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Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton

All We Do is Injury Law

Toll-Free: 1-800-752-0042
Phone: 1-757-460-7776

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The Best Carolina Truck Accident Injury Attorney Resource Page

If you've been hurt in a truck accident... 

First, review our frequently asked questions:
Best truck accident injury law firm in North Carolina
Best truck accident injury law firm in North CarolinaSecond, Get your free North Carolina consumer car accident injury guide
 "The Best Guide to Car Accident Injuries in North Carolina: What You Need to Know if Hurt in a Car"

Third, review our case results:
  • $3.5 Million Settlement for Truck Accident Victim Awarded: $3.5 Million plus Mediation Costs
  • Tractor-Trailer/Car Crash Wrongul Death - $2.4 Million Settlement 
  • MACK truck-trailer-wreck/leg fractures Awarded: $650,000.00
  • Truck-Train crossing collision-back injuriesAwarded: $650,000.00

1. Trucks are significantly heavier than cars. The power, size and weight of a commercial tractor-trailer make the impact of a truck collision much worse and the chance of serious injury and death much higher. The death rate for truck crashes is 50 percent higher than for car accidents, and many injuries may cause life-long disability and permanent or chronic health problems. 

2. Trucks are harder to maneuver than cars. Because of their weight and build, trucks take longer to break and longer to accelerate. They also take wide turns, accelerate quickly down hills, have larger blind spots, and are prone to jackknifing. Since they are driven so often, they are also more susceptible to mechanical problems such as brake failure.

3. Trucks are commercial vehicles. This means that the tractor, the trailer, and the truck driver may all have different truck insurance policies, making the task of pinpointing who is responsible for paying damages more complex than usual.

4. Trucking companies can make settling claims needlessly difficult. Because trucking companies are very familiar with truck accident cases, they often know how to impede, frustrate, intimidate, or stress the injury victim into giving up their fight for rightful compensation.
However, just because a truck accident and truck accident injury claim may be different or more difficult than a car accident injury doesn’t mean you should stop pursuing your valid insurance claim. Our injury law firm specializes in truck accident injury cases and can assist you along every step of the way toward justice.

While many truck companies in the Carolinas often collect evidence at the truck crash site, immediately interview witnesses, and clam up directly after the accident, you need someone on your side who knows the insider information and is familiar with all legal aspects of your case. We have represented hundreds of truck accident injury victims and have the expertise, information, and tenacity to stand up to the truck companies and insurance companies who are attempting to thwart the payments that you need and deserve.


Determining fault in your truck accident injury
In examining truck accident cases, it is important to both collect the pertinent evidence about the truck accident in question and understand the federal regulations for commercial trucks and truck drivers. It is also important to know the common causes of truck accidents:
• Equipment failure. Trucks are required to be checked and tuned very regularly because they log so many miles on the road. A missed federal inspection could lead to a deadly truck accident.

• Trucker fatigue. There are also federal regulations that state how long and how often a trucker can operate his big rig, but some drivers wanting to make more money or hit a deadline ignore the laws. If he drives for too long, he could fall asleep at the wheel, turning his 18-wheeler into a dangerous weapon on the road.

• Irresponsible trucking companies. Some companies will give their drivers impossible schedules, causing speeding, stress, improper loading, and driver fatigue.

• Alcohol and drug use. Just as with all drivers, some truck drivers operate under the influence of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Some do so to stay awake and alert, others do so because of boredom, addiction, or plain negligence.

• Improper cargo loads. A truck that is not properly loaded is more likely to jackknife, tip, or roll. An overloaded truck is prone to equipment failure.


These dangerous and sometimes fatal mistakes can lead to any number of serious injuries including: 
Our injury law firm will collect vital evidence such as skid mark information, vehicle damage, tire damage, driving logs, truck data systems, and witness statements. In addition, we will untangle the often-complex web of liability that usually involves the trucker, the trucking company, and the trailer owner. Throughout the process, we will keep you informed and involved.


 




 

Blog for Crashes Caused by Trucks

Library for Crashes Caused by Trucks:

  • North Carolina Truck Companies
    Description: This is a list of all the truck companies based in North Carolina.
  • Trucks Accidents And Mechanical Failure
    Description: Did you know that mechanical failure is the second most common cause of truck accidents? Because of the heavy use of commercial trucks - paired with their size and weight - trucks are very susceptible to potentially dangerous mechanical problems that can lead to truck accidents.
  • Carolina Truck Accidents: Improperly Loaded Trucks
    Description: Many people are aware of common truck driver errors, but what happens when a big rig or tractor-trailer has been improperly loaded or overloaded? In many cases, a truck that is not correctly loaded as outlined in the federal regulation will become involved in a truck accident.
  • Carolina Truck Accidents: Truck Driver Distractions
    Description: For truckers, the road is their office and their cab is their cubicle. Because they spend their work day on the road, they are much more likely than other drivers to engage in multi-tasking that results in driver distractions. Learn what the most common driver distractions for truck drivers are that cause truck accidents.
  • Top Five Truck Accident Facts in North Carolina
    Description: As lawyers focusing our work on serious injuries from commercial truck wrecks, the following items are some of the best evidence of the significant problems faced on North Carolina roads because of big rigs:

    • View All

Frequent Questions for Crashes Caused by Trucks:

Videos about Crashes Caused by Trucks:

Web Resources for Crashes Caused by Trucks:



About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury law and have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our truck accident case results and download our free consumer guide on what to do if you get into a wreck with a commercial truck. We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2010 and have been listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. The firm has been recognized as one of the Best Injury Law Firms in North Carolina for personal injury plaintiffs since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, and our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. So call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call promptly.

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