Birmingham Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Lawyer | Fighting for Accident Victims in Jefferson County

Hurt in a truck accident caused by the negligence of another? If so, you’re likely dealing with debilitating injuries and require financial compensation to get back on your feet again. Fortunately, you are in the right place, and a Birmingham auto accident lawyer from our firm is here to help.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Alabama

There are many ways a truck accident can occur. Depending on the size of the vehicle and the speed at which they collided, the outcome is almost always different. Various factors contribute to truck accidents. The most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Safety regulations: If a truck driver does not follow the basic rules of the road, they are operating their vehicle dangerously. This can include improper lane changes, passing other vehicles unsafely, following too closely behind other vehicles, and more.
• Reckless driving: Trucks are very large and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Because of this, trucks need a length of about two football fields to come to a complete stop. If a truck driver is careless or speeding, it will be difficult to control or stop his or her vehicle on time.
• Poor visibility: Because of their size, truck drivers have limited visibility while driving. They often have large blind spots that can trap smaller vehicles, causing an accident. Truck drivers need to pay attention and take proper precautions to not run cars off the road.
• Mechanical issues: Like all other vehicles, trucks can experience mechanical issues if they do not receive regular maintenance. However, some issues are simply unavoidable.
  The nature of the job: Truck drivers are limited by federal law to drive 11 hours with a 14-hour workday. This allows them a maximum of 70 hours of driving a week. This is to protect truck drivers and others from dangerous drowsy driving. Unfortunately, this is not always enough to prevent an accident.
• Truck Driver Fatigue: Due to the large number of hours that truck drivers spend behind the wheel, fatigue is a very real concern. Studies have shown that fatigue and alcohol consumption can have similar effects on drivers’ capabilities behind the wheel. If truck driver fatigue played a role in your (or your loved one’s) accident, a Birmingham truck accident lawyer at our firm can use this to help you seek just compensation.

Proving Negligence After a Commercial Truck Accident

When an injury occurs due to a truck driver’s negligence, injured parties often wish to hold the driver responsible. This can be achieved through a personal injury claim. To win a personal injury claim, the injured party must first prove another party’s negligence led to the injuries sustained. While this may seem like a daunting task, a skilled attorney can help gather the necessary evidence for a successful case.

Parties that May Be Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident in Alabama

Truck accidents can result from several parties’ negligence, and this means that several parties can potentially be held liable for accident victims’ and families’ losses. Additionally, while negligence is often to blame, truck defects and maintenance issues play a role in many serious and fatal truck accidents as well. With this in mind, the parties that may be liable for a commercial truck accident in Alabama include:

• The Truck Driver’s Insurance Company – Truck drivers can be held liable for their own negligence in some cases. If a truck driver is an “owner-operator,” then seeking just compensation for the truck driver’s negligence will most likely involve dealing with the driver’s insurance company.
• The Truck Driver’s Employer – If the truck driver is not an owner-operator, then he or she is most likely an employee. As a general rule, employers can be held liable for their employees’ negligence under Alabama law. Trucking companies, big box stores, online retailers, grocery stores and other businesses typically have insurance policies that cover their employee’s negligence.
• A Maintenance or Repair Shop – Along with truck drivers’ negligence, technicians’ negligence can cause serious and fatal truck accidents in some cases as well. If negligent maintenance or repairs are to blame for your (or your loved one’s) truck accident, the shop that performed the work could be liable.
• The Truck’s Manufacturer – If a truck or one of its components is defective when it leaves the factory, the truck’s manufacturer can be held liable in the event that the defect causes an accident. From engine and electrical issues to faulty tires and brakes, numerous types of defects can give rise to product liability claims under Alabama law.
• Any Other Party that is Responsible for the Accident – Other drivers, other vehicle manufacturers, government agencies and road construction contractors, and various other parties can potentially be held liable for truck accidents in Alabama as well. When you hire a Birmingham truck accident lawyer at our firm to represent you, your lawyer will explore all possible options for recovering just compensation on your behalf.

Determining liability for a serious or fatal truck accident requires a comprehensive investigation—and it is important to get this investigation underway as soon as possible. Our lawyers can get to work on your case immediately, and we can assess your legal rights at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

What Is “Just Compensation” for a Serious or Fatal Truck Accident?

Along with determining liability, there is another critical step involved in assessing your legal rights after a truck accident as well. To decide whether it makes sense to file a claim, you also need to determine how much you are entitled to recover.

So, what constitutes “just compensation” for a serious or fatal truck accident?

