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When you or a loved one are injured in an accident involving a big-rig truck, you need a law firm with the skills and resources to take on large trucking companies by your side if you want to get the full value of your compensation. The personal injury team at Sargent Law Firm understands what truck accident victims face during the claims process, and we aren’t afraid to fight for your rights.
Our truck accident lawyers in Boise help people who have suffered injuries and their survivors by providing access to the highest level of legal representation, medical treatment, and financial compensation. We are here to answer your questions about your legal rights in Idaho. Call us at (844) SARGENT to learn more.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are Complicated
Truck accident claims are typically more complicated than your average car accident case. One reason for this is that you may end up filing a lawsuit against more than one party. Often, one of these parties will be a large, powerful commercial truck company that is determined to hold onto its profits. And this is just the beginning of the complications.
The sheer weight and size of commercial trucks like semi-trucks and tractor-trailers means accidents tend to be more severe. The injuries are often catastrophic or fatal, with consequences that last a lifetime and beyond. This means your damages will be higher, and you may have accident-related expenses far into the future.
In addition to this, commercial trucks are regulated under Idaho law and Federal law. The truck itself may also belong to the truck’s driver and not the trucking company they were working for at the time. Other parties like parts manufacturers and loading companies may also be involved. This is why it’s critical that you talk to a semi-truck accident lawyer in Boise before you sign or agree to anything.
A Boise Truck Accident Lawyer Can Fight for Your Compensation
A Boise personal injury lawyer who represents truck accident claims understands how to prove liability and accurately calculate your damages to take into account costs you may face in the future. Some of the damages you may be able to claim in your truck accident case include:
- Medical Expenses: Costs related to hospitalization, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and future medical care.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to injuries, including future earning capacity if applicable.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace damaged vehicles and personal property.
- Disability and Disfigurement: Compensation for permanent injuries or scarring that affect your quality of life.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages for the impact of injuries on your relationship with your spouse or family.
Consulting with a truck accident attorney in Boise is crucial to accurately assess and pursue all of the damages you may be entitled to, not just what the trucking company’s insurance wants to cover.
Working With Our Boise Truck Accident Attorneys Is Easy
After you sign up with us, we immediately notify the insurance company they have to go through us.
At The Sargent Firm, our unique legal team, which includes a nationally recognized member of the prestigious Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, is committed to obtaining appropriate compensation for victims and their families.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident in the Boise, Idaho area, reach out to us today to set up a consultation.
How Long You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Boise, Idaho
Each state sets a time limit on how long you have to file a personal injury claim, which is known as the statute of limitations. According to Idaho Code §5-219(4), the statute of limitations in Idaho is two years.
That does not mean your case will need to settle or you’ll need to get a court award within two years. Rather, it means that you have two years from the date of the accident or the date your injuries should have reasonably been discovered. If you miss this deadline, you will miss your chance to get compensation.
In truck accident claims, the trucking company may draw out settlement negotiations to run the clock down, giving you less time to build a strong case if you do decide to get a lawyer. Don’t settle for a lowball offer. Contact a Boise truck accident lawyer who can handle your communications with the insurance company.
Filing a Claim When a Loved One Dies in a Truck Accident in Boise
If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may be wondering if you can file a wrongful death claim to recover your family’s losses. Under Idaho Code §5-311, certain qualified heirs have the right to file a wrongful death claim if their loved one is killed through an act of negligence.
Per the law, “heirs” encompasses surviving spouses, children, parents, dependents, and others financially supported by the deceased.
These are some of the damages an Idaho wrongful death lawyer may be able to help you get compensation for if your loved one has died in a truck accident:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: Costs associated with the deceased’s funeral, burial, or cremation
- Loss of Financial Support: Compensation for the financial support the deceased would have provided to the family
- Loss of Companionship: Damages for the emotional and relational loss experienced by surviving family members
- Medical Expenses: If the deceased incurred medical bills before passing away, these expenses can be claimed
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the pain and suffering endured by the deceased before death
- Punitive Damages: In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party for egregious behavior
How Can The Sargent Firm Help You After a Truck Accident?
The Boise, Idaho trucking accident lawyers at The Sargent Firm have two guiding principles:
- Every case is handled by a partner from start to finish.
- Our lawyers collaborate to bring each case and client a unique and sympathetic experience using our legal expertise and our professional perspectives.
