Huntsville Truck Accident Lawyers

Huntsville, AL is the meeting place of many interstate highways and local roads. Commercial big rig trucks are hauling goods to businesses all along interstate 565; rt. 72; rt. 431; and rt. 231.

Weighing in at a size dozens of times heavier than a passenger vehicle, a tractor-trailer is a force to be reckoned with. Even crashes that occur at 25 miles per hour or less can result in serious injuries when such a large vehicle is involved.

What does this mean for you? It means that if you are hurt in a truck accident, you must prioritize talking to an attorney and learning more about your legal options. You could incur tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. An attorney can determine the liable party, fight for fair compensation, and give you space to recover.

Choose Hodges Trial Lawyers for aggressive and experienced representation. Call us at 256-539-3110 to schedule a consultation now.

Truck Crashes in Alabama

In general, truck collisions are becoming less common in Alabama. In 2020, there were nearly 2000 fewer crashes than there were in the previous year. Unfortunately, injuries and fatalities are in line with previous years. Over 2,300 people were hurt in Alabama truck accidents and there were 130 fatalities in 2020. In Madison County, there were 43 fatalities, six of which were drug- or alcohol-related.

Crashes are most common on state routes, interstates, and U.S. routes. In this region, that would include roads like Interstate 565, U.S. Route 231, and U.S. Highway 431. In terms of fatalities, over half of all truck accident fatalities occur on state roads and interstates.

We also have data regarding what causes these collisions. In Alabama, truck accidents are often the result of:

• Improper use of lanes and unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield right of way
• Tailgating
• Misjudged stopping distance
• Driving too fast for conditions

Different Types of Truck Accidents

There are several common types of truck accidents you may see on Alabama roads. They include:

• Rollover: Trucks have a much higher center of gravity than other types of vehicles, so they are at serious risk of rolling over.
• Rear-end: Rear-end collisions can be fatal when a truck is involved. Even if a truck is moving slowly, it could easily crush the car in front of it.
• Underride: Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle runs into the back of a truck and gets stuck underneath it. These collisions are often fatal.
• Wide turn: Wide turn collisions generally happen when a truck driver swings too far to the left prior to a right turn. This could cause cars in neighboring lanes to get caught between the truck and the curb.
• Sideswipe: Trucks have sizable blind spots. When a car is in its blind spot, the truck may hit the side of the car when changing lanes.
• Jackknife: When a driver loses control of a tractor-trailer, the tractor and trailer fold in on each other like a jackknife. The truck can skid across the road as the driver loses all control.

Who’s Involved in a Claim?

Of course, you and the truck driver are involved in any accident-related claims. However, these crashes are fairly complicated because they often involve many additional parties, including:

• Truck driver’s employer. If the truck driver caused the accident, their employer will likely be held liable to some degree. It’s a bit more complicated if the driver is an independent contractor, which is one reason you should always consult an attorney after a collision.
• Employer’s insurance provider. The employer’s vehicle or business insurance could be forced to pay up after a collision. You’ll likely hear from them after the crash.
• Owner of the truck’s cargo. The cargo owner may have a vested interest in the crash, as their cargo is likely destroyed or at least unusable.
• Manufacturer of the truck or its parts. If there are claims that an unsafe component or part caused the collision, the vehicle’s manufacturer could be found liable.
• The company that loaded the truck’s cargo. Cargo must be loaded in a specific way to be safe for travel. When cargo companies fail to uphold these standards, they put drivers and others on the road at risk.

Truck Accident Evidence

There is a substantial array of evidence available after a truck accident. This can be helpful as you attempt to determine liability and hold the negligent party accountable. Your attorney may look into:

• The truck’s logbook, which includes information about inspections, repairs, travel time, stops, and mileage
• The truck’s black box, which provides data on sudden braking, travel speed, location, and vehicle issues
• The driver’s history, which may be helpful if they have a history of unsafe driving that the employer should have identified
• Physical evidence like photos, video footage, damaged property, and both vehicles

Why You Should Choose Hodges Trial Lawyers

When you’re hurt in a truck accident, there is often a large amount of money at stake. Trucks have much larger insurance policies than passenger vehicles, thanks to the fact that they can cause much more damage than smaller vehicles. However, you should expect the same struggles from the insurance company when attempting to collect compensation.

The team at Hodges Trial Lawyers has a long track record of holding negligent drivers accountable and negotiating fair compensation with insurance companies. However, we aren’t just skilled negotiators. We know that insurance adjusters can’t always be reasoned with, and when that happens, we are ready to go to court. Our team has plenty of experience taking personal injury claims to trial, so we’re ready to fight for you wherever your case may take us.

After a truck collision, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars of medical bills, the cost of a totaled car, and weeks or months of lost wages if you are unable to work. We’re ready to fight on your behalf.

We’re Standing by and Ready to Help—Call Us Now

With the right team on your side, you can feel confident as you pursue fair compensation after a collision. So many parties are involved in a truck crash that it can feel overwhelming to identify the negligent party and try to recover what you’re owed. As you focus on your recovery, we’ll handle the legal side of your accident. Talk to our team now by calling us at 256-539-3110 or contacting us online.