Have you been injured in a tractor-trailer accident in Birmingham, Alabama? Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you contact us at (205) 973-6417. We offer a free consultation with a Birmingham tractor-trailer accident lawyer who can find out what caused the crash, who may be at fault, and help you seek payment for your losses.
A tractor-trailer can cause severe harm when it crashes into a smaller vehicle. Victims may face serious injuries, large medical bills, lost income, and months or years of recovery. A lawyer can investigate the accident and determine who may be responsible.
Why Choose Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for a Tractor-Trailer Accident Case in Birmingham, AL?
Tractor-trailer cases can be more complex than other crash claims. The driver, trucking company, truck owner, or another business may be responsible for the accident. Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers handles serious personal injury cases in Birmingham, AL.
Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers can help by:
- Looking into the cause of the crash
- Gathering truck and driver records
- Finding each party that may be at fault
- Reviewing medical bills and lost income
- Dealing with trucking and insurance companies
- Seeking payment through a settlement or lawsuit
Truck accident evidence can disappear over time. Starting an investigation early can help protect records that may show why the crash occurred. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with a Birmingham personal injury attorney.
What Causes Tractor-Trailer Accidents?
Truck drivers must safely control large vehicles while sharing the road with cars, motorcycles, and other drivers. A mistake behind the wheel or a problem with the truck can cause a serious accident.
Common causes include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Tired driving
- Following too closely
- Unsafe lane changes
- Poor truck maintenance
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Driving too fast for the road conditions
Some crashes have more than one cause. For example, poor maintenance may make it harder for a driver to stop safely in an emergency.
Finding the cause can help show who should be held responsible.
Who May Be Liable for a Tractor-Trailer Crash?
The truck driver is not always the only person liable for a crash. Trucking involves several people and businesses, and their actions may all need to be reviewed.
Possible at-fault parties include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck owner
- A cargo loading company
- A repair or maintenance company
- Another driver
A trucking company may be responsible for unsafe hiring, training, or work practices. It may also be responsible for certain actions of a driver working for the company.
Finding all at-fault parties can be important when a crash causes severe injuries.
What Evidence Can Help Prove a Truck Accident Claim?
Tractor-trailers can create records that are not available after a normal car crash. These records may help show what the driver and trucking company were doing before the accident.
Important evidence may include:
- Police reports
- Photos and videos
- Witness statements
- Driver logs
- Truck inspection records
- Maintenance records
- Electronic truck data
- Dash camera footage
- Cargo records
- Cell phone records
Federal rules also limit how long many commercial drivers may stay on duty. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours-of-service rules can be important when tired driving may have caused a crash.
A Birmingham truck accident attorney can seek company records and compare them with other evidence from the accident.
What Injuries Can Tractor-Trailer Accidents Cause?
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can cause severe injuries when it hits a passenger vehicle. Some victims need surgery, hospital care, or long-term treatment.
Common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Head and brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Cuts and scars
- Lasting disabilities
Some injuries may affect a person’s ability to work or live without help. Future medical care may become an important part of the claim when the injuries are severe.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A truck accident claim may seek payment for the financial (economic damages) and personal harm (non-economic damages) caused by the crash. The amount depends on the injuries and other facts of the case.
Available damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Lasting injury or disability
A serious injury may create costs long after the crash. Medical records and other evidence can help show both current losses and future needs.
How Does Alabama Contributory Negligence Affect a Truck Accident Claim?
Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule. In many cases, an injured person who helped cause the crash may be blocked from recovering damages. This makes disputes about fault very important. A trucking company or insurer may argue that the injured driver was speeding, distracted, or otherwise helped cause the accident.
Photos, video, witness statements, truck records, and other evidence can help show what happened. A careful investigation may also help answer claims that the injured person was at fault.
How Long Do You Have To File a Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
Alabama generally gives an injured person two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some cases may have different deadlines or added requirements. Waiting can also make it harder to gather evidence, even when the filing deadline has not passed.
Truck data may be erased, video may be deleted, and witnesses may become harder to find. Starting the claim early can help protect useful evidence.
Contact a Birmingham Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer for Help Today
A tractor-trailer crash in Birmingham, AL, may involve a driver, trucking company, truck owner, and other businesses. Finding the cause of the crash and each at-fault party can be an important part of seeking payment.
A Birmingham tractor-trailer accident attorney at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and seek compensation for your losses. Contact the firm to discuss your legal options after a serious truck accident during your free consultation.