Spanish Fort, AL Truck Accident Lawyers

If you’ve ever had an entire trip rerouted by a tractor-trailer rolling over or jackknifing on the freeway, you know just how serious a truck accident can be. Even truck collisions that are considered minor often lead to full road closures, property damage, and significant delays.

When a truck accident causes injuries, victims are often left with substantial medical bills, property damage, and other expenses. Get the help you need with the guidance of a truck accident lawyer in Spanish Fort, AL. Call Hedge Copeland at 251-432-8844 to set up a consultation now.

Alabama Truck Accident Statistics

Truck accidents have been trending upwards for at least 10 years, although 2020 did see a significant dip—this may be due to decreased traffic as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much depends on 2021 statistics and what they show. Unfortunately, truck accident fatalities have also trended upward for several years. They peaked in 2016 when 157 people died in truck collisions.

Collisions are reported on every type of road in Alabama, but interstates see the greatest share of truck accidents, followed by city roads, state routes, and U.S. routes.

What Causes Truck Crashes on Alabama Roads?

Vehicle collisions can be traced back to a variety of errors, unavoidable obstacles, and malfunctions. However, the majority of accidents are the result of human error. Some of the most commonly reported accident causes include:

• Improper lane changing (over 13% of all truck crashes)
• Failure to yield right of way (10.2% of collisions)
• Unseen obstacle
• Tailgating
• Failure to judge stopping distance accurately
• Equipment malfunction
• Unsafe or improper turns
• Speeding too fast for conditions
• Unsafe passing
• Driving while impaired
• Aggressive driving
• Ignoring signs, traffic signals, or other guides

Common Types of Collisions

The unusual size and structure of commercial trucks mean that they are prone to specific types of accidents. Some types of truck accidents you may see on Alabama roads include:

• Jackknife: When you see a tractor-trailer fold in on itself, lock, and spin out of control, that is a jackknife. It often happens when a driver swerves to avoid an obstacle, gets stuck in inclement weather, or overcorrects. They then lose complete control of the vehicle. A truck in this position is very dangerous, as it may strike other vehicles, get stuck in a ditch, roll over, or block the highway.
• Rollover: Since trucks have a high center of gravity, they are at risk of rolling over when they are hit by high winds, when they are poorly loaded, or when an inexperienced driver is behind the wheel.
• Rear-end: Rear-end collisions are generally considered minor when they involve passenger vehicles. However, a truck rear-ending someone—even at low speeds—can cause fatal or severe injuries.
• Underride: Underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle behind a truck runs into the back of the truck. The front of the smaller car gets crushed underneath the back of the truck and the top is ripped off. These accidents often cause fatal or severe injuries.
• Sideswipe: Trucks are known for having large blind spots along both sides. If a driver attempts to switch lanes while a smaller vehicle is in their blind spot, they can cause a sideswipe collision. Depending on the design of the truck, the side of a passenger vehicle can get stuck underneath the truck in an underride collision.
• Multi-car pileup: The sheer size of a tractor-trailer gives it the capacity to cause massive amounts of damage. It’s often nearly impossible for cars in the surrounding area to stop in time to avoid becoming collateral damage. As a result, multi-car pileups are always a possibility.

You Could Be Entitled to Compensation

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses. But you’ll need to be able to prove that the accident was someone else’s fault, that the accident caused your injuries, and that your injuries have caused you measurable damage. Should you be successful in your claim, you may receive money for:

• Medical bills and related expenses
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma
• Lost wages
• Lost future earning opportunities if you suffer permanent or catastrophic injuries
• Future medical expenses if your injuries will require permanent care

As you may imagine, the costs associated with a truck accident are far higher than those that come with the average passenger vehicle crash. Luckily, commercial trucks have much larger insurance policies than passenger vehicles. Of course, this also means that there are more hurdles you need to jump before you can actually receive the compensation you are owed.

How We Can Help

We know how challenging it can be to get the compensation you’re owed after a crash, and our team of experienced truck accident attorneys knows what it takes to hold negligent drivers and employers accountable. After a crash, an entire team goes into action on the truck driver’s side.

Their employer’s insurance company, legal team, and investigators start to look into the crash, analyze data, and figure out what happened. This gives them leverage, and they’re not afraid to use it to deny you full and fair compensation.

The team at Hedge Copeland goes into action immediately. Truck accidents have a substantial amount of evidence available, including trucking logs, electronic logging devices, hiring documentation, and truck drivers’ employment history.

By putting everything together, we strive to create an ironclad case proving the other party’s negligence. Through an in-depth look at your injuries and medical logs, we will figure out what you are owed after a collision and fight on your behalf. Most claims are settled out of court, but if necessary, we will take your case to court and advocate for you there.

Contact Hedge Copeland Now

Don’t wait any longer to get the representation you deserve. The truck driver involved in your accident already has an entire team working for them—make sure you have the assistance you need. Give us a call at 251-432-8844 or send us a message online to set up a consultation right now.