Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer

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A wreck with a large truck or an 18 wheeler is not just a bigger car accident. The injuries are often severe, more than one party can be responsible, and important evidence can disappear fast, so it helps to act quickly. This office helps injured people across Selma, Montgomery, and the Black Belt.

Why are truck accident cases different from car wrecks?

A loaded tractor trailer can weigh many times what a car weighs, so the injuries tend to be serious. Commercial trucking is also governed by federal safety rules, such as limits on how long a driver may be behind the wheel and requirements for maintenance and inspection, and a violation of those rules can be powerful evidence. There are often several possible defendants, not just the driver.

Who can be held responsible for a truck wreck?

Depending on the facts, responsibility can reach the driver, the trucking company that employed and dispatched the driver, a company that maintained the truck, or a business that loaded the cargo. Trucking companies can be liable for their own choices, such as putting an unqualified or overtired driver on the road, in addition to being responsible for the driver's conduct.

Why does the evidence disappear so fast?

Many trucks carry an electronic logging device that records driving hours and an event data recorder, sometimes called a black box, that captures speed and braking around a crash. Trucking companies routinely reuse or overwrite that data on a schedule, which is why an injury lawyer often sends a formal preservation letter to the company soon after a wreck, before the records are gone.

How does Alabama law affect a truck accident claim?

Alabama follows contributory negligence, so an injured person found even one percent at fault can be barred from recovering, and the trucking company's insurer will look hard for a way to shift blame. Alabama also generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, under Alabama Code Section 6-2-38.

What should you do after a truck wreck?

Get medical care right away, make sure law enforcement documents the scene, photograph everything if you can, get the names of the driver and the company, identify witnesses, and be careful about giving a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer before you understand your rights.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost? A consultation is free. Every case is different, and the office will explain how fees work when you call. Call (334) 230-7986.

What if I was partly at fault? Under Alabama's contributory negligence rule even a small share of fault can bar recovery, so do not assume you have no case. Let us look at the facts.

Who pays for a truck accident injury? Often the trucking company's commercial insurance policy, which is usually larger than a personal car policy, along with any other responsible party's coverage.

A case review is free and confidential. Start your free case review online or call (334) 230-7986.