Legally Reviewed By: Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner At Knowles Law Firm
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds—that’s 20 times heavier than your average car, creating devastating physics when collisions occur. When you’ve been injured in a truck accident, understanding the distinct legal approaches between car and truck accidents can significantly impact your case outcome. The size disparity, increased damages, and commercial aspects of truck accidents create a different legal landscape that requires specialized handling.
The attorneys at Knowles Law Firm have been serving Omaha residents for nearly 55 years, bringing a wealth of experience to both car and truck accident cases. As a family-run business, the firm brings a personal touch to each case, combining extensive legal knowledge with a deep commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for their clients. We sat down with Ben Knowles to learn more about how the firm approaches these different types of accident cases.
Key Differences Between Car and Truck Accident Cases
Understanding these key differences is essential for victims seeking fair compensation after a commercial truck collision, as they directly impact how your case should be handled and what evidence needs to be preserved.
Multiple Liable Parties
In a standard car accident, liability typically falls on one or two individual drivers and their personal insurance policies. However, with truck accidents, the scope widens considerably. “The biggest legal difference would be when you’re involving a truck and a commercial vehicle,” Attorney Knowles explains. “Not only do you have the driver, but you have a company that owns the truck that could be held responsible.”
This expanded liability “opens up a lot more insurance than car accidents,” he notes.
The complexity increases when determining all potential responsible parties. Attorney Knowles provides an example: “If they’re driving for Walmart, they’ve got the Walmart logo on the truck. The company, Walmart, could be responsible.”
The liability chain can extend even further. “A lot of times you’ve got an independent truck matched up with a brokerage company,” Attorney Knowles explains. “The entity that owns the load could be responsible, too.”
Enhanced Evidence Collection
Truck accidents demand more comprehensive evidence gathering due to the commercial nature of the vehicles. “It’s more important to preserve some of the evidence early on,” Attorney Knowles notes. “Most trucks are equipped with dashcams, and they have electronic engine control modules. There are a lot of different monitoring devices that we want to make sure are not lost.”
This urgency matters because companies may not preserve evidence voluntarily. “We want to send them letters saying, ‘Any evidence that you have, you need to preserve,'” he emphasizes.
Different Insurance Dynamics
The insurance landscape for truck accidents is significantly more complex. “They’ll oftentimes have layers of insurance,” Attorney Knowles explains. He describes a current case: “They have not only insurance covering their truck, but also they have an umbrella policy, and another policy that will cover above that.”
Understanding these insurance layers is crucial for case strategy. “That’s a big thing early on—to figure out how much coverage is going to be available,” he states. This knowledge helps attorneys advise clients appropriately, especially when medical costs can reach “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
How Knowles Law Firm Approaches Truck Accident Cases
Early and Aggressive Evidence Preservation
Given the unique evidence in truck cases, Attorney Knowles emphasizes the importance of specialized documentation. “You can actually find out how much rest the driver had because they have Department of Transportation records,” he explains. “The dash camera is a big thing. Companies like Amazon have mandated them across their fleet.”
Preparing for More Resources From the Opposition
Truck accident cases typically involve well-funded opposition. “They have resources,” Attorney Knowles states plainly. “In these trucking cases, they are giving their defense counsel a lot more resources.”
He contrasts this with typical car accident cases: “I think they tell their defense counsel, ‘You have the full resources of our company here’ because they know the potential payout is so large.”
This means earlier involvement from defense attorneys. “They will get attorneys involved early on,” Attorney Knowles notes. “I got a letter from the attorney who represents that trucking company very early on. There wasn’t even a lawsuit filed.”
Leveraging Both Sides
While the increased resources from the opposition can create challenges, Attorney Knowles finds advantages as well. “I also like it,” he admits. “It’s nice to be able to work with someone who knows what we’re looking for.”
The Critical Nature of Documentation
For truck accidents specifically, Attorney Knowles advises capturing crucial identifying information: “Important things like the sign on the truck to know who actually owns it. A lot of times, there are subcontractors involved, and trucks are leased between different entities.”
When to Seek Legal Help After a Truck Accident
Attorney Knowles is unequivocal about when to consult an attorney: “If there are injuries, yes.” He explains the reasoning: “They have way more resources, way more knowledge, and they can use the documentation in their favor.”
He elaborates on the complexities that attorneys can uncover: “The trucking company could try to cover things up—whether they had a proper license, if they were maintaining the vehicle properly, if their load wasn’t secured properly, or if the driver was fatigued.”
Attorney Knowles emphasizes the high stakes involved: “It’s such a specialized area if there are injuries, and the damages could be significant. You don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
Contact Knowles Law Firm
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, don’t face the complex legal challenges alone. Trucking companies have teams of lawyers ready to protect their interests, and you deserve the same level of representation. The experienced attorneys at Knowles Law Firm understand the critical differences between car and truck accident cases and how to effectively handle each unique situation.
With nearly 55 years of experience and a record of obtaining multi-million dollar settlements, the attorneys at Knowles Law Firm know how to navigate the complexities of truck accident litigation and fight for the compensation you deserve. We work diligently to investigate your case, preserve critical evidence, and build the strongest possible claim on your behalf. For a free consultation, call us at (402) 431-9000 or contact us online.
About Our Attorney
Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner at Knowles Law Firm
Robert has tried cases in both state and federal courts and was selected as one of the top 100 litigation lawyers in Nebraska for 2014 by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Less than 1.5 percent of lawyers nationally are selected for this recognition. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating an attorney can obtain. He was also selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2019 Top Rated Lawyer.
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