Alabama Truck Accident Attorney

An Alabama Truck Accident Attorney Can Recover Compensation for Your Losses

Injuries from a truck accident can include lacerations, burns, broken bones, head and neck injuries, damage to your internal organs, and more. These injuries may mean that you are facing months of recovery and expensive medical procedures; they may also mean that you’re unsure of what your future will look like or when you will start to feel whole again.

Recovering compensation after a truck crash can mean you can pay off medical bills, deal with income changes, and begin rebuilding your future. An 18-wheeler accident lawyer will assess your present and future losses to help you pursue fair compensation.

Losses an Alabama truck accident lawyer can recover for you include:

• Medical Expenses: From doctor appointments to surgeries, your medical bills are recoverable in an accident claim. A lawyer will consult with your medical team to determine whether you need future care and what those costs will look like.
• Job-Related Losses: Lost wages, loss of possible job benefits such as PTO, reduced income if you are unable to perform at the same job capacity, or the loss of your income in its entirety if you are never able to return to work.
• Changed Needs: If your injuries have led to a disability, you may have reduced mobility. Expenses for mobility assistance devices, such as wheelchairs, and modifications to make your home accessible may be recoverable. 
• Non-Economic Losses: While financial pressure can be devastating after an injury, you are likely also dealing with losses that don’t have a direct monetary cost. These losses can include things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life from being unable to take part in activities you once enjoyed, or the loss of close relationships.

Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim After a Truck Accident in Alabama

The truck accident claims process is often complex. You have confusing paperwork and legal guidelines that must be followed, and insurers often aggressively try to settle for the least amount of money possible. You must prove that someone else was at fault and establish a fair compensation level for what you’ve gone through. It can add stress to an already overwhelming time. 

A semi-truck accident attorney can take this burden off of you so that you can spend your time recovering instead.

They can:

• Handle all insurance and legal communications on your behalf
• Fill out paperwork to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Gather evidence to support your claim
• Handle all negotiations with insurance companies
• Keep you updated and ensure that your questions are answered promptly
• Manage all deadlines
• Support you throughout the entire legal process
• Represent you in court if needed

The Goldwater Law Firm is the Gold Standard of Injury Law. Our co-counsels work tirelessly for our clients and believe in compassionate and dedicated legal representation. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.

Who Is to Blame for Your Truck Accident in Alabama?

Establishing the liable party for your accident may be a time-consuming and confusing process. There may be more than one responsible party or multiple factors at play.

For example, some liable parties may include:

The Truck Driver

We may be able to hold the driver liable if any of the following caused your accident:

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
• Speeding
• Otherwise not following traffic laws

The Trucking Company

The trucking company may share liability due to actions such as:

• Unsafe loading practices
• Improper or lacking training procedures
• Hiring unqualified drivers
• Limiting safety inspections of vehicles
• Failing to maintain vehicles properly

A trucking company is also typically liable if the truck driver caused the accident. This is due to vicarious liability, a law that holds employers liable for any negligent actions their employees take within the scope of their employment.

A Mechanic

A mechanic’s negligence could cause an accident if they:

• Improperly installed equipment, such as brakes
• Failed to do maintenance when hired to do so

A Government Entity

A government entity may be liable due to actions such as:

• Failing to maintain safe roads

How Can You Prove Who Was at Fault?

Your Alabama 18-wheeler accident attorney will investigate your accident and gather evidence to prove whose negligence was the cause of your injuries. They may do so in several ways, including:

• Interviewing witnesses, obtaining video footage of the event, and taking photos of the accident scene
• Consulting with experts, such as accident reconstructionists or those who specialize in safety standards in the trucking industry
• Examining driving records, maintenance records, and medical records

Alabama Laws Affecting Your Truck Accident Case

In Alabama, a contributory negligence rule is in effect. This means that if you hold any responsibility for your accident, even 1%, you cannot recover compensation for the accident and your resulting losses. This is why having a lawyer on your side is so important to protect you from the insurer and establish the other party’s liability.

Additionally, under Alabama’s statute of limitations, you typically only have two years to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. 

If a loved one passed away as a result of a truck collision, you also generally only have two years to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. 

Affording a Lawyer for Your Truck Accident Case in Alabama

The legal process to recover financial compensation after a truck accident can be challenging. In addition to following legal requirements and deadlines, you will also need to build a strong case that someone else was at fault and that you have a clear need for compensation. 

Allowing a commercial truck attorney to help you can leave you the energy you need for your physical and emotional recovery. However, you may be worried about adding a financial burden on top of your other expenses.

Not being able to afford legal representation shouldn’t be a barrier to accessing it, which is why many personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you can hire a lawyer at no upfront cost to you. Instead, they will only take their fee if they are able to recover compensation in your case. Their fee will be an agreed-upon percentage deducted from the compensation you recover.

Contact The Goldwater Law Firm today to learn more.

What to Do to Protect Your Health and Your Case After an Accident

The minutes, hours, and days after an accident are often confusing, scary, and frustrating. However, there are things you should do to protect yourself and your rights after a truck wreck: 

• Call 9-1-1. Truck accidents often cause debilitating injuries that require immediate medical attention. The 9-1-1 dispatcher can send law enforcement and EMTs to the scene. This ensures you get the treatment you need and creates a record of the accident. 
• Gather evidence if you are able. Photos and videos of the scene and eyewitness testimony can help support your claim. If you are unable, ask if a passenger or another person at the scene can help you. If no one is there to help you, the police report should have photos and eyewitness contact information. Your lawyer can interview them to learn more about what happened.
• Watch what you say to the insurance company. In the days following your accident, the truck driver’s or trucking company’s insurer will likely call you to get your side of the story. Be very careful during this call. The insurance adjuster is looking for anything they can use against you. We recommend giving them only the basics of the accident and then directing any further questions to an attorney.