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You may have many questions when you are involved in a truck accident, we are here to help! We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions by truck accident victims in the state of North Dakota.
While not all truck accidents lead to serious injuries, many of them do. This is due to several factors. First, commercial vehicles like semi-trucks and other big rigs are vast in comparison to passenger vehicles and other smaller vehicles on the roadways.
When a heavy truck and a car collide, truck accident victims may suffer catastrophic injuries. These injuries can lead to permanent changes, such as loss of mobility (paralysis) or the inability to work your previous job.
Because of this, personal injury claims allow accident victims to seek compensation that accounts for such devastating losses.
Semi-truck accidents can happen for an indeterminate amount of reasons. Like car accidents, there may be any number of contributing factors that lead to the accident, such as unpredictable weather or improperly maintained roads. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
North Dakota is one of the 13 states in the nation that is considered a ‘no-fault’ state. This means that fault is not considered in auto accidents, and each party must file with their own insurance company for damages caused by the accident, such as medical expenses and vehicle repair.
How does this affect truck accident claims? Because many truck accidents lead to serious injuries with extensive medical bills, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party after a truck accident in North Dakota.
This is only true if your accident-related damages total more than the amount of your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. You must carry at least the minimum coverage required by the state ($30,000 per person).
To determine whether you are eligible to begin a truck accident lawsuit, speak to a knowledgeable truck accident attorney today.
The at-fault party is not always responsible, or liable, for the other person’s injuries in a truck crash. To be held liable, the at-fault party must have been negligent at the time the crash occurred.
This means they must have been acting in a way that another person in the same situation wouldn’t have acted/would have known was wrong. On the roadways, all motorists have an assumed ‘duty of care’ to each other. That is, they owe each other a duty to, among other things, drive safely and be considerate of each other.
When drivers fail to do this, and it results in an accident, it is known as negligence. To prove negligence, your lawyer must demonstrate that the truck driver or other responsible party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and that this breach is what led to your injuries.
Even if the truck driver caused the truck wreck, they may not be considered at fault. For example, perhaps the truck driver failed to brake properly. But, it’s later discovered that the big rig had faulty brakes, because the trucking company failed to perform required maintenance. In this case, the trucking company may be considered at fault for the truck accident.
Although, the truck driver may also be at fault, since motorists are generally expected to check that motor vehicles are in proper working order before operating them. Fault is a complex issue in personal injury cases.
That’s why it’s best to work with a highly skilled North Dakota truck accident lawyer, who can help you prove the liable party’s negligence and how it led to your injuries.
A number of laws may apply to truck accident cases, such as the consideration of negligence and fault in North Dakota. Another important truck accident law is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
North Dakota has one of the longest statute of limitations, or claim-filing deadlines, at six years for personal injury and two years for wrongful death.
The statute begins on the day of your accident, but in rare cases may begin later if you discover your injuries weeks or months after the accident occurred. When you consult your truck accident attorney, they can tell you how much time you have to file a claim.
The best North Dakota truck accident lawyers will work on a contingency fee basis. What does this mean for you? In short, you will not be charged unless your claim is successful and recovers damages.
Lawyers who work on contingency do not collect until after your claim or case has resolved, so you can focus your energy on healing in recovery. It’s important to be cautious, though, that you select a reputable law office to work with, as some legal teams have hidden fees built in.
When you connect with LegalFinders, we will ensure you find the attorney who is right for your case and who will always be transparent about costs and legal fees.
Working with a qualified personal injury attorney offers countless advantages, many of which will be crucial to the outcome of your case.
First, a lawyer knows the laws that will affect your claim, which means they will always provide you with sound legal advice based on fact and experience in handling cases like yours.
Second, you can find a lawyer whose experience is tailored to your situation. Some personal injury lawyers specialize in motorcycle accidents, for example, while others may focus on medical malpractice. To give yourself a leg up, you’ll want to find a lawyer with ample experience in handling truck accident cases.
