Wyoming Truck Accident Lawyer

A victim of a truck crash can be left with immense pain, skyrocketing medical expenses, and an inability to work. Wyoming truck accident attorney Alan Shafner knows how complex these cases can be. He has years of experience helping crash victims and their families demand full and fair compensation from trucking insurance companies.

If you or a family member has been hurt or killed in a truck accident caused by another’s negligence, Shafner Law is here to help. Our team has a track record of outstanding results for truck accident victims, and our dedication to our clients is unmatched. We will meet with you personally to discuss your case and any questions you may have. Please call us at (307) 277-6956 to schedule a free consultation.

While it may appear that filing personal injury claims for truck and car accidents would be a similar process, that is actually not the case. The fight for compensation for injuries caused by truck accidents can be even more stressful and frustrating because trucking and insurance companies make every effort to keep the process as difficult as possible.

Some factors that make these claims more strenuous include:

• The intricacies of securing evidence. For truck accidents, investigations can require in-depth examination of evidence such as driver logbooks, maintenance records, and driver records for the truck. While trucking companies are required to keep these records for a certain period of time, they are free to destroy them after said time has passed. The wrecked truck can also be quickly disposed of, and records have the potential to be falsified.
• Layers of insurance. Trucking companies are required, by law, to maintain insurance. That insurance has a policy limit far higher than that of a standard passenger vehicle. This means that people may be able to obtain much larger rewards for serious injuries than they might receive in a traditional car accident. Some cases can also involve multiple insurance policies, which can add extra complications to the case if one is dealing with claims adjusters for various states.
• Complex mess of federal regulations. Commercial trucks must comply with strict federal regulations. Therefore, it is very important to know if your truck accident involved a violation of federal law. Some violations may include the truck being improperly maintained (a potential form of negligence) or the truck driver exceeding the limit of how many hours they can drive per day or week.

Our Wyoming truck accident lawyer knows what it takes to go head-to-head against large trucking companies and is prepared to fight for you.

Commercial truck wrecks differ from average car accidents in many ways. Not only do they often result in more catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage, it is possible for multiple parties to be at fault. Multiple liable parties is relatively common for truck accidents because many drivers don’t own the vehicle they are driving and are instead independent contractors. In addition, one company might own the tractor while another owns the cargo trailer or the cargo itself.

Potential liable parties include:

• Truck driver
• Truck owner
• Trucking company
• Defective truck part manufacturer
• Maintenance company
• Cargo loading company
• Shipping agency
• Governmental entity
• Another driver

Our experienced Wyoming truck accident attorney Alan Shafner will thoroughly investigate your accident and identify all potential liable parties for you in order to obtain your proper compensation.

Attorney Alan Shafner represents his Wyoming truck accident clients fiercely. You can trust Shafner Law to take the burden of your case off of your shoulders so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

Alan and his team will conduct a thorough investigation of the crash, gathering all evidence needed to prove negligence. They will work hard to identify any party that shares liability to hold them fully accountable for the harm they have caused you, and they will deal with the insurance companies on your behalf. Alan will work towards a just truck accident settlement to cover every expense you face relating to your injury, and if the insurer does not provide a suitable settlement offer, he will file a truck accident lawsuit and show the jury you deserve your maximum compensation. Along the way, Alan and his team will be there to make sure you are receiving all of the medical care that you need.

Immediately after a truck accident, there are a few key steps to take to ensure you and those around you are safe. In addition, these steps taken right after an accident can supply crucial evidence for your case.

• Stop the vehicle, no matter the scale of the accident.
• Turn on your hazard lights.
• Check your surroundings for danger, like fires or debris that could cause further injury.
• If possible, navigate your vehicle out of the way of traffic. If you are unable to move your vehicle, exit it and move a safe distance away from traffic.
• Assess injuries. Check in with everyone in your vehicle for injuries, as well as any other safety concerns. This information is very useful for first responders.
• Call 911. This is step 5 for a reason, but it is still crucial to report the accident to authorities as soon as it is safe to do so. Even if the accident is minor, calling 911 allows for the creation of an accident report.
• Set up any emergency warning devices. These include keeping your hazards on, but also devices such as warning triangles if those are available.
• Gather information. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance details with the other driver. During this exchange, refrain from apologizing or admitting fault, as this can be used against you. Some or all of the information you collect will be included in the accident report, but it is still useful to gather it for yourself.
• Contact your insurance company. As soon as possible, notify your insurance company. Provide a detailed account of the accident, as well as a copy of the police report. This allows the insurance company to begin their investigation.
• Speak with an attorney! Contact a trusted personal injury lawyer in Wyoming to advocate on your behalf relating to your accident.

