Trucking Accident Causes And Seeking Compensation Through A Lawsuit

Motorists in Birmingham are expected to share the road with large trucks. Those large trucks include semis and 18-wheelers that are a constant on the highways running through Birmingham, including I-65, I-20, and other major highways. Large trucks can also use local roads when making deliveries to retail stores and other establishments. While big rigs are essential for transporting goods to locations in Birmingham and for transporting goods throughout the country, they can be responsible for serious and deadly injuries in collisions. Indeed, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), a total of 107,000 large trucks were cited in collisions in 2020, and nearly 5,000 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents.

If you or someone you love was involved in a collision, it is important to understand what causes these accidents and how you can seek compensation.

Understanding Causation in Trucking Collisions 

In order to understand who may be liable for injuries in a truck crash—and who you may be able to sue if you file a lawsuit—it is important to learn more about causation in trucking collisions. How do truck accidents happen most often, and who is responsible for causing these crashes? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducts research into truck crashes and causation, providing details about common reasons for trucking collisions. Some of the most frequent causes of truck accidents include:

• Truck driver error, which can involve drowsy driving from failing to get enough rest between driving shifts, intoxicated driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving;
• Poor maintenance of truck, which can be the fault of a trucking company owner who fails to have the truck properly serviced or a negligent mechanic;
• Improper loading of the truck bed that results in heavy or uneven weight distribution, and is typically the fault of the company loading the goods into the truck;
• Tire blowout, which may result from defective tires or road hazards; and
• Inclement weather, which can result in a variety of accident types.

Many other causes of truck accidents exist, as well, and other parties may be liable. For example, another motorist could be responsible for a collision, or the manufacturer of the truck could be liable for defects.

Filing a Trucking Accident Claim to Seek Compensation

Once you know the liable party or parties, you can work with a Birmingham trucking litigation attorney to file a lawsuit. Under Alabama law, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, or else the claim will be time-barred. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit is also two years, but the clock will start ticking on the date of the death rather than the date of the trucking collision.

Contact a Birmingham Trucking Litigation Lawyer Today 

If you or somebody you love suffered injuries in a serious truck accident, it is important to seek advice from a lawyer who can help you to file a claim and to hold the driver, the trucking company, and any other liable parties accountable. Do not hesitate to contact an experienced and aggressive Birmingham trucking accident attorney today at Goldasich, Vick & Fulk to learn more about how we can assist you. We provide a range of injury services to clients in Birmingham, and we can speak with you today about your trucking accident claim.

Sources:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/#:~:text=A%20total%20of%204%2C965%20people,pedestrians%20and%20bicyclists%20(12%25)

fmcsa.dot.gov/research-and-analysis/research/large-truck-crash-causation-study

law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/3069/6-2-38.html#:~:text=2006%20Alabama%20Code%20%2D%20Section%206,two%20years%20from%20the%20death