Truck accidents can change lives in seconds. If you got hurt in an accident with a Schneider National truck, you might feel lost about what to do next. Getting better should be your main focus right now. But you also need to think about how to get help with your medical bills and other costs from the crash.
Luckily, you don't have to handle this alone. A truck accident lawyer can guide you through filing a claim against Schneider National. At Shunnarah Truck Accident Lawyers, we know how to deal with big trucking companies and their insurance teams. With our help, you can focus on healing while they work to get you the money you deserve.
Table of contents
- How Schneider National Trucking Accidents Often Happen
- Types of Crashes
- Common Injuries in a Schneider National Trucking Accident
- Steps of Filing a Truck Accident Claim Against Schneider National or its Insurer
- Taking Your Truck Accident Case to Court
- Types of Money You Can Get in a Truck Accident Claim or Lawsuit Against Schneider National
- Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer Now
How Schneider National Trucking Accidents Often Happen
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons. Let's look at some common ways Schneider National trucks get into crashes.
Truck Driver Mistakes
Schneider National truck drivers can make mistakes that lead to crashes. Sometimes, they drive too fast to meet tight schedules. This makes it hard to stop in time if traffic slows down suddenly.
Big trucks need more time and space to stop than smaller cars. When a truck violates the speed limit, even a small mistake can turn into a deadly accident.
Drivers might also get tired from long hours on the road. When truckers are sleepy, they can't react as quickly to road dangers. Exhaustion can make it hard to focus and make good choices while driving. Some truckers might try to push through their fatigue to finish a job, but this puts everyone on the road at risk.
Some drivers might look at their phones or get distracted in other ways while driving. Not paying attention for even a few seconds can cause a serious crash.
Distractions can include eating, adjusting the radio, or looking at a map. When a driver takes their eyes off the road, they might not see a car stopping ahead or a person crossing the street. Big trucks need constant attention to drive safely.
Company Problems
Sometimes, the fault lies with Schneider National itself. The company might not keep its trucks in good shape. If brakes or tires aren't checked often, they could fail and cause a crash.
Big trucks require regular checks because they do so much driving. If a company tries to save money by skipping maintenance, it can lead to dangerous problems on the road.
Schneider might also put too much cargo in their trucks. Overloaded trucks are harder to control and stop. Too much weight can make brakes wear out faster and make it harder for drivers to steer. It can also make trucks more likely to tip over when turning. Following the rules about how much a truck can carry is important for keeping everyone safe.
The company should train its drivers well, too. If drivers don't know how to handle their big rigs safely, accidents are more likely to happen. Good training includes learning how to drive in bad weather, how to handle emergencies, and how to follow all the rules of the road.
When companies rush training or don't give drivers enough practice, it can lead to mistakes and accidents later on.
Types of Crashes
Schneider National truck accidents can happen in different ways. Sometimes a truck might hit the back of a car that's stopped in traffic. This is called rear-end crash. A truck could also tip or roll over if it goes too fast around a curve.
At intersections, a truck might crash into the side of a car. This is called a T-bone accident. It often happens when a truck runs a red light or doesn't stop at a sign.
Common Injuries in a Schneider National Trucking Accident
Accidents involving Schneider National trucks can cause many types of severe injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries people get in these accidents:
Neck Injuries
One of the most common injuries in truck accidents is neck pain. This often happens when your head jerks back and forth quickly. It's called whiplash. At first, it might not seem too bad. But whiplash can cause long-lasting pain and make it hard to move your neck.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are very serious. You might get a concussion if your head hits something during the crash. Some people even get more traumatic brain injuries. These can affect your memory, thinking, and emotions for a long time.
Back Problems
Truck accidents can really hurt your back. Sometimes, the force of the crash damages your spine. This can cause awful pain. In the worst cases, it might even paralyze parts of your body. Back injuries often need a lot of medical care and can change your life forever.
Broken Bones
A truck crash can break arms, legs, or ribs. Bad or compound fractures might need surgery and take a long time to heal.
Inner Injuries
Sometimes, injuries happen inside your body where you can't see them. Organs might get damaged, or you could have internal bleeding. These injuries can be very dangerous if doctors don't find and treat them quickly.
Steps of Filing a Truck Accident Claim Against Schneider National or its Insurer
If you've been in an accident with a Schneider National truck, there are important steps to take. Here's what you need to do to file a claim:
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer First
The first thing to do is talk to a truck accident lawyer. At Shunnarah Truck Accident Lawyers, we'll listen to what happened and look at any evidence you have.
