Vestavia Hills Truck Accident Lawyers

How Our Personal Injury Firm Can Help

Here in Vestavia Hills, we often have a lot of traffic driving down our roads, including large commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, semis, and 18-wheelers. Although the drivers of these types of vehicles operate under strict rules and regulations, there are a number of factors which may contribute to a high-risk level that can lead to a fatal crash, such as improper driving maneuvers, illegal turns, cargo shifts or overweight vehicles, fatigued drivers, and much more. Here at Weaver Tidmore, LLC, our personal injury attorneys in Vestavia Hills have more than a decade of experience representing cases like yours and are here to help in any way that we can. Retaining the services of a competent and trusted law firm can greatly benefit the outcome of your case and should be done very quickly after an accident.

What types of injuries can you sustain in a truck accident?

When an accident occurs involving an 18-wheeler, the driver and passengers of the smaller vehicle may sustain injuries that are typically very serious or devastating. This is especially true in the case of major fishtailing or a truck rollover. You may end up hospitalized, needing rehabilitation, and have a significant lifestyle change from the accident.

Types of injuries which can be sustained in a truck accident include, but are not limited to:

• Head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Brain injuries
• Amputation

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident?

Truck accidents are known for the devastation they cause, both in terms of physical injury and property damage. Because of their sheer size and structure, truck accidents cause far more damage than accidents involving passenger vehicles. However, they are also more complicated in terms of liability. Multiple parties are involved in every truck shipment, so your attorney may have to dig to figure out who is liable for the accident and should compensate you for your injuries.

Learn more about truck accident liability and when you’re ready for more personalized advice, call Weaver Tidmore at 205-980-6065.

How Drivers May Be Liable

Most vehicle accidents come down to human error, and that is true with truck accidents as well. No matter how careful drivers are or how much training they have, mistakes do happen. Drivers may be liable if they stop following basic traffic laws—a major risk for anyone who gets too comfortable on the road—or intentionally violate traffic laws to try to reach their destination more quickly.

Drivers may also be liable if they are driving while fatigued or under the influence. Truck drivers may take these risks when they are forced to stick to a tough delivery schedule and do not want to take breaks for fear of punishment.

Drivers are also held liable if they fail to do pre-trip checks. These checks are meant to ensure that vehicle components are working properly, but again, drivers may skip them to save time.

When Companies Are Responsible

Sometimes, the company that employs the truck driver is found liable for the accident. Inspections are, again, a big issue here. Companies may try to cut corners to save time and get trips finished as quickly as possible, which may mean skipping steps like pre-trip inspections. Companies have also been known to push drivers past the breaking point and knowingly put them and others in danger.

Truck drivers are held to strict national and state laws regarding how long they can drive, how many breaks they need, and how long breaks should be before driving resumes. Companies often push drivers to break these rules for the sake of completing deliveries more quickly and making more money. When this occurs, the company could be held responsible for accidents that occur.

Faulty Truck Components or Repairs

Truck components are just as likely to break as those found in passenger vehicles. Because of the amount of wear and tear they sustain they may even be more prone to malfunctions. If an accident is traced back to a malfunctioning part, the manufacturer could be held responsible. If an accident occurs because of an improperly repaired component, the repair shop may be the liable party. In these situations, liability is often split between the employer and the manufacturer, since the employer is supposed to perform inspections that would catch these issues before the truck makes it to the open road.

How a Truck is Loaded May Play a Role

Finally, the company that owns or ships the cargo held in the truck could be liable. Trucks have to be loaded a certain way to maintain balance and keep the truck steady in a variety of road and weather conditions. If the loader does not properly load cargo or doesn’t inspect the loaded truck before sending it off, they could be liable for any accidents that follow. This may happen because the cargo loaders want to save time by loading as quickly as possible, rather than taking more time and doing it as safely as possible.

The multitude of parties that may play a role in a truck accident highlights the need for an experienced truck accident attorney. Your attorney can investigate the crash, get to the facts, and find out what it takes to get the compensation you deserve.

Working Towards the Recovery of Maximum Compensation

We cannot stress the importance of seeking the legal guidance of a Vestavia Hills truck accident attorney as soon as you possibly can. At Weaver Tidmore, LLC, we dedicate ourselves to working hard on your behalf to obtain a favorable outcome and aggressively protecting your rights. Our firm is highly rated and has been recognized numerous times for our professionalism and legal ability by organizations as evidenced by our membership in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. We provide a skillful and innovative use of the civil justice system in order to help you!

We also serve truck accident cases in Guntersville, and truck accidents in Gadsden, as well as truck accident cases in Tuscaloosa.