Due to their excessive weight and size, vehicles such as dump trucks, cement mixers, tractor trailers and delivery trucks are more likely to cause devastating injuries and fatalities when involved in accidents with other motorists. At Moore Law Firm, our big truck accident attorneys in Mobile, AL have recovered compensation for more than 12,000 clients who have been injured or have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Our legal team provides aggressive legal representation to help you recover maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. We are dedicated to helping you understand your rights as an injured victim and acting as your staunch advocate throughout the personal injury claims process.
Common Types of Big Truck Accidents
Big trucks encompass a wide range of vehicles that include garbage trucks, construction vehicles, tow trucks, box trucks, 18-wheelers and bucket trucks such as those that are used for power line repair. Any type of accident can happen when a driver, company or maintenance service acts negligently. Inclement weather, heavy traffic, overloaded trucks and mechanical defects or malfunctions also put drivers, workers, pedestrians and other motorists at risk.
Many accidents involving big trucks occur when the truck is reversing and hits or even runs over another vehicle, object or person. Drivers of large trucks have limited visibility when backing up, and must take exceptional care to ensure safe reversing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain industrial and commercial vehicles to have back-up alarms for the safety of workers and others. There are also strict state and federal laws and regulations that that require specific safety measures for big trucks, including proper documentation of maintenance and repair, loading and cargo restrictions and other safety requirements.
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
Types Of Injuries Sustained In Big Truck Accidents
Many injuries sustained in accidents with big trucks are catastrophic and come with far-reaching consequences that can affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. These types of severe injuries may require costly surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medication and ongoing care.
Head and Brain Injuries: TBI (traumatic brain injury), skull fracture, swelling of the brain and other head injuries can be life-threatening and lead to problems such as aneurysm, loss of cognitive and motor function, depression and other serious physical, emotional and developmental issues.
Neck and Spinal Injuries: Whiplash, nerve pain, cracked vertebra and disk injury are just a few injuries that may occur when you’re involved 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 often suffer severe fractures of the ribs, arms, legs, face and other bones when involved in an accident with a big truck.
Internal Injuries: The sheer impact of being hit by a large vehicle can cause deadly conditions 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 can require extensive painful medical treatment and result in permanent scarring.
Psychological Issues: Nightmares, PTSD, anxiety and other psychological issues stemming from being involved in an accident can have a serious impact on your mental health and quality of life.
Wrongful Death: Fatalities are more common in accidents involving large trucks than they are when two passenger vehicles collide. Our big truck accident attorneys in Mobile, AL understand how difficult losing a loved one can be. We fight to ensure you receive justice for your loved one and compensation for your losses.
What To Do After An Accident With A Big Truck
It’s important to take certain steps after a big truck accident to ensure your rights are protected. If you are able, check the condition of other passengers and administer aid if needed. Call 911 immediately. Seeking medical attention is vital after any accident, and a police report is a useful piece of evidence that may be used by your attorney to back up your personal injury claim. Make sure to take photographs, notes and witness statements. Collect contact and insurance information from the other drivers who were involved.
Injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents are not always apparent right away, so contacting an experienced attorney who is familiar with handling big truck accident cases is essential to ensure you get the medical treatment and compensation you need.
Your Rights & Benefits After A Big Truck Accident
Typically, you have two years from the day of the accident to make a personal injury claim in Alabama. Depending on the specific circumstance and the extent of your injuries and losses, you may be entitled to both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include quantifiable damages such as medical bills and lost wages. Noneconomic damages can include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium and other damages.
Accidents involving big trucks are complex. Whether the accident was the fault of the driver, trucking company, parts manufacturer or multiple entities, it is important to hold all responsible parties accountable for your injuries. At Moore Law Firm, our legal team is well-acquainted with the intricacies of local, state and federal laws and regulations that apply to big trucks and personal injury claims in Alabama.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Although you may think they’re looking out for your best interest, the number one priority of insurance companies is to minimize the amount of money they pay out on claims. Attempting to handle a personal injury or wrongful death claim without a lawyer in your corner can leave you stressed out and frustrated. Failing to recover adequate compensation for your injuries and losses can put your health, family and finances in a sticky situation. Our attorneys understand how to accurately determine the value of your accident claim and provide aggressive legal representation to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Whether you’re an injured worker or a victim who has been hurt in an accident, our knowledgeable attorneys understand the multifaceted aspects of negotiating with insurance companies in all types of big truck injury claims.
How Does A Civil Lawsuit Work?
A civil lawsuit is the court-based process that allows a plaintiff to hold a defendant liable for some type of wrong. The majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court, but if a reasonable settlement for damages cannot be reached, your attorney can file a civil complaint in the appropriate court. The complaint must state the cause of action for the complaint, outline legal and factual reasons you believe the defendant is liable, and set forth the compensation or damages you’re requesting. It’s imperative to have a skilled litigator draft your complaint to ensure all your legal bases are covered.
Before a civil trial begins, there is a period called discovery. During this process, attorneys exchange information surrounding the case and may discuss possible settlements. Sometimes the judge facilitates these negotiations to help all parties come to an agreement. Unless an agreement is reached, upon completion of discovery the matter goes to trial. Although the burden of proof required in civil cases is less than what is expected in the criminal court, it still rests on the plaintiff. Our attorneys are adept at providing relevant, compelling evidence and building a solid case that demonstrates how and why the defendant is liable for your damages. If the judge or jury rules in your favor, you are awarded compensation for the harm that resulted from the defendant’s actions.
How Will I Pay For My Case?
Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that there are no up-front costs to pursue your case. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
How To Find The Right Big Truck Accident Attorney
Choosing the right attorney doesn’t have to be challenging— our big truck accident attorneys at Moore Law Firm have a proven track record of successfully recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We are dedicated to helping injured victims and their families rebuild their lives.
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in a big truck accident in Mobile, AL, our compassionate personal injury attorneys can help. Call Moore Law Firm at 251-445-7602 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