Our Idaho personal injury lawyers are skilled strategists armed with experience on both sides of the courtroom. This allows us to serve our clients and get them the results they deserve.
Legal Obligations of Trucking Companies and Truck Drivers
Truckers, like all motorists, have an obligation to operate their trucks safely. Additionally, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to industry-wide specific regulations that must be followed. These include:
- Maintaining trucks and trailers properly: Ensuring vehicle parts, brakes, tires, and all equipment are in good working order. Performing standard inspections and maintenance.
- Adhering to weight limits: Not exceeding maximum gross vehicle weight ratings or axle load limits.
- Securing cargo properly: Preventing shifting loads and spills through adequate tie-downs, tarps, and overall cargo security.
- Obeying hours of service rules: Complying with limits on driving hours and mandatory break times. Keeping accurate log books.
- Performing pre-trip inspections: Completing thorough inspections of equipment before trips.
- Operating sober and alert: Not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when excessively fatigued.
- Following all Idaho traffic laws: Observing all speed limits, traffic signs, seat belt usage, and rules of the road.
- Maintaining proper CDL licensing: Keeping valid commercial driver’s licenses with required vehicle class and cargo endorsements.
- Carrying adequate insurance: Maintaining sufficient liability and cargo insurance.
Failure to fulfill these legal duties can constitute negligence in the event of a serious truck accident resulting in injuries. If the trucking company or truck driver fails to comply with their obligations, they could be liable for damages.
How Negligence Causes Truck Accidents in Boise, Idaho
Determining how negligence caused a truck accident is essential to your lawyer’s investigation. These are some of the most common causes of truck accidents that can lead to personal injury lawsuits in Idaho:
- Tired driving
- Speeding/reckless driving
- Alcohol-related accidents
- Improper training and inexperience
- Improper maintenance and use of truck
- Failure to comply with industry safety regulations
- Unlawful or improper loading of trucks
Our Boise truck accident lawyers work with accident investigators to assess the cause of the trucking accident. We will always ensure that you are treated fairly throughout every step of the process.
Who You Can Sue for Compensation in a Truck Accident Claim in Boise
The truck driver’s negligence is often the cause of truck accidents, but there could be other responsible parties, and fault could also lie with the truck driver and other parties who share liability. Here are some of the parties that could be liable or share fault in your Boise truck accident claim:
- Truck drivers can cause accidents if they are driving while tired, intoxicated, or distracted by electronic devices.
- Trucking companies can cause truck accidents if they create unsafe driving conditions by not following state and federal regulations or not adequately training or drug testing drivers.
- Truck manufacturers and the manufacturers of truck parts can be responsible for accidents through faulty manufacturing practices.
- Cargo loading companies can be responsible for truck accidents by improperly loading or overloading a truck’s cargo.
- Other vehicles can also be responsible for accidents, such as another car that caused an accident that resulted in your collision with a truck.
We will identify any responsible parties and prove their percentage of fault in the wreck to ensure you get compensation from anyone who was at fault.
Evidence Your Boise Truck Accident Attorney Will Use to Prove Liability
When your Boise truck accident attorney is trying to prove who is liable in your truck accident, we will use specific evidence to establish liability. These could include but are not limited to:
- Truck driver logs
- The truck’s maintenance records
- Black box data
- Police accident reports
- Your medical bills
- Expert witness testimony
- Accident reconstruction
- Eyewitness statements
- Photos and videos
- Records of the truck driver’s safety history
The more well-documented your truck accident claim is, the stronger your case will be, so it’s important to save any documentation you have that is related to your case.
How Long it Takes to Settle a Truck Accident Case in Boise
Due to their complexity, truck accident claims in Boise can take longer to settle than your typical car accident case. When it comes to your case, however, patience is key to getting results. The only way to ensure you are getting adequate compensation is to spend time collecting evidence, finding out how long your treatment will take, and negotiating with the insurance company.
Investigations and negotiations take time, and it may be tempting to sign a quick settlement agreement with the at-fault party’s insurance company to get a quick payoff. However, if you accept the insurance company’s initial offer, you risk being left with additional costs that you’ll have to cover yourself later.
Contact Our Boise Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact the Idaho truck accident attorneys at The Sargent Firm for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights following a truck accident.
If you cannot come to our offices, we will come to you. We take cases on a contingency basis—you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation. Based in Boise, we serve the entire state of Idaho. Let The Sargent Firm get the results you deserve. Call us today at (844) SARGENT.
