Involved In A Truck Wreck?

The most common cause of commercial vehicle crashes across North Carolina is that the truck is simply unable to stop and rear-ends a passenger vehicle. The second most common cause would be that a truck pulls out in front of the path of an oncoming passenger vehicle.

Due to the large size of trucks, injuries resulting from a trucking crash can often be catastrophic. These injuries could include:

• Broken bones
• Severe soft tissue injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Head trauma

The injuries are often catastrophic because you have a 3,000-pound vehicle coming into contact with a 30,000-pound vehicle, often at a high rate of speed.

When it comes to tractor-trailer crashes, there are two potential liable parties:

• The driver
• The trucking company

The liability will be determined by who the actual owner of the vehicle is. If there are any types of violations of federal or state safety protocols, that can bring the trucking company into a different world of liability, as well.

In all personal injury cases, you have the right to make a claim for:

• Loss
• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

With tractor-trailer crashes, you may also be able to receive punitive damages if the actions of the trucking company amount to gross negligence.

After a truck accident, your first priority should be safety and medical attention.

1. Call 911, seek medical treatment for any injuries, and ensure the scene is safe.
2. When possible, document the accident by taking photos of vehicle damage, the accident scene, and any visible injuries.
3. Collect contact information from witnesses and the truck driver, including the trucking company name and insurance details.
4. Never admit fault or give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel.
5. Contact me immediately at 336-990-0572 before speaking with any insurance representatives – the sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your rights will be throughout the claims process.

In North Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for a truck accident. This is known as the statute of limitations. However, there are exceptions that might shorten this timeframe, particularly if a government entity is involved. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to seek compensation.

Additionally, crucial evidence like truck driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic control module data can disappear quickly after a crash. That's why I recommend contacting me as soon as possible after your accident to ensure your claim is filed properly and all essential evidence is preserved.

Truck accident cases involve significantly more complexity than typical car accidents. Commercial trucks are subject to federal regulations through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), creating additional layers of compliance and liability issues. Multiple parties may be responsible, including the driver, trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, and even truck manufacturers. The severity of injuries is typically more catastrophic due to the size disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles.

These cases often require specialized knowledge of industry standards, driver qualification requirements, hours-of-service regulations, and maintenance protocols. My background in law enforcement and 20 years in insurance claims provides me with unique insight into these complexities that many general practice attorneys simply don't possess.

My firm is the go-to law firm in North Carolina for tractor-trailer crashes because I concentrate all of my skill on handling car and truck crashes. I have a good basis of knowledge on how to handle those cases, in particular.

Before I became an attorney eight years ago, I worked as a claims adjustor or in insurance claims for approximately 20 years. Before that, I was a law enforcement officer, where my duties included investigating these types of crashes.

I have a unique perspective of the insurance company and the police officer in these investigations. That perspective, along with my knowledge of the law, allows me to bring a wealth of knowledge to each and every case.