Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys in Daphne, AL

All vehicle accidents are frightening and capable of causing major damage, but truck accidents are in a class of their own. A tractor-trailer weighs, on average, 20 times more than a typical passenger vehicle. This makes it capable of causing much more serious damage than an accident that involves two regular vehicles.

Unfortunately for victims, it can also be harder to fight for compensation after a truck accident. There are many more parties involved, and no one wants to take the blame for a crash that causes tens of thousands of dollars of damage. That’s why you need an experienced and aggressive personal injury lawyer on your side. Learn more about your options now by calling Coumanis & York at 251-990-3083.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Truck drivers are prone to the same errors in judgment as other drivers. The only difference is that, because of the vehicle they drive, they have a much higher possibility of causing a serious accident when they do make an error in judgment. Furthermore, issues with the truck or road can also cause crashes. Common causes include:

• Improper turn
• Failure to check lane before lane change
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Failure to see object or person in the path of the truck, often due to large blind spots on each side of the truck
• Driving too closely
• Failure to stop in time due to long stopping distance required for trucks
• Manufacturing errors
• Malfunctioning truck equipment or components
• Attempt to avoid hitting an animal or person
• Backing up unsafely or without checking the path
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Poorly loaded truck that leaves truck unbalanced
• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving

Types of Truck Accidents

There are several types of truck accidents that you may see on the roads. Each comes with its own risks and common injuries. Some of the most common causes of crashes include:

• Rear-end accidents. Rear end accidents occur when either the truck strikes a vehicle in front of it or the vehicle behind them drives into them. In both situations, the truck is likely to suffer minimal damage and the operator is unlikely to be hurt. However, the other vehicle is likely to be totaled and the driver may suffer serious or fatal injuries.
• Underride crashes. Underride collisions can be fatal and often leave cars totaled. This type of crash occurs when a small vehicle is following a truck and rear ends it. The front of the car slides under the back of the truck. As a result, the car is dragged along until the trucker comes to a stop or someone alerts the truck driver. This commonly happens when drivers of other vehicles are distracted.
• Side crashes. T-bone crashes are unlikely on highways, but they can cause massive damage on city roads. Whether the truck driver or other driver is responsible for the T-bone accident, the people in the passenger vehicle are at risk of severe injuries. These types of crashes can shut down city roads for hours.
• Jackknife collisions. This type of crash often occurs with inexperienced truck drivers. When the driver brakes too quickly, the vehicle starts to skid. The cab starts to stop but the trailer continues moving, and it folds in toward the cab like a jackknife. This can lead to a multi-vehicle collision.
• Rollover accidents. Rollover accidents are perhaps the most dangerous for truck drivers. The high center of gravity of a truck makes it susceptible to this type of crash. The truck becomes balanced and rolls either onto its side or onto its top.
• Head-on collisions. Perhaps the rarest type of accident is a head-on crash. When these do occur, they are often fatal.

Common Injuries

Accident victims report a wide range of injuries when they are hurt in a truck crash. Injuries that passengers or drivers may suffer include:

• Broken bones
• Abrasions
• Thrown from vehicle
• Amputations
• Soft tissue injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage

Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage are serious risks in truck accidents, and they are more likely in truck collisions than passenger vehicle collisions. These types of injuries often leave victims with lifelong issues. A serious traumatic brain injury, for example, might leave a victim with poor emotional control, poor memory, and chronic pain. Serious spinal cord damage could leave a victim paralyzed or with chronic bowel and bladder issues.

How Truck Accidents Differ from Passenger Vehicle Accidents

After any type of vehicle accident, a victim may seek compensation from the liable party. This is considerably more difficult in a truck accident case. With a crash that involves two passenger vehicles, your attorney only deals with the other side’s insurance provider. In a truck accident case, they have to contend with:

• The truck driver’s insurance provider
• The truck driver’s employer
• The owner of the cargo
• The party receiving the cargo
• The truck owner, if the employer does not own the truck
• The employer’s legal team and accident investigators

As you can imagine, no one wants to claim liability for a serious accident. As a result, it can be challenging for a victim’s attorney to secure a settlement from the liable parties. They must be ready with their own investigators, a large body of evidence, and the aggressive nature needed to defend their client from parties on every side.

Why You Need a Truck Accident Attorney

Without a truck accident attorney, you are unlikely to get the settlement you deserve from a serious accident. Remember, there are many parties with a vested interest in the outcome of the accident and any resulting personal injury claims. All of those parties have the same goal: to avoid paying you a settlement. Without a legal background, you are unlikely to know what it takes to get these parties to pay full and fair compensation. This is even harder when you are trying to recover physically and mentally from a major accident.

An experienced truck accident attorney will take the reins and fight vigorously on your behalf. This means getting electronic records from the truck, starting a thorough investigation of the accident, and figuring out who is liable and how much liability each party has. From there, they can figure out how much you deserve for your injuries and begin negotiations with the involved parties. A reliable attorney will handle negotiations carefully to balance the flexibility needed to ensure a positive outcome with the strength needed to avoid giving up too much. This lets you focus on your healing and recuperation without the added stress of legal issues and financial concerns.

Coumanis & York Are Here for You After Your Truck Accident

Has your life been turned upside down by a truck accident? We are here to guide you through this difficult time. As soon as possible after your accident, reach out to us to schedule a consultation and get started. You can call Coumanis & York at 251-990-3083 or contact us online.