Always make sure to contact law enforcement after your crash so that a police report is completed. The police report is an essential piece of evidence, especially if the truck driver was cited for a traffic violation that caused the accident.

Some other kinds of useful evidence that can require an investigation include:

• Driver logbooks
• Driving records
• Driver medical history
• Truck maintenance records
• Vehicle inspection reports
• Statements from witnesses
• Data from Electronic Onboard Recording devices (EOBRs)

One of the most vital pieces of evidence for your case can be collected yourself at the scene of the crash: pictures. With a smartphone or any other picture-taking device, take as many pictures as you can of the crash and anything involved with it. Make sure to get as many angles and distances as you can.

Pictures can be invaluable to a personal injury attorney. They capture elements of the accident that are often quickly cleaned up. They are snapshots of the evidence before it disappears.

Another way you can help your injury claim is to keep a journal of your life after the accident. Writing down events that have occurred in your life, with dates, will aid in recalling certain aspects of your experience that may become more difficult to remember with time.

Truck accidents often leave victims in precarious financial positions. Serious injuries can take anywhere from weeks to years of follow-up care, and some individuals are unable to return to work due to the nature of their injuries.

Typically, settlements are supposed to provide for all damages a victim has endured or will endure as a result of the accident. The plaintiff in a truck accident trial can be awarded compensatory damages, which include both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include actual, calculable, financial losses, such as:

• Lost wages
• Past and future medical expenses
• Reduction of future income
• Travel expenses for treatment
• Modifications to your home for accommodation of disabilities
• Repair/replacement of vehicle or damaged personal property

Non-economic damages are not quantifiable, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Few cases may also result in punitive damages, also called exemplary damages or vindictive damages. These are intended to punish the at-fault party.

While truck drivers are commonly at fault for truck accidents, there may be other factors that lead to a truck accident.

Some common causes for 18-wheeler accidents include:

• Break failure
• Driver fatigue
• Driving under influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Failure to maintain the vehicle
• Inadequate training of drivers
• Inclement weather
• Mechanical defects
• Overloaded trailers
• Unsecured loads
• Trucking companies promoting or requiring unrealistic changes

To avoid liability, and therefore having to pay for an injury claim, trucking companies or their insurance representatives may attempt to place blame on the victim. They can attempt to diminish or even deny your claim to try and save themselves money. Because of this, it is crucial to hire an attorney in Wyoming who knows how these companies operate and how to fight back against them.

Very few people walk away from a truck accident unharmed. Most of the time, victims suffer from injuries with long recovery times. In the most severe cases, victims may never fully recover or their injuries result in death. Some injuries restrict a victim’s ability to work or even their basic ability to take care of themselves. Such victims need 24-hour care and assistance will all of their daily functions.

Some injuries clients may struggle with after a truck accident include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Internal organ injuries
• Neck injuries
• Paralysis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Traumatic amputations

Families who have lost a loved one to a catastrophic truck accident may be able to demand justice through a wrongful death lawsuit. If this affects you or someone you know, please reach out to Attorney Alan Shafner today to learn about your legal options for financial recovery.

In January of 2017, KING-FM Radio reported that, on average, there was an accident on I-80 every other day. Trucks have been involved in more than 4,000 accidents on I-70 and over 600 crashes on I-25 in the past 20 years.

Every truck accident is unique, so it can be hard to predict what a case is “worth” without a proper investigation. And since trucks are typically thirty times heavier than cars, truck accidents can be incredibly dangerous for those involved. All this in addition to the complications around who can be at fault and trucking insurance companies wanting to resolve the incident as fast and as cheaply as possible, and truck accidents turn into a ferocious, years-long beast to handle.

The best way to ensure you make it through your truck accident case with the compensation you deserve is to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer. Most truck accident lawyers, including Alan Shafner at Shafner Law, work on a contingency fee basis: we only get paid when you get paid. That means we cover upfront costs and only receive a portion of the compensation we help you get. An experienced truck accident attorney can gather evidence, document your injuries, negotiate with insurance companies, and if needed, take your case in front of a jury to fight for your just compensation.

Have you or a loved one suffered catastrophic injuries in a commercial motor vehicle accident in Wyoming? Turn to Attorney Alan Shafner, a lawyer who is passionate about his clients and who has the skills to take on the powerful trucking companies.

Talk to Alan about your legal options by calling at (307) 277-6956 to schedule your free consultation.

“Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and helpful with my family. We are so happy to have found you and your team.”

-Joanne