A truck accident south of St. Joseph left no one hurt, but seriously damaged a tractor trailer. Because truckers rely on their vehicles for their livelihood, a truck damaged in a car accident can be a huge blow.
Truck Accident Damages Tractor Trailer
The crash happened on Saturday morning, July 27. A tractor trailer was going southbound on Interstate 29 when it overturned just outside of Buchanan County.
Police are still figuring out why the crash happened.
No one was hurt in the accident. However, the truck ended up on its side, causing considerable damage to both the cab and the trailer.
Trucks Are Expensive
Tractor trailers cost far more than cars do. While the average car costs around $20,000 to buy new, the cab of a semi-truck costs around $120,000. The trailer costs another $40,000.
When a tractor trailer gets damaged in a car crash, the costs of repairing it or replacing it are huge. For truckers who rely on their semi-truck to make a living, those costs are non-negotiable.
Insurance Does Not Always Cover All of the Damages of a Crash
Precisely because their trucks are their livelihood, truckers are far less likely to drive without insurance than regular drivers. However, as regular drivers know, as well, just because a trucker has insurance does not mean that the insurance company will cover all the costs of a crash. In fact, the high operating costs of driving a tractor trailer often pushes truckers into saving money wherever they can – including insurance coverage.
Whether this means their truck insurance has a high deductable, less extensive coverage, or is provided by a company that does whatever it can to avoid paying for a crash, the results can be the same: A trucker who has to pay to fix their truck out of their own pocket.
Getting the Responsible Driver to Pay
In cases where someone else caused the crash that damaged the truck, it can be essential to take legal action. Finding the at-fault driver and demanding that they pay for their fair share of the accident can protect a trucker’s livelihood and income. A successful lawsuit can recover the compensation a trucker needs to fix their rig, as well as the income they lost while their truck was out of commission.
Altogether, those losses can be quite significant.
St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyers at the Smith Law Office
Whether you were involved in a truck accident or a car accident, the personal injury lawyers at the Smith Law Office can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve. Truckers who have been put in a position where they have to pay for the repair costs to fix their rigs after a crash are especially in need of financial help.
The lawyers at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph can help you recover that compensation. Contact them online or call them at (816) 875-9373.