A regular passenger vehicle is no match for a truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds. People involved in a crash with a commercial motor vehicle can face life-altering injuries and overwhelming medical bills. They may not be able to return to work, and the financial impact can haunt them for the rest of their lives. The Durham truck accident lawyer at Kreger Brodish LLP fights for justice for crash victims.
With over a decade of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases, we have the skills and the resources to take on deep-pocketed trucking companies and insurance companies. So if you or a loved one were hurt in a collision with an 18-wheeler in Durham, North Carolina, turn to our law firm today for a free initial case review. Our Durham personal injury lawyer will discuss your situation and advise you of your legal options with no obligation. Call now, and get the help you deserve.
Why Truck Accidents Are More Complicated
Truck accident claims can be much more complicated than typical car accident cases. Some of the reasons include the following:
- More severe injuries – The size of commercial trucks means that a collision with an 18-wheeler can impart significant forces. These forces often lead to victims suffering catastrophic injuries. Treatment and long-term care needs are more expensive, so the victim needs to recover more excellent compensation to cover all their expenses and losses.
- Multiple injured parties – Truck accidents can involve multiple vehicles and victims. When a truck crash injures many people, it can complicate the claims process significantly if damages surpass the liable parties’ insurance coverages and financial resources.
- More evidence – Commercial motor vehicles are complex machines. Thoroughly investigating truck accidents requires examining more evidence that might be looked at in other kinds of auto accident cases. Investigating a truck accident case requires in-depth knowledge of complicated federal and state laws regulating commercial motor vehicle operations.
- More potentially liable parties – Many companies are involved in the operation of a commercial truck. Each party may bear some or all the fault for a truck accident. This can complicate a truck accident claim as each party tries to shift blame for the crash onto other potentially liable parties.
- Complicated insurance coverages – Trucking companies often have complex, layered insurance policies, making it difficult to determine how much coverage may be available to compensate you for your losses.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in North Carolina?
While liability for most auto accidents falls on one or more drivers involved in the crash, the nature of the trucking industry means that many more parties may share in liability. Examples of parties that may be at fault for a trucking accident in North Carolina, include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck’s owner, if different from the driver or truck company
- The truck’s manufacturer
- A manufacturer of truck parts
- The truck’s mechanic
- The freight company or freight broker responsible for loading cargo onto the truck or trailer
Compensation Available After a Truck Accident in North Carolina
If you were involved in a North Carolina truck accident that was caused by someone else, you might be entitled to recover compensation for losses that you have suffered, including:
- Medical expenses to treat and rehabilitate injuries you sustained in the wreck
- Costs for long-term care services for permanent disabilities or chronic health conditions caused by your injuries
- Lost income and earning ability if you are temporarily or permanently disabled from your job or any employment
- Repair bills or replacement costs if your vehicle was damaged in the 18-wheeler crash
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life
Our North Carolina truck accident lawyer helps families pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim in the most tragic cases. Although no money can make things right, these claims can financially hold the at-fault party accountable.
Understanding North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Law
The trucking companies and their insurers may claim that you bear some share of fault for the accident that caused your injuries. Under North Carolina’s contributory negligence law, you need to understand how that can affect your rights to financial recovery. This rule says that an injured party cannot recover compensation if they bear any share of fault for an accident or the injuries they suffered. Therefore, if you are found to be even 1 percent at fault for an 18-wheeler accident, you would be considered ineligible to pursue compensation.
For this reason, you need an experienced Durham truck accident lawyer who will push back when trucking companies and insurers try to pin the blame on you and avoid liability.
Evidence Our Truck Accident Attorneys May Use to Prove Your Claim
Thoroughly investigating any type of truck accident claim requires gathering and preserving a wide range of evidence.
Some of the evidence that our Durham, North Carolina truck accident attorneys may secure for your case include:
- The truck driver’s logs, which show how long the truck driver had been on duty or behind the wheel
- The truck driver’s alcohol/drug screen, if one is performed after an accident
- The truck driver’s employment history and driving record
- Logs from the truck’s electronic data recorder, or “black box,” which can record data such as GPS position, truck speed, hours of operation, and truck driver inputs
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage, or dashcam/in-cab footage
- The load manifest, which shows what cargo was loaded into the truck or trailer and how it was loaded
- Truck inspection and maintenance records
- North Carolina police accident reports
- Trucking company investigation reports
- Post-accident vehicle inspection/repair records
- Accident scene photos
- Eyewitness statements
What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Durham?
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Improper braking
- Tailgating
- Failing to signal or check mirrors before changing lanes
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe turns, including wide right turns
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Unfamiliarity with routes
- Inadequate truck maintenance
- Unsafe or unsecured cargo loads
- Defective truck parts
- Poor road conditions, including potholes or debris in the roadway
NC Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits
Under North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations, you usually have only three years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation. If you file suit after the limitations period expires on your claim, the court will likely dismiss your case.
Even though three years can seem like a long time, the complicated nature of truck accident claims requires a lot of legal work to ensure that you have a thoroughly prepared and compelling case. Therefore, you should speak to a Durham, North Carolina, truck accident attorney as soon as possible to begin preparing your truck accident claim.
What Are Some Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents?
Due to the sheer size of some commercial trucks, crashes can result in catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
These injuries may include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated spinal discs
- Nerve damage
- Internal injuries
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns and smoke inhalation injuries
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic amputation
How Can Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Durham, NC Help You?
At Kreger Brodish LLP, we understand how overwhelming it can be to go up against big trucking companies and their insurers. Let our respected Durham truck accident lawyers handle all the aspects of your case so that you can focus on healing. You can trust our experienced legal team to:
- Perform a thorough, independent investigation of the crash to recover evidence and identify all liable parties
- Collect extensive documentation of your past, ongoing, and future anticipated expenses and losses
- Consult with expert witnesses to help us prepare a compelling, persuasive argument on your behalf
- Handle all communication with the trucking companies and insurers
- Aggressively pursue settlement negotiations for fair and total compensation for you
- Prepare for trial and take your case to court if necessary to fight for the maximum compensation possible
If you suffered serious injuries in a North Carolina truck accident through no fault of your own, contact the law firm of Kreger Brodish LLP today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our tractor-trailer accident attorney will be ready to provide an honest and thorough assessment of your case, so call us now.
