Crashes involving semi-trucks, flatbeds, delivery trucks, and other commercial trucks often cause significant injuries and property damage. A truck crash injury claim may allow for the recovery of damages, but bringing a successful claim is easier said than done. To recover financial compensation for vehicle damage, medical bills, and other damages, the injured person will need to bring a compelling claim backed by strong evidence. In many cases, information from the truck’s event data recorder is a crucial component in this evidence.

What Is an Event Data Recorder?

An event data recorder (EDR) is a device that records vehicle data during a crash. The devices are similar to the black boxes found in airplanes that are recovered and analyzed after a plane crash. Most EDRs are triggered by a sudden change in speed. For example, a trucker who slams on the brakes to avoid a collision would likely activate the EDR. 

EDRs vary, but most record information such as:

If you have been injured in a car accident and intend to pursue compensation, you may be concerned about whether you will need to go to court to resolve your case. It is very normal to be apprehensive about a potential courtroom battle. Particularly if you have not had reason to experience a trial, the prospect may seem intimidating. Fortunately, most people are able to resolve their car accident cases without entering a courtroom.

Your attorney will likely make efforts to settle your case out of court before proceeding with trial preparation. However, some motor vehicle accident claims are ultimately decided in court after a trial. It is a possibility that your case cannot be settled by agreement, and you will go to court, although this is a much less common result than settling. An attorney can keep you apprised of how your case is progressing. 

Reasons Your Case Could Go to Trial

There are a number of reasons why parties may ultimately go to court to resolve the claim. Parties are not always able to reach a settlement. Some reasons that a case may go to trial include: 

It can be very scary to be a passenger in a car driven by a risk-taking driver. There is very little you can do to prevent a car accident when you are not in the driver’s seat. Getting out of the car may not always be a good option. Asking the driver to please slow down or get off their phone may be ineffective, and doing so could even cause the driver to behave even more recklessly. 

If you get into an accident due to your driver’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation. There can be differences in how your case should be handled depending on your relationship with the driver. For example, your case might be different if you are a friend of the driver as opposed to an immediate family member. If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger of the at-fault driver, your best option is to speak with an attorney. 

Recovering Compensation as a Social Passenger

If you were a friend, acquaintance, or even in some cases a family member of the careless driver who caused the accident, you may be able to recover compensation through the driver’s insurance policy. If the driver had the right types of coverage, you may only need to file a claim as one normally would after an accident. You may even have a bit of an easier time showing that the driver was negligent, as you likely had a very clear view of exactly what the driver did to cause the accident. Seeking compensation for medical bills through your own insurance coverage may also be an option for some. 

Drivers in cars or trucks should be well aware that they are sharing the roads with motorcyclists. Now that the weather has warmed up, more people are using motorcycles to get around or even just riding for enjoyment. With the current gas prices, motorcyclists may even manage to save a bit of money considering the fuel efficiency of a bike compared to a car. However, there is one major disadvantage to riding a motorcycle - it can be considerably more dangerous than driving a car. When a motorcycle crashes, the person or people on the bike have no protection other than the gear they are wearing. 

Unfortunately, not all drivers are as attentive as they should be when it comes to preventing motorcycle accidents. If you were injured by a negligent driver while riding a motorcycle, we may be able to help you recover full compensation. 

How Careless Drivers Put Motorcyclists at Risk

When drivers are alert and mindful that there are bikes around them, most crashes can be avoided. A few careless habits some drivers have that put riders in danger include: 

The answer to this question largely depends on whose fault the car accident was. In many cases, single-car accidents are not the fault of the driver, in which case you may be able to recover compensation in one of several ways. In some cases, even if your single-car accident was your fault, you may have options for recovering funds from your own insurance company. If you were not at fault for your crash, then you may be able to recover compensation.

There are several parties who could potentially be on the hook for compensating you, ranging from the party responsible for your crash to your insurance company through uninsured motorist coverage. Identifying the party who is liable to you and then proving it can be complicated in single-car crashes, so you will need the help of an experienced attorney. 

What Causes Single-Car Accidents and Who May be Liable for Them?

It is important to identify the exact cause of your single-car accident before your lawyer can determine who might be liable. In some cases, it can be difficult to prove what happened. Witnesses often play an important role. Some common causes of single-car accidents include: