Due to their excessive weight and size, large trucks are more likely to cause devastating injuries and fatalities when involved in an accident. At Moore Law Firm, our caring team has helped more than 15,000 personal injury clients in Alabama seek justice and accountability for their injuries and losses. Our big truck accident lawyers understand complex cases involving commercial vehicles and provide tenacious legal representation you can trust.
Common Types of Big Trucks
Big trucks encompass a wide range of vehicles, including:
- Garbage trucks
- Dump trucks and other construction vehicles
- Tow trucks
- Box trucks
- 18-wheelers
- Delivery trucks
- Bucket trucks, such as those used for power line repair
Types of Accidents Involving Big Trucks in Alabama
Any type of accident can happen due to the negligence of a driver, trucking company, or vehicle maintenance provider. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include driving while drowsy or under the influence, speeding, distracted driving, improper vehicle maintenance, and mechanical failure.
Drivers of large trucks have limited visibility, and accidents often occur when a driver hits or runs over another vehicle, object, or person when backing up. For the safety of workers and others, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain types of big trucks and heavy equipment to have backup alarms.
In addition to backup accidents, other types of big truck accidents include:
- Tip-over accidents due to speeding, improper loading, or improperly secured cargo
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Jackknife accidents
- Under-ride accidents (when a vehicle slides under a truck)
- Wide turn collisions
- Bridge collisions
- Work zone accidents
- Construction site accidents
Regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Alabama law outline specific safety measures for big trucks, including regular inspections, proper documentation of maintenance and repair, loading and cargo restrictions, and other safety requirements.
Our big truck accident attorneys in Mobile are aware of the devastating toll these accidents can take on injured victims and their families. Our attorneys have fought for personal injury clients in Alabama and have helped them hold negligent parties accountable for more than 40 years.
Types of Injuries Sustained in Big Truck Accidents
Victims of big truck accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries that affect them for the rest of their lives. These types of severe injuries may require costly surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medication, ongoing nursing care, home modifications, and more.
Head and Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), skull fracture, swelling of the brain, and other head injuries can be life-threatening and lead to problems such as aneurysms, loss of cognitive and motor function, depression, and other serious physical, emotional, and psychological issues.
Neck and Spinal Injuries
Whiplash, nerve pain, cracked vertebra, and disk injury are just a few injuries that may occur in a big truck accident. Spinal cord damage can cause partial or complete paralysis and even death.
Broken or Crushed Bones
Occupants of passenger vehicles involved in accidents with big trucks often suffer severe fractures of the ribs, arms, legs, face, and other bones.
Internal Injuries
The impact of being hit by a big commercial truck can cause deadly injuries, such as internal bleeding and severe damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and other vital organs.
Cuts and Burns
Lacerations and burns sustained in big truck accidents may require extensive medical treatment and result in permanent scarring and chronic pain.
Psychological Issues
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues stemming from being involved in a truck accident can have a significant impact on your mental health and quality of life.
Our Mobile truck accident lawyers know that dealing with injuries after a crash can be overwhelming. We’re here to take some of the weight off your shoulders so you and your family can focus on healing.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a collision with a commercial vehicle, our big truck accident attorneys can evaluate your case and determine whether filing a wrongful death claim is an appropriate course of action.
Big Truck Accident Cases are Complex
These cases are usually more complex than those involving smaller vehicles like pickup trucks or cars. Because trucks like 18-wheelers are much heavier and larger than cars, severe injuries and fatalities are more common in these types of accidents. Big trucks also have large blind spots, which can make it more difficult for drivers to see other vehicles.
Trucking companies have higher limits on their insurance policies, and it’s more common for multiple parties to be liable in a truck accident lawsuit, including the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance provider, and the parts or vehicle manufacturer. These factors make truck accident claims inherently more complex. Our big truck accident lawyers know what type of evidence to collect and how to use it to prove fault. Some evidence that’s often used in truck accident cases include:
- Electronic logging devices
- Black box data
- Cell phone and other electronic device data
- GPS data
- Employment training records that document prior crashes or a poor driving record, or alcohol and drug use
- Medical records that outline health conditions and medications a driver may be taking
- Dashcam and traffic camera footage, skid marks, and expert witness analysis
- Expert witness analysis, such as that presented by accident reconstructionists
Typically, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a truck accident lawsuit in Alabama. However, the sooner you file a claim, the better. Valuable evidence can be lost and memories fade.
Being injured and unable to work can put you and your family in a precarious financial situation as well, so it’s best to take action as soon as possible. Having a personal injury lawyer with a track record of success in claims involving large trucks and other commercial vehicles can give you the best chance of a positive outcome.
How our Mobile Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
Dealing with Insurance Companies
At Moore Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers are well-versed in local, state, and federal regulations that apply to big truck accident claims in Alabama. We also have decades of experience dealing with insurance companies, which are not looking out for your best interests. Insurance and trucking companies often send representatives to the scene of truck accidents to collect evidence that they can use to deny liability. It’s important to take certain steps to protect your rights. Do not give a statement, sign anything, or accept a settlement without talking to our Mobile truck accident attorneys first.
Attempting to file a personal injury claim on your own can leave you feeling stressed out and frustrated. It may result in a claim being denied or a minimal settlement offer that doesn’t even cover all your medical bills and other losses. We understand how to accurately determine the value of your claim. We handle all communications and negotiations with insurers and provide tenacious legal representation to help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.
Recovering Damages
Depending on the specific circumstances and the extent of your injuries and losses, you may be entitled to damages such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future wage loss
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Our truck accident attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that there are no up-front costs to pursue your case and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. We’re dedicated to helping you understand your options and fighting for your rights every step of the way.
Contact a Big Truck Accident Attorney in Mobile, AL
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in a big truck accident in Mobile, AL, our compassionate, dedicated team is here to help you get through it. Call Moore Law Firm at 251-445-7602, use the convenient chat feature on our website, or contact us to schedule a free consultation with an Alabama truck accident lawyer today.