North Carolina Truck Accident Attorney
If you suffered an injury in a North Carolina truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for the crash. Truck accidents often involve severe injuries resulting in significant medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Contact the attorneys of Ward Black Law for a free claim review today. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and walk you through the timeline of a truck accident injury lawsuit.
Reasons You Should Choose Ward Black Law’s Truck Accident Lawyer
When you choose the North Carolina truck accident lawyers of Ward Black Law, you’re choosing:
- Award-winning attorneys – Our law firm has received numerous awards, including recognition by Best Lawyers as one of the best personal injury law firms of 2024.
- Over $150 million recovered for clients – Our lawyers have recovered over $150 million in personal injury and wrongful death settlements for our clients.
- Exceptional client service – Our clients repeatedly leave positive reviews and testimonials for our team, highlighting our commitment to responsiveness and professionalism. For example, Nicole wrote, “Ward Black Law has always been professional, timely, and very nice to me. I was a little nervous to contact attorneys but I’m so glad I did now because they really make you feel comfortable.”
Liability in North Carolina Truck Accidents
Truck accident claims are often complex because they can involve multiple liable parties. Some of the parties that may be liable for your injuries include:
- Commercial truck drivers – If the driver engaged in negligent actions, such as distracted, drowsy, or impaired driving, they could be liable.
- Trucking companies – If the trucking company’s business practices encouraged behavior that led to the accident, such as speeding, it could be liable. Trucking companies would also be vicariously liable if their drivers were employees, not independent contractors.
- Vehicle manufacturers – If a vehicle defect contributed to the accident, the manufacturer could be liable.
- Maintenance providers – If poor truck maintenance contributed to the accident, the maintenance provider could be liable.
- Cargo loaders – If improperly loaded cargo contributed to the accident, the cargo loader could be liable.
- Third parties – Additional parties may share in liability for the accident, such as other motorists who cut off the semi-truck, leading to the collision.
What Compensation Could You Recover After a North Carolina Truck Accident?
Some of the most common and severe injuries suffered by victims of truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull or suffers a penetrating injury, either of which can cause permanent physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Spinal cord injuries – The impact of a truck collision can cause pinching or severing of the spinal cord and lead to paralysis.
- Broken bones – Due to the forces involved in large truck accidents, broken bones are extremely common injuries.
- Internal injuries – Some of the most dangerous injuries suffered by truck accident victims are internal injuries because they can be difficult to diagnose right away.
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, including any of those listed above, your North Carolina truck accident attorney can help you seek compensation for the following losses:
- Medical expenses – Past and future medical bills related to the incident, including surgeries, medical treatments, prescription medications, and physical therapy
- Lost wages – Past and future lost wages caused by your injuries’ impact on your ability to work
- Pain and suffering – The physical pain and emotional suffering you experience because of your injuries
- Property damage – Compensation for repairing or replacing damaged or lost property, including your vehicle
- Loss of consortium – If your injuries impact your relationship with your spouse, they may be able to seek compensation for loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs – If a loved one died due to injuries sustained in a truck accident, you can seek compensation for funeral and burial costs through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Common Types and Causes of Truck Accidents in NC
The most common causes of truck accidents involve negligence by the truck driver or another party, such as distracted or fatigued driving, improper maintenance, or improper hiring practices on the part of the trucking company.
Common types of truck accidents include:
- Head-on collisions – These collisions occur when the truck crosses the center line between lanes, often resulting in fatal injuries to victims.
- Rear-end collisions – These collisions can occur if the truck driver follows too closely and doesn’t brake in time, as large trucks require more distance to stop than smaller vehicles.
- Left-turn accidents – When trucks fail to yield to oncoming traffic when making left turns, they can lead to serious accidents.
- Jackknife accidents – These accidents happen when a truck’s trailer swings around and ends up perpendicular to the cab, often hitting nearby vehicles as it slides forward.
- Underride accidents – These accidents happen when a vehicle goes beneath a truck’s trailer.
- Rollover accidents – Unsecured loads or speeding on curves can cause rollovers that put other motorists in danger.
What to Do After a North Carolina Truck Accident
After a truck accident in North Carolina, you should take steps to protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries:
- Follow through with medical treatment. Follow through with your medical treatment, as it will improve your health and make it harder for the insurance company to claim that your injuries aren’t severe.
- Keep medical bills. Your attorney will use your medical records when calculating your medical expenses.
- Write down how the accident happened. While the accident is fresh in your mind, record everything you can remember. These notes may help you recall the details of the incident later.
- Contact a truck accident lawyer. For the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve, contact an experienced truck accident attorney from Ward Black Law.
The Role of a North Carolina Truck Accident Attorney
Our trucking accident lawyers in North Carolina can assist you with every aspect of your lawsuit. Some of the most important ways we can help are by:
- Investigating the accident to identify all liable parties and collect evidence proving their liability
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf for a favorable settlement
- Representing you at trial and seeking the maximum compensation if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement
If you suffered an injury in a commercial truck accident, contact the North Carolina truck accident attorneys at Ward Black Law for a free case review today.