A collision involving an 18-wheeler or another large commercial vehicle is terrifying. When a large truck towing a heavy trailer strikes a smaller vehicle, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic or fatal. The damage to your life can be extensive, and you may struggle to pick up the pieces and move after a crash.
For more than three generations, the North Carolina truck accident attorneys at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, have fought for fair compensation for those who have been hurt in terrible crashes. We know the far-reaching impact that truck accidents can have on the lives of victims and those close to them. We fight to hold negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, and other parties responsible for the harm they cause.
When you need aggressive, knowledgeable legal representation, turn to a truck accident law firm you can trust. Our respected team will handle every aspect of your truck accident claim while you focus on your health and your family. Contact us today for a free case review. There is no charge to get started on your case, and you only pay us if we recover money for you.
What Makes Truck Accidents So Complicated?
A truck accident is significantly different from a typical car crash. The size and weight of the vehicles involved, the severity of injuries and property damage, and truck-specific laws and regulations make seeking compensation more challenging. The stakes are often raised significantly, and it takes a knowledgeable truck accident attorney to make a difference for those who have been hurt.
Reasons why NC trucking accidents are complex:
- Truck accident claims tend to be more expensive – Large commercial trucks tend to cause more damage and more severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents. So the cost of covering a truck accident claim is usually higher. When insurance companies receive claims for large payouts, they tend to fight that much harder to deny responsibility.
- More than one party could be at fault – Truck accidents tend to involve multiple parties that could bear some or all liability for what happened. When more potentially at-fault parties are involved, there are usually more insurance providers, more lawyers, and more incentives to shift blame onto others.
- There are many complex rules and regulations – The trucking industry is subject to many federal and state rules and regulations that don’t apply to most drivers. This can make it more difficult to determine who may be liable in a particular accident scenario without the help of an experienced legal professional.
Common Causes Of Semi-Truck Accidents in North Carolina
There are many factors that contribute to tractor-trailer accidents.
Some of the most common causes of tractor-trailer accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured cargo
- Faulty brakes
- Poor maintenance
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Truck Wreck?
Multiple parties will typically be involved in a commercial trucking operation. If any of these parties were negligent in their duties, or their carelessness caused a severe injury or fatal crash, they could be liable.
Some entities that could be responsible for a semi-truck crash include:
- Truck driver or truck owner-operator
- Trucking company that owned the truck
- Trucking company that hired the driver
- Truck mechanic who worked on the rig
- Manufacturer of any defective truck components
- Manufacturer of hazardous cargo on the truck
- Cargo team that loaded goods into the truck
