Chatom Truck Accidents Attorneys
Large trucks are an essential part of our economy and our way of life. Without these large trucks and their drivers, the access to goods and products that we enjoy today would not exist. While large trucks may be critical, it’s also true that driving around large trucks can be dangerous.
At Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough, Howell, Huggins & Bradley, P.A., our truck accident attorneys have seen the devastating effects of truck accidents and know what you’re going through if you or a loved one has been involved in a crash. For help navigating the claims and litigation process, call our truck accident attorneys today for your free consultation.
Truck Accident Statistics
When a large truck and a smaller vehicle collide, the outcome can be catastrophic, especially for occupants of the smaller vehicle. Every year in Alabama, there are thousands of trucks involved in collisions. These crashes lead to hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths. For two different years for which data is available in Alabama, there was an average of 9,715 crashes, 2,596 injuries, and 111 fatalities. You can read more about truck accident statistics in Crash Facts published by DriveSafeAlabama.org.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
One of the most tragic things about truck accidents is that they are most often preventable and would not occur but for the negligence or error of one of the parties involved. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Drivers’ errors. Drivers’ errors refer to a broad category of actions taken by a truck driver that could lead to a crash. These include, but are not limited to, improper lane change, failing to yield the right of way, failing to double-check blind spots or roadway before performing a maneuver, tailing, misjudging stopping distance, improper backing, improper turn, driving too fast for conditions, crossing a median illegally, running off the road, falling asleep at the wheel, speeding, driving while impaired or under the influence, or driving while distracted.
- Environmental conditions. Of course, not all accidents are the fault of the truck driver involved in the crash. Objects in the road, poor roadway conditions, poor visibility caused by weather events like severe rains, animals in the road, and more may also cause or contribute to a crash.
- Trucking company errors. Sometimes, a truck accident is the fault of the trucking company. For example, if a trucking company fails to properly service its trucks, fails to train drivers, or pushes drivers to drive beyond federal hours of service limits, then the trucking company could be held liable.
- Shipper or cargo-loader errors. Shifts in cargo while a large truck is in transit can be devastating. Depending on the weight of the cargo, a shift in cargo could cause a trailer to tip or sway, leading to a catastrophic collision. A cargo shift might occur because the cargo was improperly loaded or secured or had another problem that made it unsafe for transport.
Blind Spot Truck Accidents
A truck’s multiple blind spots are known as “no zones.” Truck drivers’ line of sight is quite different from that of a passenger vehicle driver’s, largely because they do not have rearview mirrors. That, combined with the long layout of the truck, means that there are multiple areas that are completely blocked from a driver’s sight.
No zones include about 20 feet ahead of the truck, large blind spots to the left and right of the vehicle, and almost 200 feet behind the truck. If you find yourself in any of those zones, the truck driver likely cannot see you and your likelihood of an accident goes up substantially.
On top of that, avoiding a truck’s blind spot is much harder than avoiding a car’s blind spot. In traffic, having to speed up to get ahead of or far enough behind a truck can be challenging.
Despite the fact that avoiding a truck’s blind spot is harder than avoiding a car’s, most accidents are preventable. Drivers who stay in a truck’s blind spot for too long, despite having the opportunity to move out of it, may be at fault for some collisions. However, other crashes can be attributed to a truck driver’s error. Truck drivers who are distracted, impaired, or reckless while driving can cause fatal or severe accidents.
Damages from Truck Accidents
Truck accidents in Chatom, Alabama are some of the most catastrophic accidents on the highway. Because of the sheer size of trucks, which can weigh up to 20 times more than standard passenger vehicles, the force involved in a truck accident is much greater than the force involved in an accident involving two smaller vehicles. When a crash occurs, the lives of the occupants of the smaller vehicle involved may be forever changed. Types of injuries in a truck accident case often include:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Internal injuries;
- Crushed limb/limb amputation injuries;
- Bone fracture injuries;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Facial injuries;
- Soft tissue injuries; and
- Psychological injuries.
Damages don’t just stop with serious injuries; instead, these injuries are the root cause of other economic and noneconomic losses a truck accident victim may experience, including:
- Medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Lost earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress; and
- Disability and disfigurement.
When you have suffered these types of injuries and damages, you deserve to recover the full value of your losses. Our attorneys can help.
The Importance of a Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been severely harmed in a crash with a truck in Chatom, working with a truck accident attorney should be a top priority. Truck accident claims are complex. The damages suffered are often very significant (totaling into the hundreds of thousands or more), and proving liability is often very complicated for any number of reasons.
When you work with an experienced truck accident lawyer, you can count on your attorney handling the bulk of your claim and working hard to achieve a result that fully compensates you. When you choose our truck accident lawyers, you can count on us to do the following:
- Investigate your case. Our investigation will include traveling to the scene of the accident, gathering evidence, interviewing eyewitnesses, sending evidence spoliation letters, hiring accident reconstruction and other experts when necessary, and more.
- Assess liability. We will analyze all of the evidence that we collect in order to make a determination about fault and liability.
- Calculate your damages. Calculating your own damages is difficult and often complex. Our lawyers will handle this on your behalf.
- Negotiate your settlement. If you receive a settlement offer, it’s important that it is first reviewed by an attorney before you make any decision about accepting it. Our law firm will review your settlement offer and negotiate on your behalf to reach a settlement that is in your best interest.
- Litigate your case. Settlements are not always achievable for any number of reasons. If settlement is not in our client’s best interest, our lawyers have extensive litigation and trial experience and will be prepared to advocate for you in a courtroom.
How to Get Started with Our Chatom Truck Accident Law Firm
To learn more and to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please send us a confidential message using the intake form on our website, visit our office in person, or call us at (251) 847-2237. We are ready to go to work for you.
We also handle truck accident cases in Bay Minette.
