Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic, leaving many victims suffering long-term injuries. This can leave victims facing extreme medical debt who might not know where to begin addressing it.
There are many types of truck accidents, each presenting its unique challenges. Fortunately, our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you overcome the complexities in your case. While a truck driver is most likely at fault for causing an accident, their employer could also be liable in certain situations. However, trucks are complex vehicles, so other parties responsible for a truck’s safe operation could also be held liable for causing your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you get the justice you deserve from the parties responsible. For a free case review, contact Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Common Types of Alabama Truck Accidents
There are several different types of truck accidents in Alabama. Most of these accidents can be serious, depending on the truck involved. Many truck accidents cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries, while others can result in fatalities. Fortunately, our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve regardless of the type of accident that caused your injuries.
Head-On Accidents
Head-on truck accidents are one of the deadliest yet most common types in which a person can be involved. Truck drivers could move carelessly in the opposite direction of traffic if they become distracted or lose concentration because of fatigue. When this occurs, the deadly consequences of a head-on collision cannot be overstated.
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end accidents are another typical kind of accident involving commercial trucks. A truck driver can cause a rear-end accident in several ways. For instance, if a truck driver is tailgating another vehicle that suddenly needs to stop, there will likely not be enough room to allow the truck to stop before hitting the back of the other car.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone truck accidents occur when a truck crashes into the side of a car passing in front. T-bone accidents can be devastating, especially if a person is sitting on the side of a car impacted by the truck. T-bone accidents typically occur when a truck driver negligently runs a red light or stop sign.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents can cause extreme chaos on Alabama highways. Commercial trucks have detailed specifications regarding how much weight can be towed and how a truck’s cargo should be loaded. If a truck’s trailer is improperly loaded, it can cause a truck driver to lose control, resulting in a serious accident.
Jackknife accidents
Jackknife accidents happen when the truck driver’s cab folds back into a V-shape towards the truck’s trailer. A truck driver has little control over their vehicle once it starts to jackknife. Incredibly terrible injuries and fatalities can result if a car is caught in the V-shape of a jackknifing truck. Our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you develop the proper legal strategies depending on how your accident occurred.
Common Types of Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Alabama
Truck accidents are responsible for some of the worst injuries a person could suffer. Even a relatively light impact by a truck can have serious consequences on a victim. The following are common types of injuries victims can suffer in an Alabama truck accident:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Burn injuries
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
- Death
Many of the injuries listed can be life-altering and likely require long-term treatment to reach the levels of health a victim was at before being injured. Our Alabama truck accident attorneys can evaluate your case to help you determine the amount of compensation you will need to see you through recovery.
Identifying the Liable Parties in an Alabama Truck Accident Case
Determining liability in a typical car accident is usually fairly straightforward, but not so much with truck accident cases. Commercial truck accidents are more complex because of the different parties involved who could share liability. A truck driver will be directly liable for causing an accident in many cases. Like all drivers, truckers are required to drive reasonably safely under the circumstances and obey traffic laws. Truck drivers are also responsible for ensuring their truck is safe to operate on the road by inspecting and maintaining their equipment.
However, a truck driver’s employer could also be held accountable if their driver negligently causes an accident. Alabama recognizes the doctrine of respondeat superior, meaning that an employer can be held responsible for the negligent acts of their employees while they are on the job and acting within the scope of their employment.
Sometimes, a truck accident could be caused by a third party other than the driver or employer. For instance, you could be involved in a multicar truck accident caused by another negligent driver. If a third-party mechanic was hired to perform routine truck repairs, they could be held liable if their negligence contributed to causing a truck accident later. Alternatively, the designer or manufacturer of a defective truck part could be responsible for causing an accident. Our Alabama truck accident attorneys can review your case to help you determine the parties that should be held accountable for causing your injuries.
How Fault is Determined in an Alabama Truck Accident Lawsuit
A common defense used in truck accident lawsuits is to accuse the victim of contributing to or causing the accident in which they were injured. This can seriously impact your case, as Alabama is one of the few states to recognize pure contributory negligence. This means that a victim will be barred from recovering any compensation if they are found to have contributed to their accident in any way. Our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you challenge any allegations that you caused or contributed to causing your accident.
Our Alabama Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
If you were recently injured in a truck accident, our Alabama truck accident attorneys can help you recover compensation for the injuries you unjustly suffered. Call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357 for a free case evaluation.
