How Can a Reliable Truck Accident Attorney Help You?
When you are involved in a Truck Accident in Charlotte, NC, you must work with a reliable truck accident lawyer whether you decide to take the case to court or settle. Most residents in North Carolina may focus on medical treatments and recovery and not the legal implications of the incident after a truck accident. That’s why you’ll need to have a compassionate truck wreck lawyer on your side so that you don’t have to worry about the legal side of things.
A reliable truck accident attorney will perform two important duties such as investigating the accident site after the first meeting with his/her client as well as gathering the required information about the case to file your claim. A thorough investigation is crucial to the success of a truck accident case. It helps during the litigation and settlement procedures. Your attorney will try to find evidence to prove the negligence of the truck driver involved in the accident. A reliable Charlotte truck accident lawyer will do the following things to collect crucial proof against the offender:
- Hire an expert to reconstruct the scene of the accident
- Identify any malfunctioning parts of the truck
- Interview any eyewitnesses to the scene
- Review the photographs and police report of the accident
- Research the history of driving experience of the truck driver – These pieces of evidence are crucial to tilting the case in your favor.
The lawyer will check if there is any other party involved in the accident. He or she will examine your case in detail to see if it was the driver or an accomplice responsible for the accident. Here are some of the questions you may have when you are involved in a truck accident.
What You Should Do at the Scene of the Truck Accident?
The first thing is to stay calm and remain in the car after a truck accident – if you are in a conscious state. Turn the hazard lights of the car on and call 911. Seek medical assistance as soon as possible even you have minor injuries. Don’t leave the accident scene. Get the names and contacts of everyone involved in the accident. Write down the names and contact details of any witnesses to the scene. Don’t forget to note down the names and badge numbers of police officers who are attending the scene of the accident.
Take photos of the accident from different angles. Don’t forget to take photos of the surroundings of the incident. Don’t admit any fault even if you are pressurized to do so by the police. Don’t discuss the accident with anyone other than the police and your insurance agent.
What is the Difference Between a Car Accident and a Truck Accident?
A commercial truck easily weighs over 80,000 pounds. This means a commercial freight truck is almost twenty times heavier than a normal passenger car. Even though truck drivers need to work only 10 hours a day, most of them tend to do overtime for extra cash. Such a driver becomes vulnerable to accidents and a threat to the safety of other drivers using the road network.
Larger Insurance Policies
Commercial truck insurance is almost fifty times more than regular car accident policies. Truck insurance policies value over millions each year. This is enough to understand why a defense lawyer wants to prove that the truck driver is not responsible for the accident. The lawyer will get in touch with the insurance adjuster and employ various strategies to limit the amount of compensation you get. That’s why you need to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer in North Carolina to walk you through the entire process.
Increased Property Damage
The weight and size of a commercial freight truck are more than regular vehicles on the road network. You should naturally expect bigger damage to the surrounding properties when you are involved in a truck accident.
Serious Injuries
Truck accident injuries are much more severe compared to car accident injuries. From whiplash to broken bones, the extent of the injury can be vast. You should expect extensive medical bills after a truck accident. Life-altering surgeries can never be ruled out after a truck accident.
Larger Medical Bills
Truck accident victims will spend more time in the hospital compared to car accident victims. Their injuries are more severe and it may take a longer period for these victims to go back to work. That’s why you need to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer from Ted A. Greve & Associates. Our experts can calculate your compensation based on your current and future medical needs.
Greater Chances Of Death
Just imagine the implications of crashing with an 18-wheel commercial freight truck! There are more chances of death in such accidents compared to 4-wheeler accidents. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states there are 3,000 to 5,000 deaths every year as a result of truck accidents.
Considering all these things, the best way to deal with a truck accident is to call a professional truck accident lawyer in the area. With the assistance of an experienced truck accident lawyer, your chances of winning the case are low.
How to Establish Negligence After a Truck Accident?
If you or your loved ones were involved in a serious truck accident, you should be able to prove that the truck driver was negligent while driving to get the deserved compensation from a court case. That’s why you need to work with a reliable truck accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC. The lawyer should establish the duties of the truck driver and prove that he breached the code of duty that led to the accident. Some common causes of the negligence of truck drivers include texting while driving, speeding, running a red light, or falling asleep while driving.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has laid out strict regulations to prevent truck accidents:
- Maximum number of hours of service per day
- Document rest breaks
- Maintain a logbook to indicate the number of hours the driver worked
- Attention to all maintenance needs and working schedules
- Loading cargo safely – including hazardous material
- Driving a maximum of ten hours a day
- Not driving under the influence of alcohol or other toxic substances
Charlotte Facts and Truck Accident Statistics
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the 17th largest in the U.S., with a land area of 298 square miles and an estimated 2012 population of 775,000. This bustling metropolis is considered an important transportation point because of the highways that pass through or surround it.
With all of the city’s major and minor roadways, the number of truck accidents occurring in Charlotte has been rising. The Highway Safety Research Center, based in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, released reports from their crash data generator that show the number of large truck/bus crashes has been increasing since 2009. It went from 957 in 2009, to 1,022 in 2010, and up to 1,097 in 2011.
The total number of people involved in these crashes has also been increasing from 2,842 in 2009 to 3,272 in 2011. Of the people involved in 2011 accidents, 12 died and 603 were injured.
For these truck accident victims and their families, their circumstances are more than numbers. So if you or a loved one has been affected by a truck accident, you should call on a good car accident attorney in Charlotte with truck accident experience.
Claiming Your Rightful Compensation
In the aftermath of a devastating accident, you deserve compensation to cover your losses so that you can begin your process of recovery.
Unfortunately, many insurance companies have a way of discounting your compensation. A skilled Charlotte truck accident lawyer can fight for what you rightfully deserve. You can be compensated for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Emotional pain
- Lost or impaired abilities
- Lifestyle changes
You may also be entitled to compensation for other losses and damages. You may even be eligible to receive punitive damages. Your lawyer will examine your case thoroughly and push for the maximum compensation you can possibly obtain.
A Charlotte Truck Accident Attorney You Can Rely On
Beyond legal issues, you also need all the emotional support you can get. Where road accidents are common, clients like you might be treated as mere numbers. You need a Charlotte truck accident lawyer who will not only win your case but who will also empathize with you during this ordeal.
Trust in a lawyer from Ted A. Greve & Associates, P.A. to handle your case. Not only will you be assured by the firm’s 20+ years of experience, but you’ll also be comforted by their personalized and compassionate service. To start focusing on your recovery, contact our offices immediately.
