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Did a truck accident injure you? Our Fort Smith truck accident lawyers are skilled in car accident claims and will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Don’t let insurance adjusters convince you to settle for less. They work for insurance companies, not you.

We present a strong case and push for every penny you’re owed – medical bills, lost income, pain, and suffering.

Call us today to safeguard your future. We represent clients in Fort Smith and surrounding areas.

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Fort Smith Truck Accident Lawyer Guide

• What Can a Fort Smith Truck Accident Attorney Do for You?
• What Can Cause a Truck Accident in Fort Smith?
• Do 18-Wheeler Accidents Settle for More Than Regular Auto Accidents?
• Establishing Negligence in a Truck Accident Case in Fort Smith
• Speak to a Fort Smith Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Why Partner With a Fort Smith Truck Accident Lawyer?

How can Caddell Reynolds Law Firm help with your truck accident case? Say the word, and we can handle practically any aspect of it for you.

People choose to work with our Fort Smith truck accident attorneys because we can:

• Investigate an accident to uncover evidence of liability.
• Speak with eyewitnesses to further understand what happened.
• Network with medical and mechanical experts for even more insight into a crash’s cause.
• Prepare, file, and follow up on a claim with any insurance company.
• Answer inquiries from the insurance company.
• Negotiate for a settlement that meets all of our client’s needs.
• File a lawsuit if a fair settlement does not seem possible due to insurer interference.
• Litigate in court to pursue the best possible outcome for our client.

Essentially, every part of your truck accident case can be left on the desks of our talented legal team, and you won’t have to worry about a thing. We just want you to rest and do your best to recover. Meanwhile, our Fort Smith personal injury lawyers will be diligently working on your case and doing all we can to close it in your favor sooner than later.

What Can a Fort Smith Truck Accident Attorney Do for You?

After a truck accident caused by negligence, a truck accident lawyer can fight tirelessly for your rights.

Here’s how we can help:

• Conduct a Thorough Investigation: Our experienced team will dig deep to uncover every detail surrounding your accident. We’ll visit the scene, analyze evidence, interview witnesses, and determine all potentially liable parties. Building a strong case requires understanding exactly what happened.
• Explain Your Legal Options: We’ll clearly lay out the next steps you can take under the law and the potential outcomes of each option. Our role is to advise the best course of action to maximize your compensation and protect your interests.
• Negotiate with Insurers: Some truck accident cases are settled out of court through negotiations with insurance companies. Our skilled litigators are relentless in these discussions, forcefully advocating for a fair settlement that covers your damages fully.
• Represent You at Trial: If negotiators fail to agree on a just settlement, we’re equipped to take your case to court. Our seasoned trial lawyers will compile evidence, question witnesses, and fervently argue your case before a judge and jury.
• Protect Your Interests Completely: From investigation through settlement or trial, your truck accident lawyer is solely focused on your best interests. You can rely on us to handle all communications, document filings, and legal complexities – delivering top-notch advocacy every step of the way.

What Can Cause a Truck Accident in Fort Smith?

The Fort Smith truck accident lawyers at Caddell Reynolds Law Firm understand that the driver may share liability with other parties, including:

• Trucking companies – Drivers must follow the rules and regulations set forth by their employers. Companies may require them to drive too long without rest, put inexperienced drivers on long hauls before they are ready to handle them, or even put trucks on the road with an imbalanced load or without proper maintenance.
• Maintenance personnel – Improper inspections or rushed maintenance can cause serious problems, particularly when brakes or tires are involved. Whether the maintenance personnel works for the company or maintenance is performed by an outside shop, a truck accident attorney needs to know the facts to ensure everyone responsible for an accident is named in a suit.
• Local, state, and federal governments – The true cause of a big vehicle accident may be an encounter with a sinkhole or other major road flaw that is the responsibility of the local, state, or even federal government. Our attorneys have the skills and experience to pursue even these difficult cases.

What Compensation Can Truck Accident Victims Recover?

When negligence by a truck driver or trucking company causes injury, victims may recover financial compensation for the extensive damages they suffered.

Areas of compensation include:

• Medical Costs – All past, present, and future medical expenses related to the truck accident injuries can be recovered. This covers ambulance fees, emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor appointments, physical therapy, medications, medical equipment, home health care costs, and more.
• Lost Income – If the injuries prevented the victim from working, they can seek compensation for the wages, bonuses, benefits, and other income they missed out on. Anyone temporarily or permanently unable to return to their job duties is entitled to these losses.
• Reduced Future Earnings – For victims who can no longer perform the same work as before due to disabilities from the crash, compensation for diminished future earning capacity may be available.
• Pain and Suffering – The physical pain, emotional anguish, and overall suffering endured by the victim can be compensated. This accounts for the trauma of the accident itself as well as ongoing pain during recovery.
• Emotional Distress – When the truck crash causes severe emotional harm like PTSD or depression, damages for emotional distress losses may be recoverable.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Compensation for the inability to participate in daily activities or hobbies once enjoyed can help make up for diminished quality of life.
• Loss of Consortium – Spouses of injured victims can receive compensation for the loss of companionship, intimacy and household assistance their partner can no longer provide.
• Vehicle Damage – The costs to repair or replace the victim’s vehicle damaged in the truck collision can be included in the compensation.

