Injured in an Accident?

Alabama Truck Accident Attorneys

At as much as 80,000 pounds and sixty feet wide, a commercial truck can be an intimidating site on Alabama roads and highways. Because of their enormous size and weight, accidents between commercial trucks and other motor vehicles often have devastating results. The crashes themselves can create total property destruction and often lead to either serious injury or even death.

Being involved in an Alabama truck accident can be a terrifying experience with lasting consequences. If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident or a loved one killed, an experienced accident lawyer from McPhillips Shinbaum, LLP can help you pursue the damages you deserve.

Truck Accidents Are on the Rise

In just one year, the number of truck accidents involving injuries on our nation’s highways has increased by 21%. In times of economic prosperity, there are more trucks than ever delivering goods throughout the country, and there has been a shortage of trucks and drivers for nearly a decade, putting a strain on the both the workforce and equipment.

Approximately 4% of all motor vehicle crash injuries are caused by large trucks. When a truck and a car get into a crash, it’s the car that suffers the most damage. When a commercial truck is involved in a crash, 86% of the fatalities and 77% of the injuries are to drivers and passengers of the smaller vehicles.

Types of Alabama Truck Accidents

There are several ways that a large truck can lose control and cause a dangerous accident on the road. Some of the more common types of accidents include:

• Underride/Override– Underride accidents, where a car is pushed underneath a truck, account for nearly half of all fatal truck accidents. An override accident occurs when the truck drives over the car in front of it.
• Jackknife– A jackknifed truck can create an underride situation or push a car off the road.
• Rollovers – Rolling trucks create a path of destruction with their considerable weight.
• Tire blowouts– A tire blowout can cause a truck to jackknife or even rollover at excessive speed.
• Turning accidents– A swinging turn accident occurs when a truck turns into the path of a car.
• Overload/List loads– When a truck isn’t properly loaded or when a load shifts, the truck can rollover or jackknife. It can also lose its load while in motion, causing injury or death.

The type of truck accident that you were involved in could help determine who was to blame for the crash and who to pursue in a case. An experienced truck accident attorney will be able to assist with this investigation.

Common Causes of Commercial Trucking Accidents

On the whole, trucking accidents are the fault of the truck driver more often than any other cause. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that the top causes of truck accidents are due to driver error and include:

• Fatigued driving – In most cases, truck drivers are simply too overworked and overtired on the road, and fatigued driving leads to tragic accidents.
• Driving under the influence ­– Some truck drivers use drugs or other medication to stay awake longer, which can cause acute drowsiness when it wears off. Any drugged or drunk driving is a gross act of negligence.
• Distracted driving – When a driver spends most of their day and night on the road, they tend to multi-task, which can lead to distracted driving. Trucks get into accidents when a driver is using their cell phone, eating, or playing with the vehicle’s stereo system.
• Excessive speed – A large truck takes much longer to slow down and stop than a conventional vehicle. When a truck speeds on the road, this creates a dangerous situation.
• Reckless driving – Unsafe passing or tailgating are just a few examples of reckless driving behavior that can cause a serious crash.
• Dangerous road conditions– Even where road construction is taking place, trucks have a duty to slow down. If they don’t follow signs and guidelines, there can be devastating consequences.
• Mechanical failure – When cargo straps fail, tires blow, or breaks fail, a crash is usually the result and creates havoc for cars in the vicinity.

Common Injuries From Serious Truck Accidents

When a large truck is involved in an accident with a car, the car takes the brunt of the impact. This can result in catastrophic injuries, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Some of the most common types of injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Broken bones
• Loss of limbs
• Internal injuries
• Burns
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Who is Responsible for Your Truck Accident?

Trucking accidents are unique in that they there are often several parties that could be liable when there is serious property damage, injury, or even wrongful death. An Alabama trucking accident attorney can help determine who was liable for your accident so that the right parties are named in your personal injury case.

The parties that might be held responsible include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The manufacturer of the truck
• Parts and equipment manufacturers
• Maintenance companies
• Cargo shippers and loaders
• Government agencies who didn’t properly maintain a road

Damages in a Truck Accident Case

If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, you can likely count an insurance company trying to minimize your damages. This is why it’s essential to contact an experienced trucking accident attorney as soon as possible so that your rights can be protected.

If you’ve been involved in a serious truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation for the losses that you’ve experienced. This includes payment for current and future medical bills, lost wages, pain & suffering, and loss of relationships.

How Alabama Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you’ve been involved in a crash with a tractor-trailer, an 18-wheeler, or other large commercial truck, the truck accident attorneys from McPhillips Shinbaum, LLP can guide you through this painful experience. You can rely on our office to fight for your rights to recover the maximum damages possible for your case.  Contact us at (334) 262-1911 or online.