
Garner Truck Accident Lawyer
Tractor-trailers are on the roads you drive every day, and they need to be. Yet, these drivers have a responsibility to everyone else on the road with them to keep those drivers safe. When a driver is tired or otherwise unfocused on their actions, they can cause devastation in just a matter of seconds.
When you are the victim, working with our Garner truck accident lawyer is an excellent resource you simply need to have. A big rig accident is not a simple claim and requires a well-experienced attorney with ample, specific knowledge to protect your rights. Let our Garner personal injury lawyers at Ricci Law Firm be there for you in your time of need.
Factors That Make Truck Accidents in Garner, NC More Complex
Every motor vehicle accident is a complex series of events with numerous steps that must be followed to hold the at-fault party accountable. Yet, tractor-trailer accidents add additional layers of complexity to the legal process. With the legal team at our firm ready to help you, we will pursue every type of compensation that is owed to you. Our experience, including in the following common challenges, enables our truck accident attorneys to be uniquely qualified to help you.
- Costly injuries: Your accident may have led to significant financial losses. You need fair recovery for all of them, and we can help make that possible.
- Aggressive insurance companies: There is a lot on the line for insurance companies. They will do everything possible to show that you are at least partially at fault.
- Multiple parties at fault: Many truck accidents involve more than one party being at fault, and that means more than one may owe you compensation. We identify all of those who contributed to make them pay.
Your 18-wheeler truck accident attorney knows how to hold those who hurt you accountable for your financial, physical, and emotional losses. Seek out an attorney who is not going to back down from the insurance companies or trucking agencies. Instead, let our truck accident attorney at Ricci Law Firm guide you.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Garner, NC
Trucks can carry up to 80,000 pounds of material across highways at a rate of 60 miles per hour or higher. These trucks require special skills to drive, and even as large as they are, they can be impacted significantly by slight changes in road conditions. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents, our truck accident attorneys in Garner, NC, see include:
- Fatigued drivers: Manipulating a 70-foot truck is not simple for a tired driver. Traffic and a long, sometimes boring drive make staying awake challenging.
- Distracted drivers: Drivers engage in various activities to keep themselves entertained along those long routes, including eating, talking on the phone, engaging with a pet that is in the tractor-trailer with them, or even watching podcasts.
- Cargo shifts: The cargo in the back of a truck can shift if not properly secured, creating the risk of serious loss of control for the driver.
- Inexperienced: A driver without proper training or experience behind the wheel, especially in fast-moving or otherwise dangerous road conditions, could be more likely to cause an accident.
- Vehicle breakdowns and failures: These may be caused by poorly maintained vehicles or a mechanic who fails to complete tasks properly.
- Poor road conditions: Even the major highways, such as I-40, US 70, and NC 50, can become in such poor condition that a truck driver may lose control due to potholes or debris.
In each of these situations, it pays to have an experienced Garner, NC truck accident lawyer working for you. Our goal is to identify all parties that may be responsible by fully understanding the cause of your truck accident. Some of those potential parties could include:
- The truck driver for recklessness and impairment
- The trucking company when violations of federal laws that lead to injuries and accidents
- The cargo loading company, if they failed to secure the material properly
- The vehicle manufacturer when a problem with the truck’s design leads to a breakdown and accident
- The city or state where road conditions are so poor that they contribute to the accident
These are just some examples. When you speak to our attorneys, we will investigate what happened in your case. The more aggressive your lawyer is, the more answers you will get as to why this happened and who is responsible.
Knowing Federal Regulations for Truck Drivers
The law, specifically the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s laws, establishes rules for truck drivers and companies to follow to minimize the risk of costly injuries and losses from accidents. These laws are complex, but violations can be costly to trucking companies.
In our experience, evidence that shows that the trucking company or driver failed to maintain these rules enables us to hold that party accountable for the losses you have when their driver caused an accident. Though there are numerous laws that are applicable, some of the most important to know include:
- Hours of Service regulations: These rules limit the number of hours a truck driver can be behind the wheel at one time or over the course of several days. Long periods of driving increase the risk of injuries.
- Adverse driving conditions: Trucking companies can be held accountable in situations where they allow their team to be on the road when weather conditions are very bad.
- Driver training and experience: The type of driver’s license and certification the driver has depends on the type of vehicle they operate. However, trucking companies must ensure proper training and skills before allowing a truck driver out onto the road.
- Vehicle maintenance and upkeep: A log of all maintenance and repairs to trucks must be maintained. This can show any type of risk related to the vehicle’s failure.
- Driver fitness: Trucking companies are responsible for minimizing risks associated with drivers who are unfit due to medical conditions, vision loss, hearing limitations, or those with a history of substance use disorder. Mandatory drug testing is one area.
