truck accident

More than 37,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents every year, and an additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled. When one of the vehicles involved is an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer, the chances of the occupants in a car sustaining catastrophic or fatal injuries increases significantly.

At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., we understand the pain and financial strain that a truck accident can cause. If you’ve been hurt in an Alabama 18-wheeler accident caused by a negligent driver, trucking company, or another responsible party, we will be ready to stand up for you.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck wreck in Alabama, hire an experienced attorney who can help you pursue justice. Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.’s nationally recognized lawyers are experienced, committed, and aggressive in seeking compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that if we don’t secure compensation for you, you won’t owe us anything. Call us or contact us online today for a free consultation about your case.

Common Causes of Alabama Truck Wrecks

Truck accidents can happen because of many causes, some less obvious than others. In Alabama, some of the most frequent causes include:

  • Improper lane changes
  • Failure to yield right of way
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Fatigue
  • Tailgating
  • Driving too fast for road conditions
  • Faulty brakes
  • Improperly loaded cargo

Determining the direct cause of the accident is often the first step in pursuing compensation. However, determining who was at fault for the collision can be a much more complicated question.

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Crash?

Liability for truck accidents often involves a complicated web of individuals and businesses, in addition to the truck driver. Under federal law, trucking companies are responsible for the actions of their employee drivers. Meanwhile, truck owners and manufacturers are responsible for the safe condition of the equipment.

Responsible parties may include:

  • Truck drivers
  • Trucking companies
  • Truck and trailer owners and leasing companies
  • Cargo loaders and manufacturers
  • Manufacturers of the truck and its parts
  • Truck repair and maintenance companies

Responsibility for accidents involving trucks is often shared among multiple parties. This can be one of the most complicated aspects of dealing with 18-wheeler accidents. It’s also one of the most important reasons to turn to a qualified truck accident attorney.

Types of Truck Accident Injuries in Alabama

Because of their size and speed, collisions with trucks can prove devastating for the drivers and passengers involved. Injuries caused by truck crashes in Alabama frequently include:

  • Whiplash
  • Internal bleeding
  • Burns
  • Joint damage

The long-term impact of such injuries is often not clear from the outset. Besides the suffering caused, they may saddle you with large hospital bills, while also limiting your ability to work. At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., we work with experienced economists and life planners who can estimate the full financial consequences of your injuries.

Hostile defense lawyers and insurance companies may try to pay you less than you deserve. Don’t let them get away with it.

Compensation for Losses in 18-Wheeler Wrecks

When mistakes lead to a serious truck crash that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of present and future earnings
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Property damage

There is nothing petty or greedy about seeking compensation for your losses. Truckers are required by law to ensure the safety of the vehicles around them. When they or their companies fail to do so, the law obliges them to pay for the losses they have caused.

When to Call an Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer

A collision, like a sideswipe accident, with a massive 18-wheeler or another commercial vehicle could turn your life upside down in an instant. While seeking medical attention should be the first thing you do, the second should be to call an experienced semi-truck accident attorney to represent you.

While you are in the hospital recovering from your injuries, the trucking company could be working to hide evidence of liability on the part of the driver or the company itself. Your lawyer can conduct an immediate investigation and will work to secure vital evidence before it is cleaned up, altered, or destroyed. Because multiple parties could share liability in these cases, your attorney will work to identify all liable parties and seek to hold them accountable.

It is crucial to note that Alabama law recognizes the doctrine of pure contributory negligence, which means that if you were so much as 1% responsible for your accident, you aren’t entitled to any compensation for your injuries. Because of this, lawyers for the trucking company and other responsible parties may try to shift the blame to you.

However, you shouldn’t let this scare you away from pursuing your claim. Instead, make sure to hire an attorney who understands Alabama negligence law and who knows how to build a winning case on your behalf.

How Can Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., Help Me?

Dealing with the trauma of a truck accident can be a long and painful process. Claiming financial compensation for your injuries doesn’t have to be. A law firm with experience dealing with 18-wheeler crashes in Alabama will know exactly what steps to take in order to maximize your chances of receiving full and fair compensation.

At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our nationally-recognized Alabama personal injury attorneys have decades of experience holding at-fault parties accountable for their actions. Our lawyers will gather all the necessary evidence about the crash and aggressively negotiate with trucking companies for compensation. Just as importantly, we will ensure that you avoid saying or doing anything that may work against your case.

We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there is no risk in pressing your claim. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck wreck, contact us today to talk about getting the compensation you may deserve.