Our truck accident attorneys will tell you about your rights and what kinds of money you might be able to get. This could include money for doctor bills, missed work, pain you've gone through, and damage to your car.
Gather Information
To make a strong case against Schneider National, our truck accident lawyers will collect lots of information. We'll get police reports and statements from people who saw the crash. We might also look for pictures or videos of the accident.
Our truck accident lawyers will get your medical records to show how badly you were hurt. Sometimes, we might even hire experts to figure out exactly how the accident happened and who was at fault.
Find Out Who's Responsible
One of the most important jobs is figuring out who caused the accident. In Schneider National truck accidents, it could be the driver's fault, the company's fault, or even someone else's fault.
If the driver broke the speed limit or failed to pay attention, you can hold them responsible. But if Schneider National didn’t take proper care of the truck or leaded it with too much cargo, they might bear the blame.
Talk to Insurance Companies
Once our truck accident lawyers have a strong case, we'll file a claim with the insurance company. We'll show all the evidence we've gathered and ask for fair payment for your injuries. Insurance companies often try to pay less than they should.
But our truck accident lawyers will work hard to make sure you get all the money you deserve. If the insurance company won't offer enough, our truck accident lawyers might suggest going to court.
Go to Court if Needed
If talking to the insurance company doesn't work, we might file a lawsuit against Schneider National. We can represent you in court and fight for your rights. Our truck accident attorneys will keep you informed about what's happening and work hard to protect your interests.
Taking Your Truck Accident Case to Court
If you can't settle your case with Schneider National, you might need to go to court. Here's what that could look like:
Going to Trial
In a trial, both sides present their evidence and arguments to a judge or jury. The judge or jury then decides who caused the accident and how much money you should get.
Going to trial can be good because it allows for a thorough look at all the facts. A jury might award you more money than the insurance company offered. However, trials can take a long time, cost a lot, and the outcome isn't guaranteed. Our lawyers will help you decide if going to trial is the best choice for your case.
Mediation
Another option is called mediation. In mediation, you and Schneider National meet with a neutral person called a mediator. The mediator helps both sides talk and try to reach an agreement. Mediation is less formal than a trial and can be a quicker way to solve the problem. It also lets you have more control over the outcome instead of leaving the decision to a judge or jury.
Arbitration
Another option is arbitration. In arbitration, both sides present their case to an arbitrator, who acts like a private judge. The arbitrator's decision is final and legally binding. This means you can't appeal it later. Arbitration is usually faster and less expensive than a trial, but it does mean giving up your right to have a jury decide your case.
Types of Money You Can Get in a Truck Accident Claim or Lawsuit Against Schneider National
When you're hurt in a truck accident, you might wonder what kind of help you can get. There are different types of money you can ask for in your claim or lawsuit against Schneider National. Let's look at what you might get:
Economic Damages
You can ask for money to cover the costs related to your accident. This includes medical expenses, which can be very high in truck accidents because the injuries are often severe. You can get money for hospital bills, surgeries, therapy, medications, and any future medical care you might need because of the accident.
You can also get money for lost wages. If you had to miss work because of the accident, you can be paid for the income you lost. If your injuries mean you can't work in the future or can't earn as much as before, you might get money for future lost earnings, too.
If your car or other property was damaged in the accident, you can get money to fix or replace it.
Money for Pain and Suffering
You can also ask for money for things that are harder to put a price on, like pain and suffering. This money is meant to make up for the bodily pain and emotional strain you've gone through because of the accident.
If your injuries have made it hard for you to enjoy your daily activities, hobbies, or relationships, you might get money for loss of enjoyment of life. You could also get money for emotional distress, which covers things like anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues caused by the accident.
Extra Money as Punishment
In some cases, you might get extra money called punitive damages. This money isn't to pay you back for something specific. Instead, it punishes Schneider National for careless or reckless decisions. It also sends a message that this kind of behavior is not okay.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer Now
If a Schneider National truck injured you, talk to a lawyer right away. A good truck accident lawyer can handle all aspects of your claim for you.
At Shunnarah Truck Accident Lawyers, we'll work hard to get you the money you need to recover from your injuries and losses.
Don't wait to get help. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the better your chances of getting fair compensation. Our truck accident lawyers can guide you through this tough time and fight for your rights. We'll deal with Schneider National and their insurance company so you can focus on getting better.
Remember, you don't have to go through this alone. A truck accident lawyer can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us today to learn about your options and start your path to recovery.