Semitrucks serve an important purpose on the roadways because they transport goods all across the country. Without these large vehicles and long trailers, many store shelves would be empty without any hope of rapid delivery of new merchandise.
The benefits of having semitrucks on the road come at a risk. These are very heavy vehicles that can obliterate passenger cars that are much smaller if they slam into one. Unfortunately, this is the reality for some individuals who share the road with the big rigs.
As you can imagine, the impact of a semitruck slamming into a car can cause the occupants to suffer injuries. Some of these are fatal or catastrophic. The victim can suffer great harm because of these injuries, some of which will have lifelong effects.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is one that impacts the person for the rest of their life. Long-term disability is common with these injuries. Amputation, spinal cord damage, and brain injuries are some of the more common that can occur during a semitruck crash. Others are also possible, depending on the way the crash affects the victim’s body.
Victims who suffer catastrophic injuries are likely to have considerable medical care costs that can last a lifetime. For some, life care assistance is another major expense. All of this comes when they might be unable to work, so there’s a reduction in income.
For some people, the effects of a catastrophic injury may diminish over time, but they aren’t likely going to go away. It’s sometimes possible for these individuals to work if they have proper accommodations, but that’s not always the case.
How Can You Seek Compensation After a Semitruck Crash?
Once you’ve received medical care for the injuries you suffered, you may realize that there’s no reason for you to have to deal with the financial impact of the wreck. Instead, you can file a claim for compensation in the civil court system. You only have a limited time to get this done after the crash because every state, including Arizona, has a statute of limitations that provides victims with a time limit.
Working with someone who’s familiar with semitruck crashes and the points that come into the picture during these cases can help you. You can learn more about claiming compensation here so you know what to expect during the process. There are several things that you should remember as you go about this process.
One of the first things that you need to do is to determine who to name as the defendant in the case. There are several possibilities, so reviewing the circumstances of the case is critical. You’ll have to show that your injuries were the result of the crash. This is usually done using your medical records.
Because you need to focus on healing after your injuries, you should work with an attorney who can handle the legal matters. They can use their knowledge to help you get everything in order.