Top-Rated North Dakota Truck Accident Lawyers

While not all truck accidents lead to serious injuries, many of them do. This is due to several factors. First, commercial vehicles like semi-trucks and other big rigs are vast in comparison to passenger vehicles and other smaller vehicles on the roadways.

When a heavy truck and a car collide, truck accident victims may suffer catastrophic injuries. These injuries can lead to permanent changes, such as loss of mobility (paralysis) or the inability to work your previous job.

Because of this, personal injury claims allow accident victims to seek compensation that accounts for such devastating losses.

Semi-truck accidents can happen for an indeterminate amount of reasons. Like car accidents, there may be any number of contributing factors that lead to the accident, such as unpredictable weather or improperly maintained roads. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances
• Driver fatigue (driving tired)
• Lack of training provided by the trucking company
• Driver error, such as failure to brake properly, failure to yield, lane switching
• Careless driving, such as following too closely
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving, making phone calls, or playing with the radio
• Aggressive driving tactics

North Dakota is one of the 13 states in the nation that is considered a ‘no-fault’ state. This means that fault is not considered in auto accidents, and each party must file with their own insurance company for damages caused by the accident, such as medical expenses and vehicle repair.

How does this affect truck accident claims? Because many truck accidents lead to serious injuries with extensive medical bills, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party after a truck accident in North Dakota.

This is only true if your accident-related damages total more than the amount of your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. You must carry at least the minimum coverage required by the state ($30,000 per person).

To determine whether you are eligible to begin a truck accident lawsuit, speak to a knowledgeable truck accident attorney today.

The at-fault party is not always responsible, or liable, for the other person’s injuries in a truck crash. To be held liable, the at-fault party must have been negligent at the time the crash occurred.

This means they must have been acting in a way that another person in the same situation wouldn’t have acted/would have known was wrong. On the roadways, all motorists have an assumed ‘duty of care’ to each other. That is, they owe each other a duty to, among other things, drive safely and be considerate of each other.

When drivers fail to do this, and it results in an accident, it is known as negligence. To prove negligence, your lawyer must demonstrate that the truck driver or other responsible party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and that this breach is what led to your injuries.

Even if the truck driver caused the truck wreck, they may not be considered at fault. For example, perhaps the truck driver failed to brake properly. But, it’s later discovered that the big rig had faulty brakes, because the trucking company failed to perform required maintenance. In this case, the trucking company may be considered at fault for the truck accident.

Although, the truck driver may also be at fault, since motorists are generally expected to check that motor vehicles are in proper working order before operating them. Fault is a complex issue in personal injury cases.

That’s why it’s best to work with a highly skilled North Dakota truck accident lawyer, who can help you prove the liable party’s negligence and how it led to your injuries.

A number of laws may apply to truck accident cases, such as the consideration of negligence and fault in North Dakota. Another important truck accident law is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

North Dakota has one of the longest statute of limitations, or claim-filing deadlines, at six years for personal injury and two years for wrongful death.

The statute begins on the day of your accident, but in rare cases may begin later if you discover your injuries weeks or months after the accident occurred. When you consult your truck accident attorney, they can tell you how much time you have to file a claim.

The best North Dakota truck accident lawyers will work on a contingency fee basis. What does this mean for you? In short, you will not be charged unless your claim is successful and recovers damages.

Lawyers who work on contingency do not collect until after your claim or case has resolved, so you can focus your energy on healing in recovery. It’s important to be cautious, though, that you select a reputable law office to work with, as some legal teams have hidden fees built in.

When you connect with LegalFinders, we will ensure you find the attorney who is right for your case and who will always be transparent about costs and legal fees.

Working with a qualified personal injury attorney offers countless advantages, many of which will be crucial to the outcome of your case.

First, a lawyer knows the laws that will affect your claim, which means they will always provide you with sound legal advice based on fact and experience in handling cases like yours.

Second, you can find a lawyer whose experience is tailored to your situation. Some personal injury lawyers specialize in motorcycle accidents, for example, while others may focus on medical malpractice. To give yourself a leg up, you’ll want to find a lawyer with ample experience in handling truck accident cases.

Finally, your injury lawyer will be able to handle all tasks related to your case on your behalf — from communications with the court systems and insurance companies to gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.

This is one of the greatest benefits, as it allows you the space and freedom to leave your case in good hands while you rest and try to rebuild your life after the truck accident.