One of the complications with these areas of the law is proving what went wrong and who is responsible. A police report could include some information. Yet, drivers and trucking companies are not going to share with you what caused an accident. Instead, it becomes critical that your attorney build a case from all the available evidence.
How Our Garner Truck Accident Attorneys Find Evidence in Your Case
Finding evidence to substantiate the cause of your accident is one way our semi-truck accident attorneys work for you. We know the strategies that insurance companies and trucking companies use to minimize their obligation to pay for your losses.
Our first objective is to gather evidence that is known, such as police reports. This allows for a starting point to learning what other details we may need to seek out. Some additional types of evidence you can expect us to pursue include:
- Federal regulatory records
- Commercial truck black boxes that record activity
- Truck driver medical records, if impairment is a consideration
- Vehicle maintenance logs
- Documentation of driver training and education
- Witness statements
- Expert witness testimony about potential manufacturer failures
Every bit of evidence builds your case. The stronger we make that process, the more effectively we can demonstrate who should pay for your losses.
Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Accidents
Whether navigating the Triangle Expressway on your way to work or traveling along I-87, you know how many trucks share the road with you on any given day. Most drivers do not think twice about the serious risks to their health and well-being that can happen if one of those drivers loses control. Take a look at some of the most common serious injuries that occur in truck accidents in our area:
- Head injuries: Traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, concussions, and other injuries leading to loss of cognitive function
- Spinal injuries: Spinal cord or column injuries that could lead to full or partial paralysis, nerve damage, and chronic pain
- Soft tissue injuries: Muscles and tissue lacerations and tears cause both scarring and deep wounds with infection risks
- Amputations: Arms, legs, and digits lost in accidents due to the impact, as well as due to complications from surgery
- Broken bones: Often complex fractures, including those that lead to loss of mobility and chronic pain development
- Internal injuries: Internal bleeding and organ damage from the force of the accident
For many victims, catastrophic injuries are possible. These are injuries in which a victim does not fully recover. They may face an ongoing limitation to quality of life and well-being. Some examples of these injuries include:
- Permanent disability through loss of mobility
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Disfigurement
- Intense emotional trauma
- Cognitive function damage
In each situation, our attorneys work with medical experts to fully understand your injuries and the implications of those injuries. Through this research, we can build a strong claim for any losses you have. That includes losses from the accident but also the impact on the rest of your life.
Determining the Value of Your Garner Semi Accident Case
When you are in a big rig accident, the risk of serious loss is high, and yet you should not have to bear that cost yourself. Instead, the at-fault driver should be responsible for any of the losses you have. You must determine what those losses cost you by placing a value on them. That is not simplistic to do, but it is an important process our legal team will help you navigate.
Some of the losses you have may include economic losses such as:
- Medical bills from the emergency care received
- Ongoing medical care
- Hospitalizations and surgeries
- Physical therapy
- In-home medical care
- Transportation costs
- Loss of time at work
- Loss of earning ability
We use documentation, like medical bills and average hours from your work schedule, to determine these losses. Expect us to be aggressive here.
Non-economic damages in a truck accident might include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Mental anguish
- Emotional trauma from post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of companionship
- Disfigurement
Demonstrating the value of each of these areas of loss is more challenging than economic damage calculations. Our experienced truck accident lawyers in Garner, NC, know how to value these losses. We will pursue extensive value for you as allowed under the law. Expect us to work with you to fully understand the impact this accident is having on your life.
Why Choose Truck Ricci Law Firm as Your Truck Accident Attorneys in Garner, NC
Your future is on the line. Your financial losses may be high, but the changes to your quality of life are even more taxing. For these reasons, working with an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer is essential. When you hire our firm to be by your side, you can expect several key benefits:
- Fierce negotiation: We negotiate fair compensation for our clients. With skilled negotiators on our team and on your side, you can be sure insurance companies take you seriously.
- Trial experience: Some truck accident cases involve going to court, especially if the insurance company wants to shift the blame. We have the experience in the courtroom to make a difference in your case.
- Extensive experience with proven results: Our attorneys have worked for decades to build a strong reputation for getting results for our clients.
We know what is on the line for you here. We expect to encounter challenges, but we also know how to navigate them.
There Is No Risk in Scheduling a Free Consultation with Us
We are passionate about helping our clients recover damages as victims. When you call Ricci Law Firm, you do not pay for a consultation with our legal team. You also never pay us any upfront costs for our work. If you do not win your case, you do not pay us at all.
Turn to our Garner truck accident lawyer in Wake County, NC, for a free consultation. Let us get to work for you now.