Bellevue Truck Accident Lawyer
Trucking accidents are unfortunately all too common in Nebraska since the state is a major thoroughfare for the trucking industry and is centrally located to many other states in the nation. Fortunately, there is help available for you if you are injured on the roadway by the negligent actions of a truck driver or company.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a collision involving a truck of any kind, a skilled Bellevue truck accident lawyer could help you move forward following what are often devastating injuries. Call Inkelaar Law today to speak with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys about your case. En Español.
Maintaining Safe Policies and Practices is a Trucking Industry Must
Trucking companies owe a good deal of responsibility to the public since their actions and policies can impact drivers, passengers, pedestrians, their own employees, and others. For this reason, the trucking industry in the United States has sought in recent years to crack down on lax or even dangerous policies that can increase accidents and result in civil liabilities for the trucking companies.
Trucking Company Responsibilities
Trucking companies should maintain policies that allow for or require adequate rest breaks to ensure drivers are alert. They should not provide incentives to drivers who cut corners by speeding and driving through their rest breaks drowsily or with the aid of drugs.
Companies should also perform adequate background and reference checks on their employees, as well as periodic substance abuse testing. It is also important for trucking companies to maintain adequate records, including driving logs.
There should be clear and established procedures for safe loading of trailers as well as making sure their trucks are not over- or under-loaded, which can cause jackknifing and rollover accidents. Finally, trucking companies should conduct regular inspections and perform necessary maintenance and repairs.
Running afoul of any of these guidelines could land a trucking company in hot water for failing to protect others from accidents that could have been prevented with adequate oversight. A Bellevue truck accident lawyer at Inkelaar Law can look into exactly what caused your accident and determine whether the trucking company’s policies or lax oversight directly brought about the injuries you suffered.
Statute of Limitations in Trucking Accident Cases
The statute of limitations in Nebraska for filing a truck collision claim is typically four years from the date of the injury or accident. However, there can be a delay in discovering the injury and the court may determine that the delay is acceptable. For this reason, it can be especially important to begin working with an experienced truck collision attorney in Bellevue as soon as possible following a serious accident involving a truck.
Comparative Negligence
In Nebraska, a doctrine called comparative negligence allows courts to bar recovery for accident victims who share 50 percent or more of the fault or more in bringing about their own injuries. As such, it is common for the defense teams in personal injury cases to claim that the injured victim caused their own injuries—for example, by not wearing their seatbelt or by speeding. However, our accomplished lawyers at Inkelaar Law have experience rebutting claims of comparative negligence.
Work with a Bellevue Truck Accident Attorney
Regardless of exactly what brought about your truck accident injuries, you may need help to effectively seek the compensation needed to pay your medical bills and cover other damages, whether monetary or non-monetary.
A Bellevue truck accident lawyer could examine the details of your accident by consulting an accident reconstruction expert. Also, by analyzing driving logs, maintenance, inspection, repair logs, and the truck’s loading history. To get started on your case, call Inkelaar Law today.