If you were injured in a truck crash in Huntsville, Alabama, Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Our Huntsville tractor-trailer accident lawyers can investigate your accident, identify responsible parties, and pursue compensation for your injuries. Contact our firm today at 256-781-9242 to discuss your case.
Tractor-trailer accidents can cause serious injuries, expensive medical bills, and months of missed work. A tractor-trailer accident lawyer helps injured victims seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. These cases can be complex because multiple parties, including truck drivers and trucking companies, may share responsibility.
Why Choose Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Huntsville, AL?
Truck accident cases often involve large companies and several insurance policies. Strong evidence can help show who caused the crash and how much the injuries have cost. The Huntsville personal injury attorneys at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience helping injured victims pursue compensation after serious accidents.
The firm offers:
- More than 100 years of combined legal experience
- Over $400 million recovered for clients
- Experience handling serious personal injury cases
- Legal help with claims against drivers and trucking companies
Our Huntsville tractor-trailer accident attorneys can investigate the crash, gather records, and seek payment for your losses. We can also handle talks with insurers while you focus on medical care. Contact our Huntsville, AL, office today for a free consultation.
What Causes Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Huntsville?
Large trucks need more room to stop and turn than passenger cars. When drivers make mistakes or companies fail to maintain their trucks, serious crashes can happen.
Common causes include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Tired driving
- Following too closely
- Unsafe lane changes
- Poor truck maintenance
- Overloaded trailers
- Unsafe turns
A crash may have more than one cause. For example, a driver may be speeding while operating a truck with worn brakes. Finding each cause can help identify the people or businesses responsible.
Who May Be Liable for a Tractor-Trailer Crash?
The truck driver is not always the only party at fault. Several people or businesses may share responsibility when their actions contribute to a commercial truck crash.
Possible at-fault parties include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck owner
- A cargo loading company
- A repair company
- Another careless driver
A trucking company may be liable for poor hiring, training, or safety practices. It may also be liable for certain acts of its drivers while they are working.
A lawyer can review company records and contracts to find out who may share fault.
What Evidence Can Help Prove a Truck Accident Claim?
Truck accident cases often involve records that are not available after a normal car crash. Some of these records may be held by the trucking company.
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
Federal safety rules may also apply. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours-of-service rules limit how long many commercial drivers can work and drive. These records may help show whether the driver was tired or the company failed to follow safety rules.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Truck Accident?
A person hurt by a careless truck driver or another at-fault party may seek payment for the harm caused by the crash.
A claim may include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Lasting injury or disability
The value of a claim depends on the injuries and other facts. Severe injuries may lead to years of medical care and lost income. A personal injury lawyer can review these losses before seeking a settlement.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Tractor-Trailer Accident in Huntsville, AL?
Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule. If your own negligence contributed to causing the accident, you may be barred from recovering compensation, even if the other party was primarily responsible. Limited exceptions may apply, including cases involving wanton misconduct.
A trucking company or insurance adjuster may argue that you were speeding, distracted, or failed to avoid the collision. Alabama law does not automatically make you responsible simply because an insurer claims you contributed to the crash.
Evidence such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and truck records can help establish what happened. An attorney can review this evidence, challenge unsupported allegations of fault, and determine whether an exception to Alabama’s contributory negligence rule may apply.
How Long Do You Have to File a Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
Under Alabama Code § 6-2-38, you generally have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
Some truck accident claims may have different filing deadlines or additional notice requirements, especially those involving government entities or wrongful death. Important evidence, including truck data, surveillance footage, and maintenance records, may also be lost over time.
Contacting an attorney promptly can help preserve evidence and ensure you meet the deadlines that apply to your case.
Contact Our Huntsville Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
A tractor-trailer crash may involve a driver, trucking company, truck owner, or other business. Finding each at-fault party can be an important part of seeking payment.
A Huntsville tractor-trailer accident attorney at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and seek compensation for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.