Thousands of semi-trucks and tractor-trailers travel along North Carolina’s roadways every day. Because of their large size and irregular dimensions, trucks pose a unique hazard on the road, and accidents involving them are particularly dangerous and destructive. The catastrophic injuries from a truck accident can create significant medical debt and leave you physically and emotionally scarred.
If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident with a commercial truck, the lawyers at Ted A. Greve & Associates, P. A. want to hear from you. Truck drivers and trucking companies can be liable for the injuries and losses they cause, and you may be able to recover financial compensation for your injuries.
Contact us today to speak to a truck accident lawyer in Concord, NC.
Why You Should Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Concord
Truck accidents are different from typical car accidents because they usually involve commercial entities instead of just private individuals. Recovering compensation from a business or licensed professional can be different than filing a claim against an individual, and trucking companies are often large and have deep pockets for legal defense.
How a Concord Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case
A truck accident lawyer is familiar with commercial liability and knows how to hold trucking companies and drivers responsible. Moreover, they can mount a robust defense against any company lawyers and hold companies accountable for dangerous practices that may have contributed to the accident.
The Most Common Types of Truck Accidents in Concord, NC
Trucks are much larger than conventional automobiles and handle differently, so they can create unique types of accidents.
- Underride accidents occur when a car gets wedged under a truck’s trailer.
- Wide-turn accidents can happen when a truck swings wide to make a right turn.
- If a truck’s trailer loses traction and starts sliding toward the front of the cab, it can cause a jackknife accident.
- Unsecured or unbalanced cargo can fall off the back and strike following vehicles or cause the truck driver to lose control.
Truck Accident Statistics in Concord
According to a recent NCDOT report, light trucks, commercial tractor-trailers, and other heavy trucks caused over 300,000 accidents and 70,000 injuries in North Carolina in a recent year. Cabarrus County alone saw over 6,000 commercial truck accidents and nearly 1,500 injuries. According to the IIHS, about two-thirds (66 percent) of fatalities from truck accidents are passenger vehicle occupants.
Top Truck Accident Injuries in Concord
Trucks are taller than cars, so when they are in an accident, that force hits vulnerable spots instead of the car’s crumple zones. These accidents cause a wide range of injuries:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Concussion and other traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Bruising and soft-tissue injury
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Chest injuries
- Burns and abrasions
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
- Death
Compensation After My Concord Truck Accident
A settlement from a truck accident claim should contain sufficient compensation to cover your injuries and losses from the accident.
Medical Expenses, Lost Income, and More
A settlement will contain money to cover your accident-related losses. An attorney can gather your expenses and calculate a compensation figure that will cover your:
- Emergency medical bills
- Continuing medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
Understanding Wrongful Death in Fatal Truck Accidents
If your loved one has died in a truck accident due to another’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover money in a wrongful death claim. Concord wrongful death claims can reimburse you for any loss of financial support you experienced because your loved one passed away, among other losses.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Concord, NC
In North Carolina, you have three years from the truck accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party for financial compensation. In many cases, if your injuries were not immediately discoverable, the deadline will start counting from the date of your diagnosis, not the accident date.
Identifying Liable Parties in Your Truck Accident
The state heavily regulates trucking companies and failing to follow these rules and regulations can make drivers and companies liable for injuries their activity causes.
Key Federal and North Carolina Regulations Affecting Truck Drivers and Companies
Federal and state laws set standards for things like driver education, safety procedures, insurance requirements, trucking equipment, and total consecutive driver hours. For example, federal law requires all short-haul drivers to have at least ten hours of consecutive off time after 14 hours of driving. North Carolina law also limits the size and weight of tractors and semi-trailers on state highways.
The Role of Trucking Companies, Drivers, and Manufacturers
Trucking companies, drivers, and manufacturers can all share liability for an accident. Drivers may be liable if the accident was due to unsafe operation, such as fatigued or impaired driving. The trucking company may also hold liability if they are negligent about ensuring driver qualifications or have unsafe training or hiring practices. Truck manufacturers can be liable if the accident happened due to a defective trucking part, such as a trailer hitch or braking system.
Determining Fault Through Crash Evidence and Investigation
Determining fault is a matter of performing an exhaustive investigation of the accident. Your attorney will look at evidence like photos, video recordings, eyewitness accounts, and police accident reports. They may also be able to access trucking company GPS tracking data, company driver histories, and vehicle maintenance logs to further strengthen the case.
How Ted A. Greve & Associates, P. A. Can Help You After Your Concord Trucking Accident
The aftermath of a trucking injury can leave you feeling alone and without support. You are not alone, however, and help is available. The attorneys at Ted A. Greve & Associates, P. A., are here to aggressively pursue the responsible parties and hold them accountable. We cannot turn back the clock and prevent your injuries from happening, but we can help you recover money so you can heal and rebuild.
Feel free to contact us online to speak to a truck accident lawyer in Concord, NC, today.
