Tuskegee Trucking Accident Lawyer
A vast majority of truck accidents in Tuskegee happen along the I-85, which is considered the most dangerous interstate for truckers in the entire country. I-85 has a fatality rate of 6.1 per 100 miles under inclement weather conditions – which is higher than the fatality rate of any other interstate in the country under similar conditions.
The most common factors that contribute to truck accidents in Tuskegee, AL include:
- Fatigued driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Overloading
- Failing to secure the cargo
- Poor maintenance
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Bad road conditions
- Adverse weather conditions
Common Injuries That Can Result from a Truck Accident
Commercial trucks are several times larger in size compared to passenger vehicles and can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. When a fully loaded truck and a passenger vehicle collide with each other, the occupants of the passenger vehicle could suffer catastrophic injuries, which might include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Limb loss
- Serious injuries to internal organs
- Compound fractures
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Tuskegee, AL?
If the driver in question was impaired, distracted, or was speeding at the time of the accident, they can be held liable for your injuries. Moreover, depending on the circumstances, the truck company they work for can also be held liable for the accident.
Liability of Truck Companies – What You Need to Know
There are two ways in which a truck company in Tuskegee, AL can be held liable for an accident caused by one of its drivers.
Direct Liability
If the company was negligent in any way, and if their negligence contributed to the accident, they can be jointly and severally held liable for the accident – along with the driver.
Common examples of truck company negligence include:
- Hiring an inexperienced, unqualified, or untrained driver to operate a commercial truck
- Hiring a driver with a history of impaired driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and other traffic violations
- Forcing the driver to drive continuously for more than 11 hours or for more than 60 hours in a given week
- Pressuring the driver to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines
- Failing to service the truck regularly
Vicarious Liability
Even if the truck company did not do anything that can be considered negligent, they can still be held liable for the accident – as long as the driver was acting within the scope of their employment duties. This concept is known as vicarious liability, under which an employer can be held financially accountable for the actions of their employees.
Other parties that can be held for a truck accident include:
- The party responsible for loading the truck (if the accident was caused as a result of overloading or poorly secured cargo)
- Vehicle or part manufacturer (if the accident was caused as a result of a defective component in the truck)
- The government agency responsible for road maintenance (if the accident was caused as a result of defective or dangerous road conditions)
Damages You Can Recover in a Tuskegee, AL Truck Accident Claim
- Medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Cost of rehabilitation and therapy
- Cost of assistive devices and home modifications and upgrades (if you are disabled as a result of your injuries)
- Lost earnings
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
In addition to this, if you are permanently disabled as a result of your injuries and not able to perform your duties as a spouse and a parent, your family members can also file a claim against the at-fault parties and seek compensation for the loss of companionship, comfort, guidance, and care (commonly referred to as the loss of consortium) caused by your disability.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Our Tuskegee, AL Truck Accident Lawyers are Here to Help You
Truck accidents can result in debilitating, life-altering injuries. You need an attorney who’s been in the legal trenches on your side to recover the compensation you are owed.
Attorney Frank M. Wilson has more than 30 years of experience in handling injury claims and has recovered millions in damages for his clients over the years. A recipient of the AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, attorney Wilson is highly acclaimed by his peers as well as clients for his credentials, legal knowledge, and a successful track record of resolving complex personal injury cases.
Our law firm has access to a large network of experts including accident reconstruction specialists, forensic pathologists, conspicuity experts, and medical professionals. We can launch a thorough investigation, find out who can be held liable for your injuries, gather the evidence needed to prove their liability, and fight aggressively to get you the settlement you deserve.
To discuss your claim with a trustworthy and successful Tuskegee, AL truck accident lawyer, call our firm today at 334-420-2931 or contact us online and schedule a free consultation.
