HuntsvilleTruck Accident Lawyer

Have you suffered injuries due to a truck accident in Huntsville? Contact our truck accident lawyers in Huntsville to protect your rights today!

A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh many times more than a passenger car, so when the two collide, the people in the smaller vehicle often suffer serious injuries.

The best way to find out more information about your rights after a Huntsville truck accident is to contact an Alabama personal injury lawyer, like those at Mama Justice. Truck accident claims are particularly complicated. Alabama’s strict liability laws further complicate such cases. Therefore, it’s imperative to get proper legal aid.

What Causes Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Huntsville?

There are many different reasons that a truck accident might happen. What causes a truck accident is important: it can change what injuries occur, what liabilities there are, and what possible legal action can be taken. Common causes of truck accidents include:

1. Truck driver error or negligence
   • Fatigue
   • Distracted driving
   • Lane drifting
   • Tailgating
   • Shifting cargo
   • Speeding
   • Rollover caused by distraction
   • Impaired driving, such as under the influence of alcohol or drugs
   • Other forms of reckless driving
2. Non-commercial driver’s difficulty in maneuvering around commercial vehicles
   • Poor road conditions
   • Blind spots
   • Bad weather like rain, snow, or fog
3. Poorly-maintained vehicles
   • Malfunctioning or missing headlights
   • Brake or tire trouble
   • Malfunctioning or missing turn signals

If the truck driver was drunk, see how our Huntsville drunk driving accident lawyers can help.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Huntsville, Alabama?

In Alabama, you generally have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a lawsuit (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)). If you wait too long, a court can refuse to hear your case, no matter how serious your injuries were.

Truck cases need more time than most, and the clock is already running while you heal. Trucking companies have rapid response teams and insurance lawyers who start protecting themselves right away. Records like driver logs, electronic data, and maintenance files can be lost if no one asks for them in time. The sooner we get involved, the more we can protect.

Some claims have different rules, such as a death in the crash or a government-owned vehicle. Deadlines vary by claim type, so confirm yours with a Huntsville truck accident attorney as soon as you can.

What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?

Along with different causes of truck accidents, there are different types of truck accidents. These different types are categorized by the various conditions of the accident. Different injuries and legal recourse are possible depending on the type of accident. Here is a list of the most commonly reported trucking accidents in Huntsville:

Blindspot Truck Accident:

This type of accident occurs when a truck tries to switch lanes, but the driver cannot see the other automobiles on the road. Cars that are directly adjacent to trucks are in their blind spot and are at particular risk of being hit.

• Head-on Collisions: These kinds of accidents occur when a truck crashes directly into another vehicle in a head-on fashion. Given the sheer size of 18-wheelers, this can be particularly deadly.
• Jackknife Truck Accident: Often caused by improper braking and skidding, a jackknife accident occurs when a truck’s cargo trailer turns at an angle from the truck itself.
• Lost or shifting loads: Sometimes, a truck’s cargo can fall or slip from its trailer. The cargo can hit other motor vehicles or land on the ground, causing dangerous conditions.
• Rear-end crashes: These accidents occur when a vehicle crashes into another vehicle from behind. While this type of collision is relatively common and often results in no more than a fender-bender, these can be particularly dangerous when a tractor-trailer is involved because of such vehicles’ sheer size and power.
• T-Bone: This occurs when a truck driver goes past a red light or stop sign, causing a collision in the intersection.
• Truck Rollovers: This occurs when the truck driver loses control in an attempt to swerve or brake, and the truck tips over as a result.
• Underride: This particularly disastrous kind of accident involves smaller vehicles sliding under the truck, usually due to the truck abruptly stopping while on the road.
• Wide turns: When a truck tries to turn, the rest of the truck sometimes maneuvers the opposite way. For example, if a truck driver tries to turn left at an intersection, it’s possible for their trailer to swing the opposite way. This is why it is sometimes called a swinging turn.

Not every serious crash involves a big rig. If you were hurt in a regular crash, read about Huntsville car accident claims.

How Does Alabama Law Affect My Huntsville Truck Accident Claim?