Tragically, wrongful death damages like funeral/burial costs and loss of financial support may also apply when truck accidents prove fatal. An experienced Fort Smith truck accident lawyer can fight for maximum compensation.

Do 18-Wheeler Accidents Settle for More Than Regular Auto Accidents?

An accident with an 18-wheeler frequently results in severe injuries that can significantly alter the quality of life for everyone involved.

An 18-wheeler accident lawsuit is different from other vehicle accident lawsuits due to the severity of the impact with a 70-foot-long truck weighing 80,000 pounds.

Strict federal laws and regulations govern a driver’s conduct and truck maintenance. Attorneys at Caddell Reynolds Law Firm are well-versed in the trucking business and its governing laws and have experience in litigation and negotiation. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.

What Commonly Causes Truck Accidents?

There are a range of driver errors and equipment malfunctions that can cause 18-wheeler accidents:

• Driving under the influence: While most people do not think of commercial drivers drinking or taking drugs, there are 18-wheeler accidents every year that result from this reckless behavior.
• Shifting loads: If a load is not secured and balanced properly it can shift during transit, which can cause a driver to lose control or the truck to tip over.
• Speeding: Even with the threat of fines, increased insurance costs, and the potential for 18-wheeler accidents, some commercial drivers do speed, a choice that can have life-changing consequences for other drivers on the road.
• Jackknifing: This happens when the trailer skids forward from behind and faces backward while the truck still faces forward. The 18-wheeler will cover most of the highway and can severely impact any vehicles in the immediate vicinity.
• Driver fatigue: There are strict guidelines for the hours a commercial truck driver can be on the road, but that still does not stop some drivers from continuing when they are tired and in need of sleep.
• Tire blowouts: Depending on the circumstances at the time of a blowout, a driver can lose control of their truck.
• Brake malfunctions: When trucks have to repeatedly stop quickly the brakes can overheat, reducing the effectiveness of the brakes and significantly extending the stopping distance. Drivers must keep all work and repair orders so they can prove they comply with road safety standards. A truck accident attorney can subpoena documentation to determine if the truck’s equipment has been maintained and is in full compliance with federal regulations.

By working with a truck accident attorney who has handled these types of cases before, you are more likely to receive a fair and adequate settlement with the appropriate compensation for your damages and injuries.

Establishing Negligence in a Truck Accident Case in Fort Smith

To recover compensation after a truck accident, you must prove the truck driver or trucking company acted negligently.

This requires demonstrating four key elements:

• Duty of Care – Truck drivers and trucking companies must operate their vehicles safely and follow all traffic laws and trucking regulations. This legal duty exists to prevent harm to others on the road.
• Breach of Duty – You must show that the truck driver or company breached or violated their duty of care through specific negligent actions or inactions. This could include speeding, driving while fatigued, improper maintenance, overloaded trailers, etc. Essentially, you need to prove they failed to use reasonable care that a prudent truck driver/company would have used.
• Causation – It must be shown that the truck driver or company’s negligence directly caused the accident and your injuries. Their breach of duty has to be the actual, proximate cause of the crash. This establishes the required link between their negligence and the damages you suffered.
• Damages – You must have suffered compensable damages or losses as a result of the accident and injuries. This includes economic damages like medical bills and lost income as well as non-economic damages like pain/suffering.
• Proving negligence in a truck crash case often requires extensive investigation and evidence gathering by an experienced truck accident lawyer. Potential evidence includes driver logs, truck maintenance records, dashcam/camera footage, the trucking company’s policies, and more. With negligence established, you’ll have a legitimate claim for full and fair compensation.

Speak to a Fort Smith Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you were involved in a truck accident, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the overwhelming costs and impacts on your own. You deserve just compensation to cover medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, emotional trauma, and more.

The skilled personal injury attorneys at Caddell Reynolds Law Firm understand the tremendous toll an accidental injury can take – financially, physically, and emotionally. We’re here to be your strongest advocate, vigorously upholding your rights and pursuing the maximum compensation you’re owed.

Don’t try to navigate this difficult situation alone against tough insurance companies. Our team has extensive experience protecting the interests of injured Fort Smith residents just like you. We’ll listen to your truck accident story, examine all the details, and build a robust case to fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Take the first step toward justice by scheduling a free consultation with a Fort Smith truck accident lawyer at our law firm. Simply call (479) 782-5297 today or visit our website. You’ve been through enough – let us take it from here.

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Caddell Reynolds Law Firm – Fort Smith Main Office

122 N 11th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
P: (479) 782-5297

If You Have Been Injured, We Are Here for You