When Your Back Is Against The Wall
Truck Accident Lawyers in Charlotte
Semi-Trailers Can Cause Severe Injuries and Deaths. Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You Fight Back.
There’s no doubt big rigs are essential to our nation, moving goods from coast to coast every day. However, when trucking companies turn a blind eye to, or even encourage, dangerous driver behaviors, innocent people’s lives can be at stake.
In 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recorded nearly 500,000 crashes that involved large trucks. Around 4,500 of those accidents resulted in fatalities for at least one party.
Given the size and weight difference between big rigs and passenger cars, other road users are much more likely to be harmed than truck drivers themselves.
Semi-truck crashes can be life-changing. Those who survive them often do so with severe injuries that impair their ability to work, pursue hobbies, and enjoy their lives. If you are in this situation after a truck accident caused by someone else, we have your back. Lanier Law Group, P.A. can take on complex cases against big companies or insurers.
Schedule your free consultation today by calling (704) 270-2985. If you cannot make it to one of our offices, our Charlotte truck accident lawyers are happy to come to you anywhere in North Carolina.
The Devastating Consequences of Truck Accidents
An accident between a big truck and a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the latter are much more likely to be injured. Cars may literally get caught on or under a tractor-trailer without its driver noticing. In a collision of any sort, the force generated by a big rig is likely to total any passenger vehicle.
Its occupants may suffer serious injuries such as:
- Amputation/Loss of Limb
- Burn Injury
- Fractures and Multiple Fractures
- Head and Facial Injury
- Internal Organ Damage
- Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
In the aftermath of a severe injury, most Americans will find themselves with high medical bills they aren’t sure how they will pay. Filing an injury claim against any at-fault parties can help you receive financial relief to help not only with your needs now but also those you may have in the future.
Who Is to Blame for a Truck Accident?
The liability for a truck accident can rest with a variety of parties, and most of them aren’t the driver.
Your Charlotte truck accident lawyers may find themselves bringing a claim against:
- A trucking company
- A truck or truck parts manufacturer
- A mechanic
- Another (non-commercial) driver
In some cases, the liability will be split between more than one of these parties. Having a skilled and tough attorney on your side is especially important in this type of complex case. By law, insurers only have to pay 100% of a settlement if their client was 100% at fault. This means if you don’t file against every party involved, you may be leaving money on the table.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Charlotte
Figuring out who holds liability can be complex because there are multiple parties whose errors can cause serious accidents. We have a strong investigative team that is ready to figure out what went wrong in the seconds leading up to a crash.
Truck accidents may be caused by:
- Driver distraction or inattention
- Driver fatigue
- Improper cargo loading
- Defective truck parts
- Defective truck design
- Insufficient maintenance
- Third-party negligence (a mistake made by another driver)
- Poor road design
Many accidents are the result of a chain of errors, so what sometimes appears to be the ultimate (or only) cause may be only a small factor. Having a full understanding of what happened is essential to presenting a strong injury claim.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, taking specific steps is crucial to protect your health, legal rights, and ability to pursue compensation. Truck accidents often result in severe injuries and complicated claims due to the involvement of multiple parties and regulations.
First, prioritize your safety and health by seeking immediate medical attention. Even if injuries aren’t apparent, some conditions, such as internal trauma, may not show symptoms right away. Document your medical visits as these records can be vital evidence.
Report the accident to law enforcement. A detailed police report can provide an unbiased account of the accident, including who may be at fault. Be cautious about admitting fault when speaking to officers or others at the scene.
Gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and injuries, and collect witness contact information. This documentation can be critical when building a case.
Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters without legal guidance. Insurance companies often seek to minimize payouts and may use your statements against you. An experienced truck accident attorney can communicate with insurers on your behalf.
Finally, consult with a Charlotte truck accident attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, and navigate the complex legal process. Acting promptly can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
When Is a Trucking Company Liable?
Because truck drivers are on the job most (if not all) of the time they spend in their big rigs, they are not directly liable for accidents. Instead, it falls to their employer to have proper training, oversight, scheduling, etc. to support employees. So, even if a truck driver causes an accident because they are on their cell phone, the company that employs them would be responsible.
By hiring someone to be a truck driver, a company is vouching for them on the road. The only time a truck driver themselves would be to blame would be in an incident caused by deliberate recklessness, which is very rare.
Truck Accidents Caused by Defective Auto Parts
Large trucks may travel more than 100,000 miles a year, which means there are many opportunities for breakdowns. Any company that sells trucks or the parts made for them must hold itself to the highest manufacturing standards. Malfunctioning brakes, tires, or other essential elements can cause a driver to lose control of their truck, to devastating results. Our attorneys can investigate an accident to determine whether a faulty part played a role.
Failure to Perform Regular Maintenance/Mechanical Service
Likewise, whoever is responsible for making sure a truck is roadworthy may be liable if a failure leads to a wreck. Some trucking companies take care of their own vehicles, but others may contract with a third party to keep their fleet running. If a mechanic misses a warning sign or makes a mistake that leads to a breakdown, there may be cause to file a claim against them.
Investigating a truck accident and pursuing compensation from all liable parties requires a tenacity that isn’t found it most law firms. The Charlotte truck accident attorneys at Lanier Law Group, P.A. have decades of experience representing these types of cases and is equipped with the resources necessary to successfully litigate your claim.
Call us at (704) 270-2985 for a free consultation. Our Charlotte truck accident lawyers can schedule same-day appointments. Se habla español.
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Our Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyers Fight Complex and Tough Cases
Lanier Law Group, P.A. is known for filing more lawsuits than other injury firms. This is because we aren’t about to let a big insurer or trucking company treat our clients unfairly. The reputation that’s come from our readiness to litigate gives us leverage in settlement negotiations. If the other party is not willing to deal, you can be confident our team will fight your case all the way to the end.
Suffering a severe injury can change an accident victim’s plans for the future and impact their family’s lives in many ways. Our Charlotte truck accident lawyers understand what you are going through, which is why we offer personal attention and support to our clients. Along with a skilled attorney fighting for you, you will also have a case manager, investigator, insurance adjuster, and other team members on your case when you work with us.
You deserve a firm that will do its best to help you prevail in a truck accident case. If you’re ready to get started, Lanier Law Group, P.A. is here to help.
Contact our Charlotte truck accident lawyer by calling (704) 270-2985 today!
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