Tractor-trailer trucks typically are the largest vehicles you will share the road with. These giant vehicles, which are common on I-77, I-85 and other busy roadways around Charlotte, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The average car weighs about 4,000 pounds. You don’t have to be a scientist to understand how a truck accident involving an 18-wheeler and a smaller car will usually result in devastation to the smaller vehicle due to the extreme forces involved in the collision.
That’s why truck drivers and trucking companies are held to such a high standard. These companies have an enormous responsibility to maintain safe trucks and hire qualified drivers. If the driver of a tractor-trailer is fatigued or distracted, or if the truck is poorly maintained or overloaded, the risk of a tractor-trailer accident can be very high.
In many accidents involving big rigs and smaller cars, truck drivers often walk away without a scratch while occupants of smaller vehicles sustain life-threatening injuries. Without question, tractor-trailer accidents are rarely minor. Serious injuries in truck wrecks can range from traumatic brain injuries/TBI to spinal cord injuries, and usually result in steep medical bills, painful therapy as well as lost wages due to the often lengthy healing process.
In the hours after a tractor-trailer accident, insurance investigators working on behalf of the trucking company, the driver or the maintenance company are on the scene looking for any evidence they can find to limit the liability of the driver or the companies. That’s why it’s so important for victims of these accidents to contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Hull & Chandler, P.A., our Charlotte lawyers can launch an immediate tractor-trailer accident investigation on your behalf. Our team can analyze the scene of the crash. We can enlist experts to reconstruct the accident. We can track down witnesses, review your North Carolina accident report, examine photographs and gather other possible evidence. We understand how much is at stake, which is what drives us to work so hard on behalf of clients.
In North Carolina, truck drivers and trucking companies have a legal obligation to follow all necessary rules and regulations in place to keep the public safe. But trucking companies are for-profit businesses. They sometimes cut corners to increase the profit margin. They may put pressure on the driver to exceed the Hours-of-Service rules they limit how long a driver can stay on the road. A fatigued truck driver may be observing the speed limit, but due to a delayed reaction time fails to slow down in time for congestion, road construction or other conditions. A truck company might fail to address brake or steering issues, leading to a potentially fatal head-on collision. A company may overload a truck, which increases the risk of brake failure, a tip over, or a tire blowout.
Other factors that may play a role in a highway truck accident in California include:
With so many potential factors that may contribute to an accident, it can be difficult to identify the responsible party. That’s why you need a highly skilled personal injury attorney for your tractor-trailer accident, someone who can conduct a comprehensive investigation and determine liability.
Hull & Chandler, P.A., is dedicated to getting justice for the injured and families who have lost loved ones in accidents. Our goal is to help our clients obtain full and fair compensation. We understand how serious injuries from truck driver fatigue accidents can complicate your life. Contact us today at 704-375-8488 for a free case evaluation.