Nearly 5,000 people die a year from truck accidents, but those who survive can deal with severe injuries that affect everyday life, their ability to work, and more.
A commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, so the injuries someone in a passenger vehicle often sustains can include: broken bones, neck injuries, burns, spinal cord injuries, or even organ damage. Many survivors also deal with post-traumatic stress after a truck accident.
Can I Sue A Commercial Truck Driver If I’m Injured In An Accident?
If you’re injured in a commercial truck accident, and the truck driver caused the accident, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Negligence is the most common legal basis for seeking compensation in a tractor-trailer accident.
To pursue a negligence lawsuit, you’ll need a legal team that understands the nuanced trucking laws in North Carolina. In addition, your legal team will need to prove the truck driver failed to exercise a reasonable duty of care, resulting in the crash and your injuries.
Some examples of failing to exercise a reasonable duty of care include:
- Not breaking in time
- Running a red light
- Not stopping at a stop sign
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Speeding
Does Contributory Negligence Apply In Truck Accident Cases?
North Carolina enforces a contributory negligence rule in accidents that often can inhibit injury victims from receiving any financial compensation.
Contributory negligence means that if your driver’s error contributed to the accident even 1 percent, you are not entitled to any financial compensation.
To practice safe driving and avoid truck accidents, drivers of passenger vehicles should not drive in the “No-Zones” or blind spots behind or beside big trucks. The trucks are typically labeled to show where their blind spots are. Drivers should also exercise caution when passing a truck, especially on the right side of a truck about to make a right turn.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured In A Commercial Truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, call the lawyers at Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler right away. We have vast experience working truck accident cases and know how to look at photos of the accident, talk to witnesses, and examine police reports to determine whose negligence caused the accident.
We offer complimentary consultations to help you start your case off strong and get the compensation you deserve to help with your injuries.