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North Carolina 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer | Tatum & Atkinson

North Carolina 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Home / Truck Accident Attorney / North Carolina 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

If you have been involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the experienced attorneys at the law firm of Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters,’ can help. It is a harrowing fact that over 90,000 people are injured by 18-wheeler trucks annually, and an individual is killed or injured by a truck around every 16 minutes in the U.S. Sadly, fatal large truck accidents are on the rise in the U.S., as industry standards have continued to call for relaxed regulations.

Our law firm is dedicated to assisting the victims of all types of accidents. We have spent decades fighting trucking companies and winning cases for the victims of truck accident collisions and their families. There is no consultation charge, and if we take on your case, we will not get paid unless you win. Call Tatum & Atkinson ‘the Heavy Hitters’ today by calling us at (800) 529-0804 or contacting us online to receive your free, no-obligation consultation to see what we can do to help.

Steps to Take After an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident

The first thing you should do after an 18-wheeler accident, aside from receiving medical care, is retain an 18 wheeler accident attorney. Fighting large trucking companies can be an uphill battle. Large trucking companies often have vast resources and teams of experts and lawyers who are prepared to fight against any legal action that comes their direction. By retaining a truck injury attorney, you may rest assured that you have the help you need, thereby allowing you to spend your energy and effort on recovering. An experienced truck accident attorney will obtain the necessary evidence to prove your claim, negotiate with insurers on your behalf, represent you in the courtroom, and fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

However, directly following the accident before leaving the accident scene, there are steps you can follow to ensure that your claim’s integrity is protected:

  •   Remain calm at the scene of the accident and remain in your vehicle unless needing to exit due to safety reasons. Call 9-1-1 and do not leave the scene.
  •   Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicles, cross streets, the surrounding area, and injuries.
  •   Take records of all parties involved, witnesses, and the name and badge number of the responding officer. Try to include names, addresses, and phone numbers.
  •   Receive medical attention; even if you believe you are okay at the time of the accident, many injuries may not present themselves until days following the accident.
  •   Notify your insurer immediately following the accident so the claims process can begin. When speaking to your insurer, just state the facts pertaining to the accident, and don’t admit fault.
  •   Receive a copy of the accident report from the police.
  •   Keep a record of all doctor visits, medications, treatments, and test results.
  •   Do not accept any settlement offers without speaking to your 18 wheeler accident attorney first.

18 Wheeler Accident Compensation

Eighteen wheeler accidents often result in severe injuries that may necessitate significant recovery time and other injuries may be permanent. Truck accident injury victims and their families can be left with enormous medical expenses, lost wages, emotional trauma, and potentially, funeral expenses. A successful personal injury claim may include economic and/or non-economic damages, such as loss of earning capacity, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and more.

18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been involved in a collision with an 18 wheeler truck, you may be wondering why you need an attorney to represent you, especially if you did nothing wrong. However, a truck collision claim is different from a car accident claim. Often, truck accident injury victims may sustain severe injuries, and claims may involve multiple parties. Below are a few other reasons why retaining an 18 wheeler accident attorney is likely in your best interest.

Trucking Companies Deny Liability

As there are over 150,000 accidents involving large trucks annually in the U.S., trucking companies are often well-versed in best practices to avoid responsibility and costs involved with being held liable for crashes involving their drivers. In addition, many trucking companies have their own legal team and experts who may be on the scene of the accident within hours of the accident to begin collecting evidence to reduce culpability.

18 Wheeler Truck Claims Are Complex

Because the nature of accidents sustained by involvement in 18-wheelers is often complex by nature, truck accident litigation is often complicated as well. When a claim deriving from an 18-wheeler accident goes to trial, accident injury victims must prove to the jury the facts of their case using industry-specific ideas and scientific principles. Our legal team at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’, has over 65 years of collective experience representing injury victims. Our knowledgeable attorneys are well-versed in the best negotiation and trial tactics to win big for our clients.

Getting the Award You Are Entitled to Requires a Lot of Resources

Trucking and insurance companies have a lot of manpower and resources at their disposal, meaning they often use pressure to convince accident injury victims to drop or accept settlements for far less than they deserve. In many cases, fighting trucking and insurance companies’ vast resources may require hiring experts to testify on your behalf.

Why Is an Accident With an 18 Wheeler So Dangerous?

Heavy-Load Capacity

With a full load, an 18 wheeler truck may weigh 400 tons, which is 80,000lbs. The average 18 wheeler is 20x heavier than most cars. When the massive weight of an 18 wheel truck collides with another vehicle, serious injury, property damage, and even death may occur.

Largest Vehicles on the Road

18-wheeler trucks may be up to 176 feet long, making them nearly 10x as long as the average car. The long length of the truck amplifies the danger of negligence, such as speeding.

They Need Much Longer to Stop

Due to the enormous size, length, and weight of 18 wheeler trucks, they often need about 40% longer than an average car to stop.

They Have Large Blind Spots

Unlike many other types of vehicles, 18 wheelers do not have a rear window, and given the large size of the truck, there are large blind spots.

18 Wheeler Accident Attorney in North Carolina

The experienced attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’, believe that individuals who are injured due to the negligent actions of others deserve to be compensated fully for their losses and pain. We are strong advocates for our client’s rights and fight hard to recover maximum compensation for each client. Every attorney at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters, ‘ is dedicated to helping semi accident victims receive the just compensation they deserve for their injuries and suffering.

As your attorneys, we will investigate the accident thoroughly to ensure that all at-fault parties are identified and collect the evidence necessary to demonstrate their negligence. Trucking and insurance companies often have vast resources and legal teams at their disposal. They usually begin investigations to discredit or reduce potential claim compensation immediately. In order to receive the best possible outcome, it is necessary to stay ahead of the opposing party. We will investigate the accident, interview witnesses, analyze accident reports and medical records, consult with experts, and ensure that supporting evidence is kept intact when necessary. We have the required skills to successfully and aggressively negotiate with insurers for a settlement that will compensate you fairly for damages you have suffered.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to another’s negligence in an 18-wheeler accident, contact us today by calling us at (800) 529-0804 or contacting us online to talk to our knowledgeable legal team. Every case evaluation is free; if we take your case, you will owe us nothing until you win.