Asheville Truck Accident Lawyer

Asheville Truck Accident Attorney

With their size, cargo, and speed, trucks can cause serious damage on the road. If you are involved in a truck accident in Asheville, North Carolina, it is important that you contact an Asheville truck accident lawyer right away for legal guidance. Your lawyer can assist you in fighting for your rights and maximizing your compensation package in the wake of your accident.

At Bridgman Gantt Law Offices, our personal injury lawyers possess over three decades of experience fiercely advocating for clients who have been hurt in truck accidents. Our team understands how complicated and confusing it can be to negotiate with insurance companies while healing. When you put your trust in us, you can rest assured that your interests are represented while you recover.

What Causes Commercial Trucking Accidents?

Trucks are important vehicles for transporting cargo across long distances. However, their purpose also makes them dangerous, as unstable cargo, tired drivers, and more can all cause catastrophic collisions on the road. Causes of commercial trucking accidents in Asheville, North Carolina, include:

• Distracted Drivers: The road is full of distractions. If a truck driver looks at their phone or glances at their cargo to check stability, they could quickly cause an accident. It is thus vital for drivers to minimize distractions around them and make sure all of their goods are safe and secure before they get behind the wheel.
• Tired Drivers: When truck drivers transport goods across long distances, they can soon become fatigued. It is vital that they take breaks and sleep after their shifts so that they are alert on the road. Even a quick instance of dozing off on the road can cause drivers to swerve, fail to yield, or perform any number of dangerous moves that leave people around them injured.
  If a trucking company was responsible for long shifts that prevented the truck driver from getting adequate rest, they could be held responsible for your damages.
• DUIs: Driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol is against the law. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes operate their trucks while intoxicated, and their impaired mental state leads them to make reckless decisions behind the wheel. They can be held liable for your damages in addition to facing criminal charges.
• Unsecured Cargo: Sometimes, the goods that trucks carry are not properly secured and can shift or fall out while the truck is on the road. This can put those around the truck in danger and cause fatal injuries.
• Bad Weather: When there are dangerous weather conditions like rain and snow, you will need to be more alert than ever behind the wheel. Still, slippery roads can cause trucks to skid and swing outwards or roll over. They can also cause brakes to fail, which leads to rear-end collisions.

What Are Common Commercial Trucking Injuries?

The force of a truck accident can cause significant damage. If you are a victim of a commercial trucking accident, you could face a long list of injuries that result in painful recovery and costly medical bills. For instance, some injuries that you might face include:

• Head Injuries: Injuries to your head, such as traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and brain contusions, are all possible injuries after a truck accident. Even if you think you feel fine after an accident, it is vital that you are examined by a medical professional to make sure you are okay, as these injuries can lead to serious complications or death.
• Spine Injuries: If you are injured by a truck, you might experience damage to your spine, which can cause long-term or permanent damage, such as paralysis.
• Broken Bones: A serious accident can cause broken bones in any part of your body, like your legs, arms, and ribs. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might also have to endure an amputation.
• Burns: Some truck accidents lead to fires, especially if hazardous materials in the truck are spilled. If this happens, you might sustain burn injuries that require intensive reconstruction.
• PTSD: Not all injuries from a trucking accident are physical. If you are involved in a serious accident, you might experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression afterward.

What Steps Should You Take After a Trucking Accident?

If you were in a truck accident, try to remain calm. Follow the steps below:

• Get to a Safe Area: If you can safely move without exacerbating a serious injury, go to a safe place. If you are on a highway, try to move away from the line of oncoming traffic and go to a place where you can make a call to the authorities.
• Call the Police: You are legally required to call 911 after you are involved in an accident. If you drive away or do not alert the authorities of the accident, you could face criminal charges, fines, and even jail time. If you were hurt in the accident and not at fault, it is also in your interest to call the authorities, as this will help them file a report that serves as evidence in your personal injury claim.
• Get Medical Attention: You need to receive medical attention as soon as possible. If you are in a trucking accident, you might have serious, life-threatening injuries, even if you do not feel extreme pain at the moment. Your medical records will serve as vital evidence for your personal injury claim as well.
• Exchange Contact Information: You and the other driver or drivers in your accident need to exchange contact information and insurance information. Driving away from the scene is against the law, and if the other driver did this, you should stay where you are and report any details you can recall about them and their vehicle to the law enforcement officers who arrive at the scene.
• Take Photos or Videos: If you can safely do so, snap photos or videos of the scene so that you have clear evidence of what happened on the day.
• Talk to Witnesses: If possible, exchange contact information with witnesses who saw what happened. They might have vital details or photographic evidence that works in your favor.
• Get in Touch With Your Auto Insurance: You should alert your insurance of what happened. They will need to investigate who was at fault.
• Contact a Trucking Accident Attorney: You should reach out to a personal injury lawyer who can advise you on how to proceed after your accident. You will likely want to file a personal injury claim, and your personal injury lawyer can assist you with this process and help smooth over any complications that arise while you seek your settlement.