Finally, your injury lawyer will be able to handle all tasks related to your case on your behalf — from communications with the court systems and insurance companies to gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
This is one of the greatest benefits, as it allows you the space and freedom to leave your case in good hands while you rest and try to rebuild your life after the truck accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a semi-truck or other commercial truck accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for accident-related costs. Don’t be intimidated by the insurance companies. Let LegalFinders connect you to top-rated law firms in your area. Through our network, you can find truck accident attorneys who know personal injury law and how to use it to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Learn more during a free consultation today.
Were you or a family member hurt in a tractor-trailer or big rig accident in North Dakota due to drunk driving or another form of negligence? You may have the option of starting a truck accident case by filing a personal injury claim.
These claims compensate accident victims for losses incurred due to the accident, such as medical care for serious injuries or vehicle damage costs. The easiest way to file accident claims? By working with experienced truck accident lawyers.
The best truck accident attorneys know accident laws and how to work with the law to secure your compensation. They will know the deadline to begin your personal injury case, where to file it, how to prove negligence, and so much more.
During a free initial consultation, a personal injury attorney will begin by establishing the attorney-client relationship. They will ask you to recount all the details of the truck accident. To that end, they may require your medical records and any other documentation that could be considered vital evidence for your case, like the police report.
Once they have a thorough understanding of the details, they can let you know if you have a strong enough case to proceed and will offer legal advice on how to move forward. They will also help you identify who to bring your claim against, whether it’s the truck driver, trucking company, their insurance companies, or some other party.
When you are ready to begin, they will file your claim. If your claim cannot settle out of court, your personal injury lawyer will be ready to defend your claim in court, since the most esteemed injury lawyers will have ample trial experience.
More than that, your lawyer will be able to handle all communications related to your case for the duration of it — that way, you can rest assured you aren’t saying anything that could harm the outcome.
If you lost a loved one in a truck accident (known as wrongful death), your lawyer will also be able to help you fight for maximum compensation for loss of consortium, or the loss of love and companionship and unexpected financial hardship you have to endure.
LegalFinders has connections to some of the top-rated law firms in the United States. We only work with legal teams backed by outstanding track records, positive client testimonials, and years of experience in their practice areas. Let us help you find the right truck accident attorney today.
There were more than 14,000 motor vehicle accidents in North Dakota in 2019, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation. These accidents included large truck crashes, and led to 100 fatalities and 4,258 injuries. Other statistics regarding truck accidents in North Dakota include:
Large truck occupant deaths in North Dakota
3
in comparison, there were 25 car occupant deaths and 40 SUV/pickup occupant deaths in 2019
Speed, aggressive driving, and alcohol
three of the top
contributing factors to motor vehicle accidents in North Dakota in 2019
Fatal crashes
91
involving Speed and aggressive driving
Crash fatalities involving alcohol in North Dakota
38 of 43
in 2019
Unrestrained people who lost their lives to fatal vehicle accidents in North Dakota
32
accounting for 46% of all crash-related fatalities in 2019
The overwhelming majority of fatal motor vehicle crashes
81%
happened on urban roadways in North Dakota
Though there were many fatal and injury-causing auto accidents in North Dakota in 2019, recent data shows that the state is experiencing a decrease in both the rate of accidents and the rate of fatal accidents overall. In fact, 2019 marked a 15-year low for highway fatalities in the state.
In 2018, national traffic data ranked North Dakota as 13th in the nation for most dangerous states. The state sees some of the harshest winter weather conditions in the U.S., so all roadways can be considered hazardous during the wintry storms. Other dangerous highways North Dakota motorists should be weary of include:
Highways |
I-29, located not far from the Canadian border |
I-94, which often sees the highest-reported amount of accidents each year |
US-2, which runs from the Montana state line to the Red River at Grand Forks |
US-85, where many 18-wheelers travel |
Rural Roads in general, where a majority of motor vehicle accidents occur in the state |
Are you ready to take your life back after a truck accident? Learn more today when you reach out to LegalFinders. We’ll put you in touch with top North Dakota truck accident lawyers in your area. Whether you’re searching for quality representation in Bismarck, Minot, or beyond, we can help you find it.
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Published: 26 May 2022
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) — North Dakota Marks 15-Year Low in Highway Fatalities
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — Fatality Facts 2019: State by state
North Dakota Department of Transportation — 2019 North Dakota Crash Summary