When Your Back Is Against The Wall

Truck Accident Lawyers in North Carolina

Dedicated Legal Representation for Catastrophically Injured Victims

When passenger vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, collide with large semi-trucks and 18-wheelers, the resulting damage is often catastrophic. Sadly, the people in those passenger vehicles are the ones who typically sustain the greatest degree of injury simply due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks.

If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a collision with a large truck or similar commercial vehicle, it’s important that you discuss your legal options with an experienced North Carolina truck accident attorney.

You may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages, but these cases are often very complex due to the number of liable parties involved, as well as other relevant factors. Having a skilled legal team on your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, call Lanier Law Group at 919-342-1368 or contact us online. We speak Spanish!

Common Types of Truck Accidents

A truck accident is any collision involving a commercial truck, such as a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or big rig, with another vehicle, pedestrian, or stationary object. These accidents can result in serious injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage due to the size and weight of the trucks involved. Common types of truck accidents include:

Jackknife: This occurs when the trailer of a truck swings out to the side, resembling the folding action of a jackknife. It often happens when the truck driver brakes suddenly or loses control.
Rollover: When a truck tips onto its side or roof, it’s considered a rollover accident. Factors like high speed, sharp turns, or improper loading can contribute to rollovers.
Underride: This happens when a smaller vehicle gets trapped underneath the rear or side of a truck. It often occurs in rear-end collisions or when a truck suddenly stops, and the vehicle behind it can’t brake in time.
Override: Unlike underride accidents, an override accident happens when a truck runs over a smaller vehicle in front of it, often due to the truck’s inability to stop in time.
Blind spot accidents: Trucks have large blind spots where smaller vehicles can disappear from the driver’s view. Accidents occur when a truck changes lanes or makes a turn without seeing a vehicle in its blind spot.
Tire blowouts: When a truck’s tire suddenly bursts, it can lead to loss of control and accidents. Poor maintenance, overloading, and road hazards are common causes of tire blowouts.
Brake failure accidents: Malfunctioning brakes or inadequate maintenance can lead to brake failure in trucks, resulting in accidents, especially on steep slopes or during sudden stops.
Cargo spills: Improperly secured cargo can spill onto the road, creating hazards for other vehicles. Cargo spills can occur due to overloading, improper loading techniques, or faulty restraints.
Wide turn accidents: Trucks require a significant amount of space to make turns, and they may swing wide to navigate corners. If other vehicles are in the truck’s path during a turn, collisions can occur.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Myriad factors can contribute to or cause a truck accident. Human error, malfunctioning parts, or pressure from the trucking company to meet deadlines can all lead to devastating collisions, injuries, and fatalities. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

Distracted truck drivers, including those texting, eating, or drinking while driving
Intoxicated truck drivers, including both drunk and drugged driving
Fatigued truck drivers and/or falling asleep at the wheel
Third-party negligence, such as another motorist changing lanes recklessly
Improper/insufficient truck maintenance
Unrealistic driving schedules, deadlines, and quotas
Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
Failure to abide by hours-of-service laws set by the state/federal government
Defective truck parts, such as brakes or tires
Defective truck design, leading to loss of control, rollovers, jackknifing, etc.
Poor weather conditions and/or low visibility
Defective/dangerous road design or construction

Note that this list is not exhaustive; there are nearly countless ways in which a truck accident may occur.

While some truck accidents are truly unavoidable, there are certain things you can do on the road to limit the likelihood of an accident. Never follow a truck too closely and if a truck comes up behind you and starts tailgating, change lanes and let it pass. You should also always avoid trucks’ blind spots. If the truck driver cannot see you, he or she may turn or change lanes into your vehicle. If you notice a truck driver driving in an unsafe manner, wait until it is safe to pull over and then call local law enforcement or the number posted on the back of the truck (if applicable) to report it. However, never jeopardize your own safety; steer clear of any truck that seems to be drifting across lanes, speeding, or behaving recklessly or dangerously.

