Truck Accident Lawyer in North Carolina
Your accident is unique to you and your injuries or loss. What all truck accidents have in common is that they can be complicated to resolve but also worth a lot of money when handled by an experienced professional.
Do I really need a lawyer after a truck accident?
Let the insurance company decide
It can be very risky to put your faith in the trucking company/insurer to determine the amount they believe they owe you. Their offer to settle for an amount may not accurately represent the value of the injuries sustained or loss of wages. By accepting their offer of settlement early you may be prohibiting yourself from recovering more losses later.
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Hire an experienced lawyer
Attorneys who represent victims of truck accidents are educated in the federal motor vehicle regulations, as well as the different trucking company insurance policies. Our attorneys will work diligently to ensure your claim for all damages associated with long-term care or income loss are included in your case, and will advocate for you to obtain the compensation that you deserve.
Learn MoreHow Much is Your North Carolina Truck Accident Worth?
This is because there are often multiple responsible parties that can pay for the accident; and truck companies and employers carry high insurance premiums to cover these types of accidents and deaths. Federal commercial truck insurance requirements depend on the weight of freight transported and type of material:
- General freight trucks under 10,000 GVW: $300,000
- General freight trucks over 10,000 GVW: $750,000
- Trucks transporting oil: $1,000,000
- Trucks transporting hazardous materials: $5,000,000
The state of North Carolina has additional requirements on top of Federal minimums. Insurance companies are in the business of saving money, not spending it and they fight truck accident claims in an effort to pay you as little as possible, if anything. Because North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, defendants in your case will actively try to pin any level blame on you to avoid paying you anything. When you hire Tatum & Atkinson, PLLC we wont let that happen to you. We know how to fight to get you the most money possible, even when it is a complicated multi-defendant case. Things you can get compensated for in a winning truck accident case with us include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Missed work/ inability to work
- Disability needs
- Emotional trauma of the accident
- Pain and suffering
When your case involves a wrongful death, you can also recover for things like burial and funeral costs and missing income/home contributions. The bottom line is this: Your case is worth a lot of money and with our no win/no fee approach you pay us absolutely nothing unless we get you paid. You have noting to lose and everything to gain from setting up your totally free consultation with you firm.
Causes of North Carolina Truck Accident
North Carolina truck accidents happen everyday and everywhere throughout the state. With the average passenger car weighing only 4% of that of a truck, it is easy to see just how damaging these accidents can quickly become. Here’s a look at some of the more common causes of these major and often deadly truck accidents:
Stopping Distance
The bigger and heavier the car, the longer it takes to stop. The average truck weighs between 80,000-100,000 pounds. That is a lot of weight to brake on and makes it near impossible for them to avoid an accident that requires a quick reaction stop. Of course, these type of stopping distance accidents always go up when there are a change in driving conditions such as weather, construction zones or heavy traffic.
Rollover accidents
The bigger and heavier the car, the longer it takes to stop. The average truck weighs between 80,000-100,000 pounds. That is a lot of weight to brake on and makes it near impossible for them to avoid an accident that requires a quick reaction stop. Of course, these type of stopping distance accidents always go up when there are a change in driving conditions such as weather, construction zones or heavy traffic.
Visibility Issues
Trucks have blind spots all over and when they can’t see you, they are also more likely to hit you. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that trucks have large blind spots on all four sides and account for 1/3 of all truck accidents every year.
Turning limitations
Known as the “wide turn squeeze,” trucks often occupy multiple lanes when making a right turn, hitting cars as a result of this major turning limitation.
Driver Error
While there are strict rules around amount of driving time in a given day, drivers get tired and often make mistakes after a long day of driving. And just like car drivers, driving under the influence and texting while driving are also illegal activities truck drivers engage in while on the road that ultimately lead to serious and fatal accidents. Improper training especially if a route has difficult conditions can also cause accidents ultimately attributed to
Truck Maintenance
Trucks take a lot of work and constant inspection to maintain and avoid mechanical accidents. These in-depth and routine inspections are something that is legally required of all commercial trucks. Issues with brakes, mechanics and tires can and does cause truck accitailer is illegally overloaded.