Commercial trucks are large and heavy, and when they get into accidents, they can ruin lives. Anyone who has seen a semi truck accident with their own eyes knows how devastating they can be. Anyone unfortunate enough to have been involved in these accidents knows that they can result in significant medical bills — and possibly even the deaths of their close friends and loved ones.
The accident and injury lawyers at Auger & Auger provides legal assistance and representation to victims of semi truck collisions and other accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles. Our 26+ years of experience with injury law has built us a portfolio of successful case strategies. We can provide you and your family with a caring, experienced truck accident lawyer prepared to fight for your legal rights to compensation after your accident.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident and aren’t sure where to turn to pay your medical bills and recover your lost wages, turn to us. We help clients pursue the maximum amount of compensation available under the law so that they can recover financially and hopefully resume as close to a normal life as possible.
Call our expert truck accident lawyers now to schedule your free consultation. There’s no obligation to work with us afterwards, so you have nothing to lose by learning about your available legal options.
Schedule your free case evaluation now when you call (800) 559-5741 or contact us online.
Dangers of Heavy Commercial Trucks
Truck accidents pose tremendous dangers because the large vehicles have plenty of weight to throw around. The average semi truck and trailer combination measures over 53 ft and can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. That’s about 20 times heavier than a typical car, SUV, or pickup.
Since the force of a crash is multiplied by the amount of mass behind the colliding object, the weight difference between a large commercial truck and a typical passenger vehicle can easily result in major damage to the smaller vehicle, including its inhabitants.
Making matter more risky, the heavy weight of large commercial trucks creates a stopping distance of over 500 feet when the vehicle is travelling at 65 mph. That’s almost the length of two football fields!
These factors, combined with the diminished visibility of semi trucks and the difficulty of driving them, all cause a number of dangerous and deadly crashes each year.
In North Carolina in 2017, truck/trailer accidents alone were involved in 7753 accidents, 1882 of which lead to injuries and 95 of which lead to deaths.
Looking at South Carolina, large commercial trucks were involved in 4,986 collisions total in 2017. 1,125 of these incidents led to injuries, and 59 caused fatalities.
Determining Liability for Your Truck Accident
Accidents with commercial vehicles can lead to an incredibly complex claims process. Your truck accident lawyer will have to determine the most appropriate parties involved to pursue compensation from. Often, this will result in multiple claims.
Common parties deemed at-fault for your accident can include:
- Carrier companies employing the driver who hit you
- Contracting companies who ordered the shipment the driver was carrying
- Truck maintenance companies responsible for keeping the vehicle safe
- Vehicle, trailer, or truck system manufacturers who created a defective product
- Other potentially at-fault parties including property owners who leave obstructions or hazardous conditions on the road
Filing claims against all potentially liable parties gives your truck accident attorney the highest chances of obtaining you the full value of all of your damages.
In order to prove that one or more of the above parties was at fault, your attorney will most likely work from the legal principle of negligence. Negligence cases require the injury victim to show that the defendant violated a duty of care, which directly led to an accident that caused them their injuries, which created costs and other damages they must recover.
Common Reasons for Truck Accidents in the Carolinas and U.S.
There are many reasons a truck driver or their employer could be found negligent for past actions — or, in some cases, inaction.
Examples of common reasons for a truck accident occurring include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver overwork
- Driving under the influence
- Failing to check mirrors
- Failure to maintain brakes
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Driver inexperience/improper training
No matter the reason for your truck accident, your personal injury lawyer will attempt to get to the bottom of it. They will endeavor to build a strong case based on evidence and the application of relevant laws and regulations.
For instance, hours of service regulations force truckers to take breaks or avoid working if they have worked more than their set maximum of consecutive driving hours. They cannot drive more than 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. If a driver was found to have exceeded these hours, then their employer could be held accountable for the effects of an accident caused while the driver was fatigued.
TYpes Of Trucking Accidents
- 18 Wheeler
- Big Rig
- Catastrophic Bus Crash
- Cargo Truck
- Concrete Truck
- Construction Vehicle
- Coal Truck
- Delivery Van
- Dump Truck
- Fuel Truck
- Garbage Truck
- Logging Truck
- Moving Van
- Semi Truck
- Tanker Truck
- Tow Truck
- Tractor Trailer
Work With a Truck Accident Attorney to Recover All of Your Damages
The accident and injury lawyers at Auger & Auger want truck collision victims and their families to recoup as much of their losses as possible after their accident. Common forms of damages pursued in these claims include:
- Medical bills past and present
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket costs like prescriptions and parking
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Punitive damages
Not all of these damages are available in all cases, but your truck accident attorney will examine each one and consider whether it is appropriate for your situation. We want our clients to know with confidence that their lawyer is doing everything they can to get them the money they desperately need.
You can learn more about your legal options after a semi truck crash when you speak to one of our truck accident lawyers for absolutely free during your initial consultation. Schedule your free, no obligation case evaluation now by calling (800) 559-5741 or by using our quick form to contact us online.
