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Getting into any kind of accident on the road is a frightening experience. Trucking accidents can be even scarier due to the large size of commercial vehicles. Many passenger cars suffer severe damage, causing drivers and passengers to experience severe bodily injuries. Medical bills, lost wages, and property damage repairs add up quickly, leaving you and your family in debt for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you deserve compensation. Working with a team of personal injury attorneys is the best way to fight for your right to payment and get the outcome you deserve. At Rowland & Yauger, Attorneys & Counselors at Law, we serve North Carolina injury victims to help them seek justice. To learn more about our team and how we can help you, call us today at 910-621-2991 (Carthage) or 336-537-5547 (Asheboro).
What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in North Carolina?
Because commercial vehicles are integral to the American economy, there are many large trucks on the road every day. Most commercial trucks drive by without problems; however, certain circumstances or driver mistakes can make for a devastating accident.
The most common causes of commercial truck accidents include:
- Distracted drivers who are eating, drinking, or texting while driving
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
- Defective truck design
- Fatigued drivers
- Intoxicated drivers
- Improper or insufficient truck maintenance
- Unrealistic driving schedules or quotas
- Poor weather conditions leading to low visibility
- Poor road conditions
- Other drivers behaving recklessly around a commercial vehicle
Commercial truck drivers are bound by law to take rest periods. However, some trucking companies pressure their drivers into working extended hours, leading to tired drivers who may make mistakes or even fall asleep at the wheel. Fatigued driving is a significant cause of truck accidents, especially at night when drivers are tired.
What Are the Main Types of Truck Accidents?
While there are many different causes of a truck accident, there are also several different types of truck accidents you may have experienced. The kind of truck accident you were involved in can impact your injuries and compensation.
The main types of truck accidents include:
Truck Rollover
When trucks tip or fall, there is a possibility that they will roll over. Rollovers happen for various reasons, including taking a turn too fast, having cargo improperly loaded, or traversing a dangerous slope.
Excessive Cornering
Excessive cornering refers to a truck taking a turn too quickly. The inertial forces continue pushing the truck in the direction it was going before it started to turn. In many cases, a truck will tip or roll over after excessive cornering.
Jackknife
Jackknifing happens when the cab and the trailer of a truck fold in on themselves, creating a jackknife shape. Jackknifing can be caused by equipment failure, excessive speeding, or dangerous behavior from other motorists. Jackknife accidents often cause traffic jams and may involve multiple other vehicles.
Tipping
Commercial vehicles are tall, and a tipping truck can hurt or kill other drivers on the road. Tipping can happen when a vehicle slides and hits its tires on a curb or suddenly digs into soft ground. Improperly loaded cargo can also cause a truck to tip, especially when moving at high speeds.
What Are the Insurance Requirements for Commercial Trucks?
Commercial trucks that travel through different states are required to follow federal regulations when it comes to insurance. Understanding the insurance requirements for commercial vehicles can help you decide how you would like to pursue compensation.
The federal insurance minimum requirements are:
- $300,000 for general freight vehicles (under 10,000 GVW)
- $750,000 for general freight vehicles (over 10,000 GVW)
- $1,000,000 for oil
- $5,000,000 for hazardous matter
North Carolina law states that any intrastate commerce trucks must have a $750,000 minimum insurance policy. These insurance policies protect truck drivers and any accident victims when they are at fault. Insurance policies cover bodily injury and property damage.
Making a claim through an insurance company is a viable option after a truck accident. However, many insurance agents will do their best to avoid giving you the payment you deserve. Working with a team of truck accident lawyers is the best way to receive total compensation, even if you plan to get it through an insurance claim.
Who Can be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?
Unlike a car accident, trucking accidents are complex when it comes to assigning liability. In a commercial truck accident, there are several parties that could be at fault for your injuries.
The many parties that could be held liable include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner of the cab
- The owner of the trailer
- The driver’s employer
- The cargo loading company
- A third party that maintained the truck
- The truck manufacturer
Understanding the cause of your truck accident will help you determine who is liable for your injuries. Working with our team of truck accident lawyers will help you understand how to seek compensation from the at-fault parties.
What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
Being injured in an accident can leave you with expensive medical bills and property damage repairs. Getting the at-fault party to pay for your damages is often a long and arduous process, especially if you are going up against a large trucking company or well-established truck driver.
At Rowland & Yauger, Attorneys & Counselors at Law, an attorney on our team will walk you through every step of your case, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance agents, and filing a lawsuit in court if necessary. We will not stop until you have gotten the compensation you deserve. For more information about personal injury claims, call 910-621-2991 (Carthage) or 336-537-5547 (Asheboro).