How Is Fault Determined in a Trucking Accident?

In North Carolina, the person who was at fault for an accident is responsible for paying the damages to the person or people who were not at fault. Typically, this process begins when both parties file a claim with their auto insurance company, and the companies’ investigators look into what happened.

In the case of a commercial trucking accident, however, this process can become a bit more complex. For instance, in some cases, you might be able to hold the truck driver’s company liable for their actions. To effectively determine who might be held liable in your case, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney.

Your personal injury lawyer can also help you stand up to allegations of fault. North Carolina adheres to a principle called contributory negligence, which means that if you bear a small part of the fault, you might not be allowed to seek a financial settlement after your accident.

Sometimes, insurance companies, which aim to maximize profit, might falsely accuse you of being responsible for the accident in order to minimize or altogether eliminate your payout. If you are experiencing complications like this, a trucking accident lawyer can review your legal options.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?

The process of determining fault and securing compensation after a trucking accident can be complicated. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands. From the start, they can answer any and all questions you might have about your case and how to pursue justice. Your lawyer can also assist with securing evidence that supports your claim, like medical records and police statements.

In addition, your personal injury lawyer in Asheville, NC, should have years of experience negotiating with auto insurance companies about personal injury claims. Your attorney can thus simplify the process of fighting for your settlement. In the event that your case goes to court, your lawyer will be there to advocate on your behalf.

Asheville Truck Accident FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

A: All truck accidents are different, and thus, so are truck accident settlements. The amount of money that you will receive in your settlement will depend on a wide range of factors, including how severely you were injured, the extent to which you contributed to the accident, and more. To better understand how much you might have to pay after your accident, you should get in contact with a truck accident attorney, who can give you advice tailored to your specific case.

Q: What Is the Number One Injury for Truck Drivers?

A: Truck drivers commonly sustain injuries to the head or back as a result of their position while operating a vehicle. However, they are also at risk for other injuries in a trucking accident, including burn injuries, broken bones, fractures, and more. It is important to receive medical attention right after any trucking accident to make sure any injuries are identified and addressed right away.

Q: Why Are Trucking Accidents a Serious Issue?

A: Trucks are much larger and heavier than other vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles. If there is an accident involving a truck, there is thus more force, and the vehicle can cause more damage to the people involved. Trucks often also carry cargo that can be hazardous and cause additional harm that is not present in other accidents. It is vital to exercise caution when driving around trucks and for truck drivers to follow all of the rules of the road.

Q: How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Claim in North Carolina?

A: If you file a claim with an auto insurance company after an accident in Asheville, North Carolina, then the company has 90 days to respond to your claim. In some cases, the company’s response might state that it needs more time to investigate the claim. If the insurance company is taking too long to pay your claim, a lawyer could help.

Q: Is North Carolina a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

A: No, North Carolina is what is called an at-fault state for car accidents. This means that fault plays a role in determining who pays for the damages after an accident. If you were found to be partially at fault, then you might not receive a settlement for your suffering. You might have to pay for the other person’s suffering if they were found not at fault.

If you believe that you were not at fault and are entitled to compensation, you should hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your interests and protect your rights.

Contact an Experienced Asheville Truck Accident Lawyer Today

The legal aftermath of a commercial accident can be confusing, complex, and drawn out. While you can attempt to negotiate with insurance companies on your own, this can add additional stress to your recovery. Instead, you should rely on a trustworthy trucking accident attorney who has years of experience fighting for clients’ rights after collisions.

You can rely on our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices to advocate for you after your trucking accident. We understand that no two accidents are exactly the same, and we can carefully review the facts of your case and the impact it has had on you and your loved ones. To learn more about how we can help you with your personal injury case, contact us today to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation.