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Topeka Trucking Accident Attorneys On Your Side

Trucking collisions can be extremely dangerous and can cause life-threatening injuries or death.  Because of the danger associated with semi-trucks, trucking companies operating in Kansas are heavily regulated by the state and federal government. With numerous regulations at play, semi-truck litigation is much more complex than a typical car accident case. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Topeka trucking accident attorneys have the experience and skill you need to aggressively fight large trucking companies and their insurance carriers. If you have suffered an injury as a result of a Topeka area semi-truck crash, call JHC’s truck accident lawyers today at (785) 234-3272.

The Importance of Hiring a Topeka Semi-Truck Crash Lawyer

Immediately following the accident, the trucking company and its insurer take immediate action to mitigate their financial exposure and reduce your compensation. Victims of trucking accidents will usually not be fairly compensated unless they have hired an experienced trucking lawyer. Simply informing the insurance company how the accident occurred will not suffice. You need a team of Topeka trucking accident attorneys working to aggressively protect your rights.

JHC’s experienced Topeka trucking lawyers understand what types of evidence will be crucial to your claim and will begin collecting it immediately. We will help you determine who was at fault for your injuries and develop a litigation strategy designed to maximize your recovery. Because we know how the trucking companies handle these cases, we are always one step ahead in litigation. Let us leverage our knowledge to your benefit so you receive all of the compensation you are due.

Causes of Topeka Trucking Crashes

The Topeka personal injury lawyers at JHC have handled numerous cases involving trucking accidents and are familiar with driver and company behavior that may give rise to a claim. Some common causes of trucking accidents in Topeka include:

• Driver fatigue
• Drivers exceeding the FMCSA Hours of Service regulations
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Inadequate driving training
• Following too closely
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Taking corners too fast
• Improper maintenance of truck
• Improper loading of cargo
• Trucking company’s failure to enforce safety rules
• Distractedness from handheld devices

When you hire the Topeka trucking accident lawyers at JHC, we meticulously investigate the crash to determine the cause and aggressively pursue the at-fault party.

Common Injuries in Topeka Trucking Accidents

Because semi-trucks are so large and heavy, collisions involving these vehicles can often be severe and life-threatening. Some common injuries sustained by individuals involved in truck wrecks include:

• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Soft tissue damage
• Amputations
• Fractures
• Whiplash
• Back injuries
• Wrongful death

JHC’s Topeka trucking lawyers know how to recover compensation for each of these injuries. We will help you demonstrate the extent of the physical damage as well as the impact your injury has had on your family, your work, and your daily life—and get you a payout to address all of it.

Preserving Evidence in Topeka Truck Cases

Preservation of critical evidence is of utmost importance in trucking litigation. Following a serious truck accident, trucking companies and their insurance carriers often make little to no effort to preserve evidence that may be important to proving your claim. For this reason, it is important you hire an experienced Topeka trucking accident attorney to ensure that your interests are protected from the outset. JHC’s Topeka trucking lawyers work with specialized truck accident reconstructionists to ensure that all critical evidence is preserved. Some examples of important evidence in trucking cases include:

• Dash Cameras: Most modern trucking fleets are equipped with dashboard cameras that face the driver and outward. Inward cameras can help prove whether the driver was distracted at the time of the crash, which can be critical at trial.
• Onboard Computer Systems: Onboard computers are also common in modern trucking fleets. These systems contain dispatch records. They may also contain driver hours of service logs, bills of lading, and weight tickets.
• Event Data Recorders: EDR captures important crash data, including the speed of the semi-truck, brake application, and other data necessary to determine the cause and severity of the crash.

Our Topeka lawyers will demand preservation of this evidence so that you have all the information you need to make your claim.

FAQs

How much is my semi-truck accident claim worth?

The value of your claim is dependent on several factors, including how the accident occurred, the nature of your injuries, medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced trucking lawyer at Joseph, Hollander & Craft will investigate the accident, calculate your damages, and pursue claims that will maximize your compensation.

How much does it cost to hire a Topeka trucking accident attorney?

The semi-truck lawyers at Joseph, Hollander & Craft work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay us if we recover money for you. Our truck accident victims do not pay upfront attorneys’ fees or out-of-pocket expenses when they work with our trucking accident lawyers. Your trucking attorney will only collect fees if your claim prevails. The attorneys’ fees will come out of any money awarded to you.

When should I hire an attorney for my trucking accident?

The sooner you contact a trucking accident lawyer for your case, the better. Critical evidence may need to be collected, photographed, or otherwise preserved immediately following the incident, and you cannot rely on the trucking company to do it. It is also important to have representation when the trucking company’s insurance representatives contact you. They may try to get you to make statements about the crash or your injuries to use against you in court. To protect your claim, it is best to simply refer the insurance representative to your lawyer. JHC’s trucking accident lawyers are ready to guide you through the legal process from day one. Contact us now.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

The Kansas statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims is two years from the date of the incident. If you plan to seek compensation for your injuries stemming from a truck accident, you have two years to file a lawsuit in Kansas.