Question 1

Who Can I Sue When I've Been In A Truck Accident?

Accepted Answer

If you've been in an accident where you were hit by a truck, your head is probably spinning even after you've gotten to safety. The accident very likely caused you substantial damages, from medical bills, lost wages, and other damages like pain and suffering. But unlike a regular passenger vehcile accident, there are a number of parties that are involved in the operation of a commercial semi truck. So who can you sue for the damages you've suffered? The answer can be complicated.

Because of the complications related to the responsible parties in the operation of a semi truck or other commercial vehicle, you are often better off with a qualified truck accident lawyer handling your case. Especially when you're going up against big corporations like insurance companies and trucking companies, hiring a lawyer can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.

Choose a law firm with a history of success with truck accident cases like yours. Burger Law knows how to go up against insurance companies to recover fair compensation for the damages you've suffered. Let us help you win your St. Louis truck accident case. Call us today at 314-542-2222 to discuss your truck accident case with us for free.

Who To Sue in Your Truck Accident Case

As with any vehicular accident, there are potentially multiple parties at fault in a truck accident in Missouri or Illinois. Who is legally responsible for compensating you (and, therefore, who you can sue) for your injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages depends on what happened and what caused the accident. It is possible that you may have claims against multiple parties, depending on what factors contributed to the accident.

The Truck Driver

Even when there are other contributing factors, operator error very often plays a role in a truck accident. If the driver acted with any negligence at all, you may have a case against the driver. Some possible acts of negligence include speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, failing to use turn signals or other indicators, driving too long without stopping, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

There are laws limiting how much time a truck driver can spend on the road in one stretch. Your lawyer will help obtain evidence of the truck driver's behavior leading up to and during the crash to determine if you should sue the driver.

The Trucking Company

Another party that is commonly found responsible in truck accidents is the trucking company. The employer can be held accountable for the actions of their employee during their work. There are different employment agreements, though, between the owner of the truck and the driver of the truck. You have a stronger case against the trucking company if the driver was an employee of the company rather than an independent contractor.

In addition to being held to account for the actions of their employees, a trucking company can be faulted for errors such as failing to follow state regulations, improper training, failing to maintain the vehicle, or setting unreasonable standards for travel time and distance, encouraging the driver to speed or drive with little sleep.

Your truck accident lawyer will help you obtain documentation that shows the employement relationship, policies, maintenance records, and other internal documents that show if the trucking company can be sued for their actions.

Shipping Companies and Mechanics

You may have a case against other individuals or companies who worked on and around the truck prior to the accident. This would include the shipping company or the person who loaded the truck - namely responsible if overloading, a spill, or a roll-over contributed to the accident.

The owner of the truck is required to have regular servicing performed on the vehicle. The mechanic or company that worked on the truck to perform maintenance or repairs could be partly responsible for the accident if a mechanical breakdown contributed to the accident.

Manufacturers and Engineers

When there is a failure within the giant machine that is a semi truck, you may even have a case against the truck manufacturer or a company that produces one of the parts used in the truck. When a product defect like brake line failure, tire blowouts, or steering system failures occur, the consequences can be devastating and even deadly. Suing the responsible company will help prevent the use of potentially faulty products on other trucks, which can ultimately save lives.

Suing for Your Truck Accident Case

To make sure you hold all possible parties accountable for their negligence in relation to the damages you have experienced in your truck accident, speak to a knowledgeable St. Louis truck accident lawyer like Gary Burger and the attorneys of Burger Law. We will go to work for you to find evidence of all negligent parties and hold them to account by demanding fair compensation.

Your St. Louis Truck Accident Law Firm | Burger Law

Truck accidents can involve several negligent parties. To ensure that you sue the right parties and get the complete compensation you are owed for the damages the truck accident has left you with, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer like the lawyers of Burger Law. We have a demonstrated history of standing up to trucking companies to get our clients the settlements they deserve. If you've been in a truck accident case and don't know who to sue or need assistance in proving your case against the truck driver, trucking company, shipping company, mechanic, or manufacturer, call 314-542-2222 or send us a message today.

Question 2

What Tricks Do Insurance Companies Use To Avoid Paying Claims?

Accepted Answer

When you have a personal injury claim, be aware of the tricks insurance companies will use to try to avoid paying claims like yours. While there are some occasions where the defendant's insurance company will act in good faith and offer a fair settlement without extensive litigation, it is more co …

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The insurance company works hard to avoid paying out people whenever they can avoid it. That is why it's so important to have a lawyer on your side who has experience winning personal injury cases like yours and is familiar with the tricks insurance companies use to avoid paying claims. Burger Law has stood up to countless insurance companies over the years, going after the compensation our clients are entitled to. Find out how we can help you by calling us at 314-542-2222.

