on the fact that injuries happen to a person because someone else was negligent. 18-wheeler accidents are often good examples.

Let’s take a look at a hypothetical big rig accident, based on reality – and truth is often stranger than fiction facts, this accident should never have happened. It was a dreary day out on the highway when two huge trucks collided; one rig slammed into another one stalled on the highway. Traffic was diverted for several hours while the truckers were transported to medical facilities and the mess was cleaned up.

Thankfully, both drivers only had minor injuries, something the police in attendance found amazing. This wreck was one of the worst they had ever seen; a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. The devastation to both of the 18-wheelers was phenomenal and even Haz-Mat officers on the scene were astounded that anyone actually survived the crash. Diesel fuel sloshed all over the highway as a result of the accident, creating an even more delicate situation in terms of potential fatalities should a spark set the fuel off.

The trucker driving the second vehicle rammed into the back of the first big rig and yet fortunately lived to tell about it. If you take a good look at the circumstances of a case like this, the potential for a really major disaster was just looking for a place to happen, but was diverted in this instance. The trucks could have struck another vehicle, another vehicle could have slammed into them, the diesel fuel could have ignited and engulfed both rigs, and both drivers may have perished at the scene.

While the cause of the accident is under investigation, the police may find that it was bad road conditions and the driver that rear-ended the stalled semi wasn’t paying attention to the road. They may also find the driver was texting while driving, exhausted, running late and trying to catch up, or his rig blew a tire.

The stalled semi may have not have been flagged properly according to safety regulations. It may have been parked in an inappropriate location and may not have had warning flares set out. In other words, just about anything could have happened to cause this colossal collision. Most of the things we have mentioned as being possibilities have their origin in negligence on the part of the driver who ran into the stalled truck.

If negligence can be proven, the injured driver of the other truck just may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and recover damages for his injuries. For cases like this, it’s best to speak to a dedicated and skilled Arkansas personal injury lawyer and get the straight goods; not just something you want to hear.

Michael G. Smith is anArkansas personal injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas. Learn more by visiting Arkansaslawhelp.com

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Monday, February 8th, 2010 News