North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer

What to Do After a N.C. Truck Accident

1. Call 911: Since the accident might be severe, first responders will be needed to handle injuries and assess property damages. Police will make an official report of the accident that will be vital evidence if you file a claim or lawsuit.
2. Get to a safe area: If possible, move your car to a safe area and turn on your hazard lights. This will help other cars see you and reduce the chance that you will be hit while dealing with the original crash.
3. Document the scene: Take pictures of any damage to your car, the truck, or other vehicles. Also take pictures of road markings, weather conditions, road hazards, and traffic signs or signals. Write down witness accounts of the crash and get their names and contact information. Get as many details from the truck driver as possible, including his/her name, contact information, insurance information, and license number, as well as the name of the driver’s employer, the name of the truck owner, and if different, the name of the owner of the trailer. Ask the police for a copy of the official accident report.
4. Watch your words: Don’t admit fault or tell other people on the scene your version of what happened, and don’t sign anything at the scene unless you’re required by the police. Trucking companies might quickly dispatch their insurance agents and lawyers to the scene to try to avoid paying damages and protect their reputations. They might try to get you to say something they can use against you or trick you into accepting a low settlement offer.
5. Get medical attention: If you didn’t get medical attention at the scene of the crash, visit a doctor as soon as possible to have them evaluate and treat your injuries. Not all injuries are obvious, and a medical professional can detect these injuries before they get worse. Medical records are also a critical piece of evidence if you file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Without these official records, you might not be able to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
6. Report the accident: Most insurance policies require that you tell them about any accident within a reasonable amount of time to claim benefits.7
7. Contact Stewart Law Offices: Truck accidents are complicated because of their severity and the number of different parties that might be liable. It’s difficult and frustrating to sort through all these details on your own, especially while you’re trying to recover from the trauma of the crash. An experienced truck accident attorney can help ease this burden by sorting through the mess on your behalf and fighting for your rights.

Common Causes of North Carolina Truck Accidents

A trucker’s job and livelihood depend on his or her driving record, so most do everything they can to stay safe on the road. But some truck drivers face pressures that the average commuter does not.

Employers may offer incentives for them to make early deliveries. Alternatively, they may penalize drivers for delivering late freight.

These unfair demands should not change the way they drive, but the sad reality is that truck drivers sometimes give in. When their poor choices cause an accident, they can — and should — be held accountable for their negligence. So should their employers.

Common causes of truck accidents include:

Injuries Caused by Trucking Accidents in North Carolina

Crashes involving commercial trucks are more likely to be deadly than regular crashes. They can also cause particularly devastating injuries, such as:

These catastrophic injuries typically mean that victims may face years of ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and permanent disability. Victims may need to pay for modifications to their homes to accommodate medical equipment like wheelchairs. The lifetime costs of truck accident injuries can easily reach into the millions. Because the stakes are so high, working with a knowledgeable accident injury lawyer at Stewart Law Offices can help protect your rights to compensation.

Truck Accident Liability in North Carolina

Truck accidents are complicated because numerous different parties might be held liable at the same time. These include:

Commercial truck operations are governed by both state and federal laws. These regulations are stricter than the rules for other drivers because trucks are simply more dangerous if operated negligently.

For example, trucking companies must comply with weight and load restrictions, submit to vehicle inspections, and carry mandatory minimum insurance to cover injuries and damages.

North Carolina truck driver requirements:

Failure to follow these rules or others set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) could result in a lawsuit against the trucker if an accident occurs.

The truck driver’s employer could also be held liable in certain circumstances, including:

• If the employee was unfit to drive and the employer knew about it (e.g., if they were inadequately trained, lacked the appropriate license, or were on medication that could impair their driving)
• If the truck driver was partially at fault for the crash and was doing his/her job or “on the clock” at the time of the accident
• If the company was negligent in its hiring or retention practices
• If the employer failed to perform the required background checks

Determining fault will be critical in order to recover compensation in your truck accident claim. These complex cases can be challenging and require a focused investigation. Our seasoned attorneys will work to identify who should be held liable and will demand compensation from all negligent parties.

   Arrange a free consultation today by calling 866-783-9278 or filling out an online contact form.

How to Prove Fault in N.C. Truck Accident Cases

In order to receive compensation after a truck accident, you must be able to prove that someone else’s negligence resulted in your injuries.

If you’re not too injured, you can readily collect some important information while you’re at the accident scene. Examples include:

• Photos of the accident (including vehicle damage, skid marks, road signs, or other pertinent evidence)
• The truck driver’s name, employer, and insurance information
• Eyewitness contact information

Other important pieces of evidence will likely not be accessible to you. However, our experienced truck accident attorneys will also be able to obtain and preserve data from sources such as the truck’s computer, maintenance logs, or driving logs. These may strengthen your liability argument by providing details about the crash, such as:

• The truck’s speed at the time of the crash
• The truck’s route
• How long the driver had been on the road and whether they exceeded federal hours-of-service regulations
• Correspondence between the trucker and their employer
• Maintenance issues

North Carolina Truck Accident Statistics

North Carolina ranks among the worst states in the country for deadly traffic accidents. The most recent data from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles shows that there were 14,531 truck accidents statewide in a recent year. Of that number, 199 of those crashes were fatal and 3,084 resulted in injuries.