In Alabama, our laws follow the rule of contributory negligence. This means that if you are found to be even partly responsible for an accident, you can be barred from recovering compensation. There are limited exceptions, such as wanton conduct. The general deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Alabama is two years under Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l). It is particularly important that when involved in an accident, a victim reaches out to a personal injury lawyer to have the best possible chance of compensation.

Contributory negligence can be harsh and strict, which is why very few states have it as law. But there are ways to argue that the rule should not apply in your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to see what is possible in your case.

Contributory negligence can be fought in two ways: first, by arguing that you were not negligent at all, or second, by claiming your case fits into the exception of wanton behavior. Wanton behavior refers to when someone acts with a conscious disregard for the safety of others.

Wanton behavior can be understood as knowingly reckless behavior. In the case of truck accidents, the wanton behavior can come from the truck driver, the truck company, or the vehicle manufacturer. Accidents involving commercial trucks are unique due to the various kinds of liability that might be at play. A skilled personal injury lawyer will be able to investigate who is liable for an accident.

What Rules Do Trucking Companies and Drivers Have to Follow?

Commercial truck drivers and the companies that hire them follow federal safety rules that car drivers never have to think about. When a rule is broken, it can be strong evidence that someone was careless. Here are two of the big ones:

• Hours of service. Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service rules, a property-carrying driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without a 30-minute interruption, and may not drive after 60 or 70 hours on duty in 7 or 8 consecutive days. Tired drivers cause serious crashes, and these limits exist to stop that.
• Insurance minimums. Federal rules set a minimum amount of financial responsibility for many for-hire trucking companies. For larger trucks hauling non-hazardous freight in interstate commerce, that minimum is $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9. That is often much higher than a typical car policy, though the right number for your case depends on the truck, the load, and the company.

These are only a few of the rules. Weight limits, driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, and maintenance records can all matter too. A Huntsville truck accident lawyer can check whether the company followed them.

What Evidence Can Prove a Huntsville Truck Accident Claim?

Truck cases are won on evidence, and a lot of it is in the hands of the trucking company. Here is some of what we look for:

• Driver logs and electronic data. These can show how long the driver had been on the road.
• Data from the truck itself. Many trucks record speed, braking, and other details right before a crash.
• Maintenance and inspection records. Bad brakes, worn tires, and skipped repairs can point to the company.
• Hiring and training files. These can show whether the company checked the driver’s record and training.
• Cargo and loading records. An overloaded or poorly loaded trailer can cause a wreck.
• Photos, video, and witnesses. Traffic and business cameras, dash cameras, and people who saw the crash all help tell the story.

Some of this evidence can be lost or erased if no one acts quickly. That is one more reason to call a lawyer early. We can send letters asking the company to preserve what it has and move to protect the evidence your case needs.

Do I Have a Truck Accident Claim in Huntsville?

While any motor vehicle accident can be dangerous or fatal, truck accidents can be particularly ruthless. It’s essential to understand what recourse you have as a victim. One thing that makes truck accidents so different is the size of the vehicles themselves. Large commercial 18-wheelers are immensely heavy which makes them extremely deadly at high speeds.

Not only does the speed itself make these machines so dangerous, but their excessive weight also causes prolonged stopping distance. Furthermore, alongside the incredible size of these vehicles, the size of the possible case following an accident can be likewise challenging.

Unlike other accidents, truck crashes involve commercial vehicles, with “commercial” being the key word of emphasis. What this means is that it is not only an individual driver and their insurance that are involved but entire companies.

By informing yourself of the nature of these kinds of accidents, you can be better equipped to seek the restitution you deserve. The personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice will fight for you.

What Injuries Can a Truck Accident Cause?

It’s important that you immediately seek medical help after a truck accident. Common injuries sustained from truck accidents include:

Some victims may need assistance with their medical bills. Paying for these medical bills might be particularly difficult when an injury can lead to lost income. A personal injury lawyer can help fight for the proper financial compensation victims need to be able to return to their lives.

What Makes Truck Accidents Near Huntsville Different?