Tricks Insurance Companies Use To Avoid Paying Your Claim

Insurance agents are rewarded for minimizing the payout the company has to give, or avoiding responsibility for the damages completely. They have developed a series of tricks and tactics they commonly use to try to trick you into settling low or losing your claim altogether.

Beware of the following strategies employed by defendants' insurance companies to trick you into a low settlement or non-settlement.

Stalling

Insurance companies are large corporations. Personal injury victims are very often individuals or families that, sooner or later, really NEED the money from the settlement to move forward with their lives. Insurance companies know this and will intentionally draw out the process as long as they can in hopes that you will give up or get inpatient and accept a low-ball offer.
Offering False Sympathy

Sometimes they will try to appear to be on your side. Their strategy is to blindside you or to build a false sense of trust and camaraderie so that they can - again - manipulate you into a lower settlement.
Spying on you

In some cases, adjusters might go so far as to hire a private investigator to try to catch you going about your day doing things you claim you physically can't do due to your accident-related injuries. But more likely they will look for evidence in your contradictory statements or through your social media activity. They will look for posts from or about you that indicate that you are enjoying your life as normal and able to physically do things you claim you can't.
Lying to you

One of the easiest and most common tactics insurance companies use to minimize your claim is to lie to you outright. They will attempt to trick you into believing you don't have a legitimate claim or otherwise cannot pursue rightful compensation. Read on for some of the common lies insurance companies tell personal injury claimants.

Lies Insurance Companies Tell To Avoid Paying Claims

You have to give a recorded statement. (If they tell you this, speak to your lawyer)
They do not have to pay for medical care if your personal health insurance paid for it.
Do not have to pay your wage loss damages because you took sick time, disability or your employer covered you.
That a lawyer will only take away money from you and out of your pocket in a settlement. (this is false because we would not take a case if we could not add value to it).
That there is no way you could have been as injured as you were from the impact.
That the insured only has a certain amount of insurance coverage so they cannot pay. (Get a copy of the declaration page and the policy terms and make them give you an affidavit that there is no other insurance).
You have to settle now or they will rescind their offer. (They will not).
They can only put so much on the case. (They can get permission to pay more).

Don't Get Tricked By the Insurance Companies

When you've been hurt in an accident where another party was at fault, you are entitled by law to receive compensation to help make you whole again. Unfortunately, the insurance companies who are on the hook to pay you this money often use tricks to try to avoid paying the settlement you deserve for your claim.

If the insurance company is not willing to pay your claim in good faith and are attempting to trick you into settling low or dropping your claim, you owe it to yourself to hire a capable law firm to defend against their tricks and tactics. Burger Law has helped people like you survive their cases and get the full compensation they deserve. Talk to us today; just call 314-542-2222 or reach us here.

Question 3

Leading Causes of Car Accidents

Accepted Answer

The most common causes of accidents among motor vehicles such as trucks, cars, and motorcycles are not attributed to environmental conditions outside of our control, but to driver error. A car accident can occur at any time, but understanding other drivers' behavior and the most common factors tha …

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If you are in a car or truck accident and are injured, act quickly by first receiving medical attention and then contacting the leading St. Louis auto accident lawyers at Burger Law. We have recovered incredible settlements to help car accident victims in Missouri, Illinois, and beyond through our finely-honed personal injury settlement skills. We refuse to back down when insurance companies bully accident victims, and we have gotten nearly impossible results for our clients that way. Get us on your car accident case right away by contacting us at 314-542-2222 or online right now.

Leading Causes of Auto Accidents

Collisions between vehicles happen in what often feels like the blink of an eye. In most cases, you have very little warning or time to react. Our large, powerful machines are traveling long distances very quickly, and if anything goes wrong, the consequences can be severe.

It is an unfortunate truth that there are drivers on our roads who consistently put others in danger with their reckless or inattentive driving. In addition, other typically safe drivers can encounter circumstances beyond their control that cause them to lose command of their vehicle and can also endanger other travelers. While we cannot control anyone else on the road, becoming familiar with some of the common causes of car and truck accidents prepare you to drive more defensively and to be aware of certain warning signs.

Top Five Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

Though there are some potentially dangerous conditions and events outside of our control that can contribute to accidents, you may be surprised to learn that driver error accounts for the vast majority of the auto accidents that take place every year. In fact, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the Department of Transportation estimates that human operators are responsible for 94% of accidents that take place.

The most common driver-related causes of auto accidents are:

St. Louis Leading Car Accident Law Firm | Burger Law

Get a jump start on winning your car accident case by contacting the St. Louis auto accident lawyers of Burger Law. Our experienced car accident attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for our deserving victims, including car and truck accident victims like you. Find out what Burger Law can do for you by calling us today at 314-542-2222.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can I Sue When I've Been In A Truck Accident?

What Tricks Do Insurance Companies Use To Avoid Paying Claims?

Leading Causes of Car Accidents

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