Helping your loved one recuperate after a scary accident

Author: LaGeris Underwood Bell
Published: Feb 23 2014

There's not much in this world that a person wouldn't do for their loved ones. Whether it's a spouse, child, parent or other loved one, when most people see those they care about in need, they can immediately be counted on. Sadly, this sometimes becomes necessary due to negligent individuals causing accidents.

One of the scariest accident scenarios, and possibly one that shows the utmost negligence is that of a runaway or jack-knifed semi-truck. These trucks are much larger than traditional passenger vehicles, so when they're heading nonstop at an innocent victim, it will likely be devastating, and soon be up to their loved ones to help them through the situation.

18 Wheeler Truck Crash Fears

While most people will never be in an accident involving a semi-truck, the truth of the matter is that these accidents still occur relatively frequently. This is unsurprising considering the fact that, between 1975 and 2009, the number of registered vehicles that the government describes as "large trucks or buses" has more than doubled. Fortunately, the number of serious accidents didn't increase at the same rate.

As noted, by Cofman Townsley, truck accident lawyers in Missouri, "a tractor trailer truck weighs about 80,000 pounds and...has the ability to crush a car easily". As a result, thousands of people die every year in collisions with commercial trucks. In 2009, this number stood at 3,619.

Why Do They Happen?

Sadly, there are a variety of reasons that trucking accidents occur, and even more tragically, it's often negligence that leads to runaway truck and jack-knife accidents. Runaway truck incidents, for example, can be caused by a driver negligently operating the vehicle. Additionally, a lack of maintenance or even faulty repairs can cause problems with a braking system that can turn an inventory transportation vehicle into a 10,000 pound metallic rocket speeding down a mountain road.

Jack-knife accidents, on the other hand, have a variety of reasons behind them. A trucker following too closely and having too quickly applied the brakes can definitely lead to these accidents. Additionally, if a truck driver is going too fast for dangerous conditions, their trailer may continue speeding while they put on the brakes, and this can quickly lead to a jack-knife.

Helping a Loved One

There are a variety of things that a person can do for a loved one injured by a big rig accident. One of the most important factors to consider is emotional stability. Some people actually suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being in accidents of this magnitude. At times, the emotional scars can be even worse than the physical ones.

Additionally, it's important to seek out legal help for a loved one in these situations. It should be noted, though, that different states may make this outcome vary. In Missouri and most other states, for instance, accident injuries and financial losses will have to be covered by the negligent party. In other areas, though, such as Florida and New Jersey, it may be up to a person's own insurer to cover some of the losses. These are known as no-fault states. Due to these variances, it's essential to speak with an attorney on the victim's behalf.

A trucking wreck can be nearly as detrimental for loved ones as it for those involved in them, so it's essential for the loved ones to stay strong when those they care about are hurt. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways that a person can assist in a victim's recovery, and when the right proactive steps are taken and professional help is sought out, it may be possible to get some semblance of normalcy back to a person's life. With the help of her writing, LaGeris Underwood Bell seeks to encourage families to maintain close relationships in spite of tragic circumstances. Cofman Townsley, truck accident lawyers in Missouri, are just one of the few specialized professionals in the state, who can carefully guide the injured, and their loved ones, through the legal process, whole and intact.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/7725107076/

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