Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: ” Is a tractor-trailer accident the same as an automobile accident?”
There are more than 12 million commercial trucks on America’s roads. Most drivers will share the highway with trucks on a daily basis. Truck accidents are often more serious than accidents that involve other types of vehicles. Truck crashes are more likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities, often to the occupants of other vehicles. Trucks are large and carry heavy loads, making them difficult to maneuver and stop. If you were hurt in a truck accident you may want to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon after the crash as possible.
A number of factors could contribute to serious semi-truck accidents in North Carolina and across the country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted an in-depth study of truck accidents. They reviewed the causes and contributing factors in truck crashes. Generally, the causes of truck accidents fall into three main categories including the driver, vehicle, and environmental factors. Of these, the most common cause or contributing factor is driver error. Some of the factors that lead to driver mistakes are:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while fatigued
- Inadequate training or experience
- Speeding
- Improper lane change
- Failure to obey traffic signals
- Failure to yield
Truck drivers may encounter circumstances that make it difficult to control the rig. Semi-trucks are more difficult to drive when they have large or improperly secured cargo. When drivers are tired or are not paying proper attention, accidents can occur more readily. Trucks traveling at high speeds can make the consequences of impact more severe.
Truck Accidents are Complex
When a truck accident occurs it can begin a complicated resolution process. An accident victim must determine the negligent party in order to request compensation for damages. In a truck accident, there could be several negligent parties including truck owners, drivers, trucking companies, mechanics, manufacturers, and other drivers. It can be difficult to control large trucks when the load shifts or when there is a mechanical problem. Often, there are two or more contributing factors that cause a truck accident. Drivers who are not properly trained may encounter difficulties when a problem happens. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. Distractions occur when the driver takes his eyes off the road, his hands off the wheel, or his mind off of driving. Fatigue can play a role in truck accidents when the driver is tired due to driving for lengthy periods.
Truck Accident Resolution
Resolving truck accidents requires an experienced attorney with a team of skilled professionals to assist. You may need to gain access to the truck driver electronic logging device (ELD) that will show how long the driver was behind the wheel and other important data. You will also want to review the truck records and mechanical servicing logs. Witness statements can be critical in determining what happened. In some instances, accident reconstruction is helpful to find out the events that occurred immediately before, during, and after the crash. It is critical to begin the process as soon after the accident as possible so you can preserve data. Negotiating is essential to a successful resolution. Your attorney will work with insurance companies and others to obtain a settlement for your damages.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident, do not delay. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
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