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It’s hard to think about what happens when a truck and pedestrian collide. The weight and force of the truck often cause overwhelming injuries or death for the pedestrian.
If you’ve been hurt or a loved one’s been killed in a truck pedestrian accident, then you likely have a lot of questions. Why did the accident happen? What injuries do pedestrians typically suffer after being hit by a truck? Do pedestrians have any legal right to compensation? What can you do to protect your rights? Below, we will address each of these important questions.
Common Causes of Truck Pedestrian Crashes
There are many reasons for truck crashes. Some common reasons pedestrians end up injured in truck collisions include:
- Distracted truckers. Truckers who are distracted by phones, electronic devices, GPS, or even their daydreams can cause dangerous crashes.
- Drowsy truckers. Tired drivers who work long hours away from home can unintentionally hit pedestrians.
- Drunk or drugged truckers. Truckers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs may miss traffic signals, swerve out of their traffic lanes, and fail to brake quickly enough to prevent a crash.
- Blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots. Truckers should know how to account for those blind spots to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Speeding. It takes trucks longer to stop than smaller vehicles. Therefore, truckers that exceed the speed limit may have trouble avoiding a pedestrian.
- Maintenance problems. If brakes or other truck parts are not properly maintained, then the truck may not work as expected and a dangerous collision may occur.
Our experienced Iowa truck accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and determine exactly what caused your crash.
Truck Pedestrian Accident Injuries
You may be interested to know what kind of injuries pedestrians suffer in truck crashes. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with specific injuries or you are waiting to find out why you are in pain, you should be aware of the following potential injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
Unfortunately, some pedestrians do not survive their truck crash injuries.
Compensation After Truck Pedestrian Collisions
When someone else’s negligence hurts a pedestrian, the pedestrian deserves fair compensation. That amount of compensation depends on the pedestrian’s unique injuries and other factors, but may include damages for past and future:
- Medical costs, including hospitalizations, surgeries, doctors’ visits, medications, physical therapy, assistive medical devices, and other healthcare needs.
- Lost income, including wages, bonuses, benefits, and income from self-employment.
- Pain and suffering for your physical and emotional injuries.
- Out-of-pocket expenses that you incur as a direct result of your truck accident injuries. This includes, but is not limited to, funeral expenses if your loved one died in a truck pedestrian wreck.
Additional damages may be possible in wrongful death cases.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Truck Pedestrian Accident
Your injuries are serious, and the accident wasn’t your fault. Yet, you won’t be compensated for your injuries unless you advocate for your fair recovery. Specifically, you will need to convince the defendant or the defendant’s insurer that the defendant’s negligence caused the crash. If a fair settlement can’t be reached, then you will need to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in an Iowa court.
We know that pursuing a settlement or court verdict may seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. For more than 50 years, our personal injury lawyers have represented accident victims in the Midwest. Iowa insurers know that we may mean business, and they are often willing to settle claims with us. If they aren’t ready to treat you fairly, then we will go to court to make sure that your recovery is protected.
Don’t let another day go by wondering if you are doing the right thing after a truck crash. Instead, call our Iowa truck accident lawyers to schedule a free consultation in our Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, or Davenport office, in your home, in your hospital room, by phone, or by video call. We are available for you 24/7/365.
