Prichard Truck Accident Lawyers

With 2.9 million tractor-trailers in operation in the United States, you’re likely to share the road with a truck or two no matter where you go. While most encounters with tractor-trailers go smoothly, when things go wrong, the outcome can be deadly. Large trucks cause an enormous amount of damage in a crash, and they have the capability to cause multiple fatalities and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Prichard, AL, it’s time to talk to the team at Hedge Copeland to find out if you are entitled to compensation. Let us fight for you—call us at 251-432-8844 today.

What Makes Truck Accidents Different?

A motor vehicle accident is a motor vehicle accident, right? Not when you’re talking about a commercial truck accident versus a passenger vehicle accident. Truck collisions cause so much more damage than passenger vehicle accidents that settlements and court awards tend to be significantly larger. In fact, commercial trucks have much higher insurance minimums than passenger vehicles to account for the damage they are capable of causing.

Their size is a big part of this. When it’s fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 20 times more than a standard passenger vehicle. At any speed, a vehicle that size is capable of causing serious bodily harm and property damage. To add to that, tractor-trailers are built for productivity, not safety. While their shape is ideal for transporting large amounts of cargo, their shape also leaves them with huge blind spots.

Additionally, some tractor-trailers carry hazardous materials. This means that any crash, no matter how minor, suddenly has the potential to cause an explosion or massive fire. There are nearly 800,000 hazmat shipments that happen every day, so you really don’t know if the truck that just hit you is carrying hazardous materials or not. It adds another layer of danger to an already dangerous situation.

Types of Truck Collisions in Prichard, AL

The unusual size and shape of commercial trucks make them prone to certain types of accidents that aren’t common among other types of vehicles. These accident types include:

• Jackknife: Jackknife accidents are unique to tractor-trailers, thanks to their segmented design. A jackknife collision generally occurs when a truck driver swerves to avoid an obstacle or changes lanes too quickly. The speed causes them to lose control of the vehicle, and the back end of the truck swings out from the front end. This force causes the driver to lose control even more, and the truck may spin and drift across the road until it naturally comes to a stop.
• Rollover: Although rollover collisions are more common among all top-heavy vehicles, tractor-trailers are obviously at a greater risk than other types of vehicles. High winds can cause rollovers, as can jackknifing. Rollover accidents can be deadly, as the truck may crush other cars in its path or cause additional accidents if the truck blocks off the road.
• Underride: Underride accidents commonly cause fatalities and catastrophic injuries. They occur when a smaller vehicle behind a tractor-trailer drives underneath the back of the truck and gets stuck. When the vehicles are separated, the top of the smaller vehicle is generally ripped off.
• Wide turn: when a truck driver is attempting to make a right turn, they generally move left before turning to make a clean right turn. If they go too far left or someone tries to sneak past on the right, a collision may occur.
• Sideswipe: Sideswipe accidents are unfortunately fairly common, thanks to the large blind spots on either side of a truck. The damage caused varies, depending on how fast both vehicles are traveling and how quickly either vehicle pulls away.

Injuries Caused by Prichard, AL Truck Accidents

Truck collisions cause a wide range of injuries to victims. While occupants of the truck may be injured, passenger vehicle occupants report injuries far more often. Some injuries commonly reported after a truck accident include:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations and scrapes, often resulting in infection if there is direct contact with the road
• Soft tissue damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash
• Concussion
• Traumatic brain injuries with varying levels of severity
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Death

Evidence Used in Trucking Accident Claims

One aspect of truck accidents that differs from passenger vehicle accidents is the amount of evidence available. There are several types of evidence available in truck collisions that aren’t available in other types of crashes.

As a result of FMCSA requirements, today’s tractor-trailers must use electronic logging devices. They gather information related to hours of service, break times, braking patterns, acceleration patterns, dangerous driving events, and other factors that may be relevant to a collision. Your attorney may use this information to figure out liability and determine whether or not the truck driver has a history of unsafe or reckless driving.

Truck collisions often tend to leave behind a lot of physical evidence. Skid marks on the road, damage to medians and guardrails, and damage to vehicles are all common in the wake of a crash. This, along with your injuries, can strengthen your claim against the liable party.

How Hedge Copeland Can Help

The team at Hedge Copeland has handled many truck accident cases in Prichard, AL during our years in practice. We understand the devastation that a truck accident can leave behind, and we’re determined to help victims get the compensation and closure they deserve. With over 8,500 crashes in 2020 alone, it’s clear that truck collisions are a significant problem in Alabama.

However, you can’t rely on the trucking company or truck driver to do the right thing when it comes to providing you with the compensation you’re owed. Their goal is to avoid legal issues and limit financial fallout. Our goal is to hold the liable party accountable and fight for every dollar of compensation you deserve.

Call Us Now and Get the Help You Need

The sooner you connect with the team at Hedge Copeland, the sooner we can start investigating your accident and building a case for you. Let’s set up a consultation now. Just reach out online or call us at 251-432-8844 to schedule a meeting with our team.