Charlotte Truck Accident Attorneys

Semi and Tractor-Trailer and Truck Accidents

It does not matter if you call them 18-wheelers, semi trucks or tractor trailers, one thing is constant. These vehicles are the largest, most intimidating vehicles on the road. A fully loaded semi truck can weigh more than 40 tons. In comparison, a typical passenger vehicle weighs between 1 and 2 tons. The difference in size means that when a truck collides with another vehicle, those in the other vehicle will likely suffer life-altering injuries or death.

Truck drivers are trained professionals who have a duty and obligation to drive with care. Many trucking accidents take place when these professionals act negligently or worse. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a truck accident, it is crucial to have an experienced attorney on your side. The Charlotte trucking accident lawyers of Hefferon Law, PLLC have taken on many complex injury cases, and can help you navigate the legal process in the aftermath of a truck accident.

North Carolina Commercial Vehicle & Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck accidents are very different from other types of motor vehicle accidents. For commercial trucking companies, accidents are simply part of doing business. Trucking companies will go to great lengths to limit their own liability. They will send investigators to the accident scene immediately following the accident. Their insurance company will have lawyers and adjusters who will be devoted to minimizing what they will pay you.

Our law firm will fully investigate the accident, working with professionals as necessary to show exactly what happened. Truck accidents can have any number of causes, including:

• Driver error: When truck drivers speed, are inexperienced or commit errors
• Truck drivers working longer hours than they are allowed by law: Truck drivers are required to rest at appropriate intervals. Too many times, drivers are forced to meet unreasonable deadlines and drive when they should be resting. Sometimes, drivers will resort to using drugs to stay on the road.
• Faulty equipment: 18-wheelers are very complex vehicles that must be properly maintained. Trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain their vehicles. When they do not and this negligence causes an accident, they must be held accountable.

Our Truck Accident Attorneys will compile all evidence of your medical expenses, lost income and other damages. Most importantly, we will be ready to take your case before a judge and jury to prove your case.

Knowing What You Are Up Against

If you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, there are some essentials you should know. These companies purposely use insurance companies with a high level of sophistication. That means you will be going up against experienced insurance teams that feature lawyers who are trained to cheat you out of what you rightfully deserve. Having a Hefferon Law attorney by your side will even the playing field and give you counsel that knows how to deal with trucking companies.

Truck Company Responsibilities

Every commercial trucking company is tasked with the responsibility of putting safe drivers on the road. That means they must be fully trained and qualified. When there is an accident, it is integral to take a detailed look into that driver’s qualifications and history. That includes a background check, any prior incidents with drugs, potential DWIs and the potential suspension or loss of a CDL. Hefferon Law will look into those areas and more in an effort to see if a trucking company showed negligence in this regard.

Some companies disregard those checks and some even fail to accurately monitor a driver’s time on the road. Tired drivers are more inclined to cause a collision and that would make the company liable. This could lead to a sizable payout which would give victims a tremendous amount of leverage.

Some companies also offer bonuses for quicker deliveries. That is another area that a Hefferon Law attorney will investigate. Those bonuses may provide the incentive to speed, thus creating unsafe driving conditions. Moreover, GPS monitoring can even track the speed of vehicles leading up to a collision. This also falls under the investigation process, one that we will conduct thoroughly and at great length. The goal is to look into every aspect of why a commercial truck suddenly impacted your entire life.

Compensating Victims of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Compensation for personal injuries sustained in a commercial trucking incident typically account for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and decrease in quality of life. There is also a myriad of injuries that could occur during a trucking crash. Keep in mind that these incidents may even cause pileups, meaning there could be numerous victims in a trucking accident. Here is a look at some of the injuries that could be incurred during this type of collision:

• Physical disabilities
• Permanent limp
• Neck and spine injuries
• Scarring
• Broken bones
• Loss of limbs

In addition to those physical injuries, there can also be a significant amount of emotional damage. The anxiety that may ensue could also create a crease in life enjoyment. Additionally, there is the cost of the damage to the victim’s vehicle as that is yet another expense that needs to be addressed.

With so much distress and angst threatening victims of trucking collisions, there is often the need for a personal injury lawyer to handle all the specifics. That is where Hefferon Law comes in and allows victims to attend to their daily lives instead of stressing about a lawsuit. It is our goal to get you the most compensation for all your injuries, pain and suffering.

Causes of Trucking Accidents

There is not one lone cause of trucking crashes. As was previously mentioned, driver fatigue can play a role, although there are many other reasons that may cause this type of unfortunate situation. One person is entrusted with controlling an eighteen-wheeler and that demands a lot of care, experience and expertise. It is unfortunate that some of those aspects are lacking and the high number of crashes every year speaks to that reality. Here is a closer look at some of the top reasons for a large truck crash.

• Distracted driving
• Failing to sustain appropriate lookout
• Overloading
• DWI
• Poor driver training
• Inexperience
• Inadequate hiring
• Driver negligence
• Malfunction of truck equipment
• Disregarding safety guidelines

Getting to the reason for the trucking crash is not always the top priority of local authorities. That is why you need to have someone working to identify every potential cause. Hefferon Law takes on that assignment and will work to find out exactly why you were involved in a truck collision. That information will then be used to get you the highest amount of compensation possible.

Post-Accident Process

At Hefferon Law, we stand by you from beginning to end. That begins with a post-accident consultation in which we learn more about the details involved. And if you are hospitalized as a result of the incident, we can come visit you there and gather the necessary information. That will lead to a discovery phase in which we will be able to identify the party responsible for your injuries. That will help us to set on a compensation amount that you deserve to receive. We will take care of all the paperwork involved and make contact with the parties involved. That will commence the negotiation phase. If no settlement can be reached, we will file the case in the appropriate court and continue to construct your case so that it is as strong as it can possibly be.

A Dangerous Reality

The sad reality is that thousands of people lose their lives every year as a result of trucking collisions. Families are left grieving and while no financial compensation can take the place of their loved ones, there is a need to fight for what is right. Hefferon Law works to get families what they deserve in the event that they have lost a loved one in a trucking accident. We prioritize families who have to endure such a grueling experience.

Contact Hefferon Law, PLLC For Your Free Case Consultation Today!

Call (704) 365-2600, or e-mail our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation. Our law firm takes all truck accident claims on a contingent fee basis.