Semi-Truck Accidents

Large commercial trucks can cause severe or fatal injuries and catastrophic damage when involved in a collision. If you have been injured or if you lost a loved one in a semi truck accident, you have the right to seek fair compensation if the truck crash was caused by the driver, trucking company, or another party’s negligence.

At Serious Injury Law Group, our semi truck accident attorneys work tirelessly to defend the rights and interests of accident victims. Our attorneys are Alabama natives themselves, so we understand how hard our neighbors work. We’ve seen how catastrophic injuries can turn the lives of community members upside down.

That’s why we pursue maximum compensation on behalf of our clients. Let us take the stress of pursuing a legal claim off your shoulders so you can focus on healing and getting back to regular life.

Contact our firm today for a free initial case review with an experienced Alabama truck accident attorney. Learn about your legal rights and options following a serious truck accident.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Operating a semi-truck requires a great deal of training, experience, and care on the part of not only the truck driver but also the trucking companies. Some of the most frequent causes of truck accidents in Alabama include:

Speeding

Semi-trucks do not handle as well as smaller passenger vehicles. Truck drivers often need to plan ahead when maneuvering their vehicle and braking on the road. When truck drivers speed, they have less time and distance to safely maneuver or slow down or stop. Truck drivers also need to remain mindful when weather or road conditions can impact vehicle performance. According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, 79 truck accidents in Alabama were caused by speeding, while 226 accidents were caused by driving too fast for conditions in a recent year.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers must often refer to maps or navigation updates or communicate via radio to know where to go for deliveries. Of course, truck drivers are also often tempted by many of the same distractions that other motorists may face, including using a cell phone while behind the wheel, eating or drinking, or daydreaming. As truck drivers spend hours a day on the road for several days at a time, their attention may understandably wander from the road. Because of these factors, distracted driving leads to many truck crashes each year.

Fatigued or Drowsy Driving

Truck drivers usually spend many hours a day for several days at a stretch on the road hauling their cargo to its destination. While state and federal laws limit the number of hours drivers can spend on duty or behind the wheel, truck drivers can often become fatigued or drowsy while driving. Fatigue can negatively impact a driver’s reaction time and judgment or may even cause them to fall asleep while behind the wheel. The Alabama Department of Transportation reports that 202 truck accidents that occurred during a recent year were attributed to drowsy or fatigued driving.

Driving While Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs

Unfortunately, some truck drivers turn to alcohol and drugs to help cope with the stresses of their job, including using stimulants to try and remain alert during long days behind the wheel. Others drink alcohol or take narcotics. Consuming alcohol or drugs will negatively impact any motorist’s ability to safely operate their vehicle on the road. In Alabama, 125 truck accidents in were linked to alcohol or drug intoxication.

Failure to Follow Traffic Laws

Due to their size, truck drivers must remain especially vigilant about observing all traffic laws and customs. Breaking any regulation or custom can easily lead to a crash. For the most recent year for which Alabama Department of Transportation data is available, thousands of truck crashes were attributed to various traffic infractions, including:

1,558 crashes caused by improper lane change or improper use of lane
1,047 crashes caused by failure to yield the right of way
783 crashes involving tailgating
402 accidents caused by improper turning
289 accidents caused by failure to heed signs and signals
192 crashes involving improper passing

Mechanical Failure

Trucking companies have an obligation to regularly inspect their vehicles and perform all necessary and manufacturer-recommended maintenance. Unfortunately, some companies may defer maintenance to cut costs. Or, even when maintenance is performed, mechanics may make mistakes that can potentially lead to a mechanical failure. In many other accidents, a crash may be triggered by a mechanical failure due to design or manufacturing defects caused by the vehicle or part manufacturer.

Common Injuries Following Truck Crashes

The sheer size of large trucks when combined with highway speeds can create devastating forces in the event of a collision. These collisions can result in catastrophic or life-threatening injuries. Examples of injuries commonly suffered by victims of truck crashes include:

Bone fractures
Spinal injuries and paralysis
Internal organ injuries
Neck and back injuries
Internal bleeding
Head injuries
Traumatic brain injury
Amputations
Strains, sprains, and soft-tissue tears
Herniated/ruptured spinal discs
Whiplash injuries
Dislocated joints
Crush injuries
Burns and smoke inhalation injuries (if the crash results in a fire)
Road rash (if crash victims are ejected from their vehicle)

Possible Compensation for a Semi-Truck Accident

When a semi-truck accident is due to the negligence or recklessness of a truck driver, trucking company, or another trucking entity, you may be entitled to file a claim for full and fair compensation that covers losses such as:

Medical bills, including for emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and prescriptions
Long-term care, including home health services or home renovations to accommodate disabilities
Lost wages or income after missing time from work while recovering from injuries
Lost future earnings and lost employment benefits if you are unable to return to work
Physical pain and emotional/mental distress
Reduction of your quality of life due to disfigurement, scarring, or physical disabilities
Vehicle or other property damage

How a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you’ve suffered significant injuries in a semi-truck accident, you don’t have to pursue compensation and justice from the trucking companies on your own. A semi-truck accident lawyer from Serious Injury Law Group can help you with your case by:

Meeting with you wherever and whenever is most convenient for you while you recover from your injuries.
Handling the investigation and review of evidence from the accident, including working with accident reconstruction and trucking industry experts to prepare a persuasive argument for your case.
Aggressively pursuing maximum compensation on your behalf during negotiations with the trucking companies and their insurers.
When necessary, using our litigation experience to take your case to court to pursue the recovery you deserve from those responsible for the accident and your injuries.

If you have been hurt in a semi-truck accident due to the negligence of truck drivers or trucking companies, call or contact Serious Injury Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a compassionate semi-truck accident lawyer through our online form. Learn how our firm can help you pursue fair and full compensation for the catastrophic and life-altering injuries you’ve suffered in the crash.