Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Attorneys in Charlotte

Representation for Catastrophically Injured Individuals & Their Loved Ones

Commercial vehicles, like tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers, pose a special danger on the road because they are bigger and heavier than other vehicles. Truck accident cases require lawyers who are familiar with the important legal and technical issues these cases involve.

For example, there are special federal regulations that govern the safety of tractor trailers, including the number of hours a commercial truck driver is allowed to be out on the road and the minimum amount of insurance each truck should have. Additionally, cases involving tractor-trailers will often depend on the interpretation of technical information kept by a data recorder or “black box.”

Overall the number of crashes involving commercial vehicles in the United States has dropped over the years. Unfortunately, they still happen—with devastating effects. Let us put our years of experience handling tractor-trailer cases to work for you.

Contact the Charlotte truck accident attorneys at Charles G. Monnett III & Associates for a free, no-obligation consultation; call (704) 859-2003 today.

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Trucking Companies React Quickly

Trucking companies, their insurance companies, and investigators tend to respond to the scene of a collision very quickly so that they can get a head-start on minimizing any potential liability. If you have been in a wreck caused by a tractor-trailer or another type of commercial vehicle, you should consult a law firm with experience in trucking cases as soon as possible. Reach out to Charles G. Monnett III & Associates today.

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How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents

Truck accident cases involve laws and technical knowledge that do not apply to most vehicle collisions. The outcome of a truck accident case can also impact your life in larger ways than you might first expect.

To make sure that you are ready for whatever comes your way in your claim, you should work with our Charlotte truck accident lawyers who understand that managing a truck accident case is similar but also noticeably dissimilar from your average car accident case.

Four of the main reasons why truck accident cases are different than car accidents are:

Larger Damages

People who are injured in a truck accident case usually suffer catastrophic injuries due to the enormous size and weight of the semi-truck that hit them.

As such, the damages owed to those claimants can be sizeable, especially when compared to the average car accident. Paying for your medical bills and missing wages could easily reach six or seven figures, which has not even factored in your physical pain and emotional suffering.

Multiple Defendants

After a car accident, you will probably have to name the other driver as the only liable party and then file against the auto insurance policy they own.

After a truck accident, though, it is common for there to be multiple liable parties and defendants because so many parties get involved with the management of a commercial truck, such as:

The parent trucking company
Maintenance company
And load crews

Our truck accident attorneys in Charlotte can help by filing a claim or claims against the right defendants.

Federal Regulations

Auto accidents will involve the local rules of the road, which are typically fairly simple, such as do not break the speed limit. Truck accidents are different because they involve federal regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

You will need to work with a team that understands these unique and complicated regulations and how they can improve your case. For example, we might be able to uncover that the truck driver drove too many hours in a single shift.

Complex Evidence

The evidence that can go into a truck accident case to prove liability is often complex, both in how it is found and how it is used.

One commonly used source of data is the “black box” that is equipped in many commercial trucks. This data recorder can show the truck driver’s hours-of-service logs, as well as whether or not the brakes were applied before the moment of impact.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Our firm has handled many cases involving death and serious personal injuries caused by tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles. We understand how trucking collisions happen and how to navigate the laws that apply to trucking cases.

Let our Charlotte truck accident lawyers evaluate the potential causes and circumstances leading to a collision with a truck, which include the following:

Inadequate truck driver training
Truck driver fatigue
Fraudulent log books
Alcohol or drug use
Aggressive truck driving behavior
Speeding
Poor vehicle maintenance
Unsafe tires
Driver carelessness or negligence
Improper loading of cargo

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When Defective Equipment Causes a Crash

All parts of a commercial truck need to be in good working condition. The slightest defect or damage can result in a truck accident due to the trucker losing control of their enormous vehicle.

Examples of defective truck parts that could cause a sudden accident are:

Tires
Brakes
Axles
Steering column

Depending on why the part became defective, the liable party could change. It is crucial that truck maintenance teams thoroughly check for wear and tear on all parts at regular intervals. Truck part manufacturers must only ship and sell parts that have been made correctly.

We can investigate the crash to determine what party is liable. The assistance of a third-party mechanical engineer might be necessary, and we know how to network with these talented professionals to benefit your case.

Hire Our Attorneys Today for Legal Counsel

When should you hire a lawyer for your injury claim? As a general piece of advice, if your accident causes a serious injury or heavily damages your vehicle, then you should consider hiring legal counsel.

Our Charlotte truck accident lawyers are standing by to hear from people in your situation. With our experience leading the way, you can confidently pursue the compensation that you need and deserve.

Have you suffered injuries in a truck accident? Call our office at (704) 859-2003 or contact us online to learn how our Charlotte truck accident attorneys can assist you with your injury claim.

Truck Accidents FAQ

How long can a trucker drive in a shift?

The average commercial truck driver can be scheduled to work 14 hours in a day with 11 hours behind the wheel, according to FMCSA regulations.

It might come as no surprise but many truck drivers experience exhaustion while working due to these long schedules. As exhaustion sets in, the trucker’s driving abilities will worsen more and more.

What compensation is available to truck accident claimants?

A truck accident claimant can seek economic and non-economic damages from the trucker, trucking company, and any other liable parties.

Economic damage in a truck accident case can include:

Past and future medical bills
Lost wages
And other miscellaneous costs

Non-economic damage can include:

Pain
Suffering
Mental anguish
Emotional trauma
And permanent disability

Punitive damages might be paid by the trucking company if a court determines it had acted grossly negligent in some way, such as intentionally breaking FMCSA regulations.

What is the statute of limitations for truck accident claims?

You must bring your truck accident claim within three years of the accident. Otherwise, North Carolina’s statute of limitations for injury claims will expire, and you will have little or no option to demand a recovery from the liable party.

3 Ways We Can Help You Today

Protect Your Rights
We'll help you understand your rights as they apply to your unique case.
Your Recovery
We'll help you to know which medical treatments may be needed.
Focus on What Matters
We'll help take calls and handle the paper work from insurance companies.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say About Us

Charles was always available and informative on this process.
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Without their help, I would probably have lost everything that I owned.
“My heartfelt thanks go out to Lauren Newton and Stephanie Allen for their hard work on my behalf.”
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Lauren Newton exceeded all of my expectations and she genuinely cares about her clients.
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The experience I had was exactly what I wanted.
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$13 Million Medical Negligence Verdict
An infant suffered an undiagnosed case of bacterial meningitis that caused severe neurological damage.
$10 Million Car Accident Verdict
Verdict for a child who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident.
$9.075 Million Car Accident Verdict
Confidential settlement for a family struck by an underage impaired driver.
$8 Million Confidential Settlement
Confidential settlement for an infant with bilateral leg amputations following improper placement of the femoral line.
$4.75 Million Defective Automobile
Settlement for a woman severely injured as a result of a defective automobile.
$3.375 Million Failure to Diagnose
Confidential settlement on behalf of a child with severe visual impairments resulting from the failure to properly diagnose retinopathy of prematurity in a newborn child.
$3 Million Cerebral Palsy
Confidential settlement for a child with cerebral palsy as a result of birth-related brain injury.
$3 Million Negligent Administration of Nerve Block
Confidential settlement for a woman with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury as a result of negligent administration of nerve block for headache.
$2.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
Recovery for a woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury after her vehicle was struck by a commercial truck while stopped for traffic in a construction zone.
$2.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
Workers’ compensation settlement for a man who sustained a traumatic brain injury while employed by a logging company.