Wrongful Deaths Caused by North Dakota Truck Accidents
Wrongful death occurs when a person is killed because of a personal injury accident or because of injuries they sustained because of that accident. Trucks weigh 20-30 times more than the average passenger car, so the force of a truck crashing into a car can be monumental and devastating. With truck accidents, injuries tend to be more severe than an average car accident, so fatalities because of these severe injuries can be more common. In 2018, 5,096 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes.
Common Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents
Truck accidents, unlike car accidents, can be caused by more than just the driver. There are multiple parties that can be liable for a truck accident, and there are even circumstances where more than one party can be liable for a specific case. However, the most common causes of truck accidents still occur because of the driver’s negligence, such as distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and speeding and reckless driving.
Other common causes include driver fatigue, which can be the fault of both the driver and the trucking company. There are specific laws set into place that prevent drivers from driving too much each day and each week. If the trucking company allows the driver to drive over the legally allowed limit, or even encourages them to, the trucking company may also be liable for an accident that occurs because of the drivers exhaustion.
A trucking company would also be liable if an accident occured because of improper safety or training. If the driver was inexperienced because they didn’t receive enough training, it may put both parties at-fault for any accident that occured.
Improper loading can also cause accidents to occur, and this can be the fault of the person in charge of loading the truck. This may be the trucking company, but it could also be a completely different company and collection of employees. If a truck is loaded improperly, a shift in cargo during transit could cause an accident.
In the rare case that a truck malfunctions because of a safety issue or a defective part, the manufacturer of the truck could be liable for any accident that occurs.
Severe Injuries that can Lead to Wrongful Death
A collision involving a commercial or semi-truck and passenger vehicle can cause a fatality in a lot of different ways. However, there are some injuries that are more likely to cause death, either on impact or later in the hospital, because of the extreme force from Minnesota truck accidents.
Brain Injuries
Brain injuries, like traumatic brain injury can range from mild to severe. More severe brain injuries involve serious brain damage which can lead to brain death and vegetative state. In cases of severe damage to the brain, recovery can be very difficult. If your loved one is in a vegetative state or is experiencing brain death because of their accident, speaking to an attorney can help you make the right decision for your case and your family.
Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can result in paralysis, but if the injury is severe enough, can also result in death. The sudden blow to the spine is sometimes too much for the human body to take, and can result in death on impact. However, a patient may also pass away due to complications with their injury.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries can be incredibly serious, as they may not be apparent right away, causing a delay in treatment. This delay in treatment may cause the injuries to get much worse. Internal injuries can include damage to the organs as well as internal bleeding.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident
Determining liability in a truck accident is a little bit more complex than determining car accident liability, simply because of the multiple parties that can be involved in the accident. Your attorney will begin an in-depth investigation to determine liability as soon as they’re hired. They will look at the potential causes of the accident and determine who was at-fault for those causes. For example, if your accident occured because the driver fell asleep at the wheel, your attorney may look deeper to find that they were overscheduled by their employer, making both the driver and the employer at-fault for the accident.
Receiving Compensation from a Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death may leave the family of the loved one with a lot of debt to pay back. Hospital bills, funeral costs, and more. These debts can be overwhelming on top of the sadness you’re feeling for your lost loved one. You don’t have to deal with this alone, and a talented attorney can help to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve while you focus on grieving and feeling better.
In a wrongful death case, you can claim damages for medical costs, funeral costs, and any wages your loved one may have lost before they passed away. When it comes to pain and suffering, you can claim for your loved one’s pain and suffering as well as your own. How much has their death affected you, and how changed will your life be without them around? Did your loved one experience death at the scene of the accident, or was it prolonged? Your attorney can help you figure out how much to expect when it comes to compensation.
Let Our Minnesota Truck Accident Attorney Help with Your Wrongful Death Claim
We know how hard it is to lose a loved one, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Our experienced attorneys are here and ready to help you get the compensation and justice that you deserve for the loss of your loved one. If someone you love has passed away because of a truck accident, please contact us online or at 701-609-1510 for more information or a free case evaluation.