Heavy trucks share the road with Huntsville commuters every day, on routes like I-565, I-65, and Memorial Parkway (US-231/431). When a loaded tractor-trailer and a passenger car collide, the people in the smaller vehicle often take the worst of it. A truck also needs far more room to stop, which makes sudden slowdowns on busy roads especially dangerous.

Many trucks on these roads are owned by companies based in other states, and more than one insurance company can be involved. If your case goes to court, it may be filed in Madison County Circuit Court or in federal court, depending on the facts. We handle the details so you can focus on getting well, including getting your records from Huntsville Hospital or whichever local facility treated you.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Huntsville Truck Accident?

When investigating for liability, a personal injury lawyer may look at various factors. They may start with the truck driver and their behavior on the road. Was the driver acting in a reckless manner? Was the driver distracted? During a thorough investigation, a personal injury lawyer might discover that there was poor maintenance on the truck.

What makes these cases different is that the truck driver is an employee. Truck drivers are notoriously overworked. Liability might fall less on the driver and more on the employer who is overworking their employees, creating dangerous conditions for other drivers and the truck drivers, as well. Because of this, truck accident liability can be broken down in three ways:

• Truck Company Liability: This kind of liability occurs when a truck company is found to be at fault for an accident due to their negligence in maintaining operations, like following regulations, maintaining their supply of vehicles, and overworking their employees. An example of this kind of case could be that an accident ensues after a driver undergoes little training and is immediately put out on the road for long hours. While the driver was in the vehicle, the company is at fault for creating the dangerous situation.
• Driver Liability: Drivers are required to hold specific licenses, follow traffic laws, and drive sober. While a driver’s actions can often be attributed to a company’s negligence, sometimes the driver simply fails to follow the rules. In this instance, the driver may be liable for any ensuing accidents. An example of this could be a negligent truck driver who drank too much while on break and returned to the road.
• Manufacturer Liability: Sometimes, issues with the vehicle are not due to poor maintenance but because the truck had problems. This can be due to faulty parts or poor construction. In these cases, the liability would fall on the vehicle’s manufacturer. An example of this could be a truck whose engine was improperly built, leading to an accident on the road.

After seeking immediate medical care, it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer to figure out if you have a potential claim.

You have a claim if:

• You were in an accident that involved a truck
• You’re severely injured
• The accident happened within the last two years (deadlines vary by claim type, so call us right away)
• The truck driver was at fault

Suppose you’re not entirely sure about any of these. In that case, it is still worth talking to a Huntsville personal injury lawyer who specializes in truck accidents, such as the personal injury lawyers here at Mama Justice.

We will bring the claim against the liable party. Though it can be hard to ascertain who is liable immediately, our lawyers are excellently trained to perform an investigation in order to find who is at fault. The insurance company of the liable party will compensate you for any of the following:

• Emotional damages (pain and suffering)
• Medical expenses
• Lost earnings from time out of work

How Much Is My Huntsville Truck Accident Case Worth?

No one can promise you a number on day one. Truck crashes often cause serious injuries, and what a case is worth depends on the facts. The biggest factors are how serious your injuries are, your medical bills now and in the future, your lost income and earning power, how fault is decided, and the insurance available. In a truck case, more than one party may be responsible, and the trucking company may carry more insurance than a car driver.

Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and the case results shown on this page are not a promise of what we can do for you. What we can do is look at your facts, build your case, and fight for the full compensation the law allows.

How Long Does a Huntsville Truck Accident Case Take?

There is no set timeline. Truck cases often take longer than car accident cases because the investigation is bigger, more parties are involved, and the insurance companies fight harder. Some claims settle in months. Others take a year or more, especially when injuries are serious or the case goes to trial.

We usually wait until you have reached a clear point in your medical recovery before settling, so you do not accept less than you need. We will keep you updated every step of the way.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Huntsville?

• Contact 911
• Move your car and your person to somewhere safe
• Evaluate yourself for injuries
• Document the accident scene, like taking photos with your phone
• Collect the information of the other driver
• Seek medical attention
• Contact a truck accident lawyer with experience

If a loved one was killed in the crash, our Huntsville wrongful death lawyers can explain your family’s options.

Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in Huntsville?

Contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at Mama Justice today. See everything we do for Madison County families on our Huntsville personal injury page.