The answer to this question varies from case to case. While we have helped many of our clients obtain substantial settlements and verdicts, the amount you are entitled to recover is unique to you. When you hire a Birmingham truck accident lawyer at our firm, your lawyer will carefully calculate your losses in the following categories:

• Medical Bills and Other Out-of-Pocket Costs – Medical care can be incredibly expensive, and serious injuries can force victims and their families to incur various other costs as well. These are all costs you may be entitled to recover.
• Lost Income and Benefits – When truck accident victims are unable to work as a result of their injuries, they can seek just compensation for their lost income and benefits. Eligible family members can also seek to recover their loved one’s loss of income after a fatal accident in Alabama.
• Pain and Suffering – Along with financial losses, truck accident victims and their families can recover just compensation for various “non-financial losses” as well. This includes just compensation for pain and suffering resulting from the accident.
• Scarring and Disfigurement – Truck accident victims can also recover just compensation for any physical scarring or disfigurement resulting from their injuries. This includes scars from cuts and burns, loss of digits and limbs, and scars from surgery.
• Other “Non-Financial Losses” – Other non-financial losses that truck accident victims and eligible family members may be entitled to recover include loss of companionship, loss of consortium, loss of services, loss of support and loss of enjoyment of life.

As a truck accident victim (or as the family member of a truck accident victim), you are entitled to just compensation for your present and future losses. Victims and family members’ future losses will far exceed their losses to date in many cases. This makes it critical to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the accident’s long-term effects—and that you do not settle your case too soon.

File Your Claim on Time

After a truck accident, it is imperative that you retain the services of a seasoned truck accident lawyer sooner, rather than later. This is because the statute of limitations for personal claims in most cases is two years. If you wait longer than two years, you’ll likely be permanently barred from suing. Our seasoned legal team is here to fight for you today.

Types of Alabama Truck Accident Cases We Handle

Whether you have a claim against a trucking company, a truck driver’s insurance company or any other entity, our lawyers can help you seek the financial compensation you and your family deserve. We handle all types of truck accident cases in Alabama, including those involving:

• 18-wheelers
• Box trucks
• Cement trucks
• Flatbed trucks
• Delivery trucks
• Dump trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Tanker trucks
• Tractor trailers
• “Wide Load” trailers

These are just examples. Large commercial trucks like these are frequently involved in a wide range of types of collisions—all of which can (and do) result in serious injuries. We routinely speak with people who need help understanding their legal rights and recovering their losses after collisions such as:

• Collisions at Controlled Intersections – Running red lights and stop signs, failing to make wide turns, and turning without the right of way are all common factors in commercial truck accidents at controlled intersections.
• Collisions at Uncontrolled Intersections – Accidents at uncontrolled intersections are common as well. These include intersections where smaller roads intersect with larger ones, and where truck drivers frequently turn in front of approaching vehicles and collide with other vehicles while exceeding the posted speed limit.
• Highway Collisions – Many commercial truck accidents occur on the highway. If you got sideswiped or rear-ended, or if you were involved in any other type of accident with a commercial truck on an Alabama highway, we strongly encourage you to speak with a Birmingham truck accident lawyer about your legal rights.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents Involving Large Trucks – Truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles, and these accidents can present unique challenges when it comes to determining who (or what company) is responsible. As a result, if you were injured in a multi-vehicle accident involving a large commercial truck, working closely with an experienced lawyer will be essential for seeking the financial compensation you deserve.
• Truck Fires, Rollovers and Spills – Accidents involving truck fires, rollovers and spills can present unique challenges as well. We have the experience and capabilities required to handle these cases effectively; and, if you need help after one of these accidents, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our lawyers about your legal rights.

These are also just examples. No matter what happened, if you need help after a truck accident in Alabama, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. We have the experience required to provide you with effective legal representation, and we are prepared to do everything we possibly can to recover just compensation on your behalf.

What to Expect from Your Truck Accident Lawyer

What can you expect if you hire a Birmingham truck accident lawyer to represent you? At Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, we offer:

1. No Out-of-Pocket Cost Legal Representation

We represent all of our clients at no out-of-pocket cost. This means that you do not have to pay anything to learn about your legal rights, and you do not have to pay anything at all unless we help you obtain a settlement or win a verdict in court.

2. Personalized Legal Advice Focused on Your Best Interests

Our lawyers work closely with our clients, providing personalized legal advice on all aspects of their claims. When you choose to work with a Birmingham truck accident lawyer at our firm, you can be confident that your lawyer has your best interests in mind.

3. A Focus on Maximizing Your Financial Recovery

Our goal in every case is to maximize our client’s financial recovery. We know what your case means to you, and we know how critical it is that you do not settle for less than you deserve. After carefully calculating just compensation for your financial and non-financial losses, we will fight vigorously to recover this compensation as efficiently as possible.

Contact a Birmingham Truck Accident Attorney

The aftermath of a truck accident is often devastating. If you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to retain the services of a strong legal team. Our firm has the skill and experience to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC for a free initial consultation today.