Federal Trucking Laws

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for regulating commercial motor vehicles, including trucks, to ensure safety on the roads. FMCSA regulations regarding truck accidents encompass various aspects, including reporting requirements, investigation procedures, and measures to prevent future accidents. Here’s an overview:

Accident Reporting: FMCSA regulations mandate that commercial motor carriers report any accidents involving their trucks to the agency within a specified timeframe. These reports include details such as the date, time, location, vehicles involved, and any injuries or fatalities.
Post-Accident Testing: After certain types of accidents, such as those resulting in fatalities or serious injuries, FMCSA regulations require drug and alcohol testing for drivers involved. This is to ensure that substance abuse was not a contributing factor to the accident.
Investigation and Enforcement: FMCSA conducts investigations into truck accidents to determine the causes and potential violations of safety regulations. Depending on the findings, enforcement actions such as fines, penalties, or suspension of operating authority may be imposed on carriers or drivers found to be non-compliant.
Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations: FMCSA sets limits on the number of hours commercial truck drivers can operate their vehicles without rest. Violations of HOS regulations can lead to driver fatigue, which is a common factor in truck accidents.
Vehicle Maintenance Requirements: FMCSA regulations mandate that commercial trucks undergo regular inspections and maintenance to ensure they are in safe operating condition. Failure to maintain vehicles properly can lead to mechanical failures and accidents.
Driver Qualifications: FMCSA establishes standards for commercial truck driver qualifications, including licensing requirements, medical fitness, and training. Ensuring that drivers are qualified and adequately trained reduces the likelihood of accidents due to driver error.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): FMCSA mandates the use of electronic logging devices to accurately record a driver’s hours of service. ELDs help enforce HOS regulations and prevent drivers from exceeding their allowable driving time, reducing the risk of fatigue-related accidents.
Safety Programs: FMCSA requires commercial motor carriers to implement safety management programs aimed at identifying and addressing potential risks and hazards. These programs promote proactive measures to prevent accidents and improve overall safety performance.

Fighting for the Fair Recovery You Are Owed

If you were injured in a truck accident or lost a loved one in a truck-vehicle collision, we understand the immense burdens you are facing. Our legal team is committed to helping you secure fair compensation for your medical bills, lost income/wages, lost future wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages. We have multiple office locations throughout North Carolina to better serve you, including Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh, and we offer our services on a contingency fee basis; there is no cost to you unless/until we recover compensation on your behalf.

Call us today at 919-342-1368 to request your free initial consultation. Se habla español.

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Proving Liability

Like most personal injury claims, in order to recover compensation after a truck accident, you will typically need to prove that another party acted negligently and that this led to your injuries and damages. Doing this is not usually an easy task, as there may be multiple liable parties.

For example, because truck drivers are employed by trucking companies and are on the job when most accidents occur, their employers—the trucking companies—may be liable for their actions. Therefore, it may be possible to hold both a negligent truck driver and his or her employer accountable.

If improper truck maintenance led to the accident, the person or party responsible for conducting said maintenance can be held liable. If a defective truck tire blew out, causing the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle and slam into your car, the designer, manufacturer, or distributor of the tire may be liable, depending on what type of defect it had. When a dangerous roadway leads to an accident, the local, state, or federal entity responsible for the roadway may be at fault.

As you can see, truck accident claims can become incredibly complex very quickly. However, at Lanier Law Group, our North Carolina truck accident lawyers have decades of experience and a vast knowledge of the law. We know how to thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident, determine who is liable, gather sufficient evidence to support your claim, and fight tirelessly for the full, fair compensation you are owed.

Injured in a trucking accident? Call 919-342-1368 for a consultation today.

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*Featured Case Results, Settlements, & Trial Wins From Our Attorneys

$5.95 Million

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A case with multiple plaintiffs who were potentially exposed to a deadly disease while in the hospital.

$4.3 Million

Head-On Collision

Personal injury litigation settlement for a client who was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial tractor-trailer.

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The OB doctor’s negligence caused a delay in the baby’s birth which resulted in the baby suffering of a severe hypoxic brain injury.

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Our client died following an overdose of medication that occurred as a result of the negligence of the nursery staff while they were in the hospital.

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Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results

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