Shelby Truck Accident Lawyer

Due to the size difference between a truck and a passenger vehicle, a truck accident can cause serious or even fatal injuries. These injuries can leave victims with lifelong disabilities, long-term time off work, and chronic pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Cleveland County, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. A Shelby truck accident lawyer from our firm can explain your rights and options for recovering compensation.

Compensation to Help You Recover from Your Truck Accident in Shelby

As mentioned, injuries from truck crashes can be life-threatening due to the size and weight of these large vehicles. Many fatalities in truck collisions are other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists, not truck occupants. Victims who survive these collisions can face debilitating injuries.

With those injuries come high financial costs. A semi-truck accident lawyer can help you recover financially so you don’t have to stress over how you will cover your medical bills or regular financial needs during this difficult time.

Our personal injury legal team in Shelby can help you collect economic damages such as:

• Current and future medical treatment
• Physical rehabilitation
• At-home care
• Vehicle repair or replacement
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning ability
• Accessibility modifications for your home or car
• A rental car
• Replacement services
• Other crash-related costs

Pain and Suffering Damages

Besides the financial losses you might have experienced due to your wreck, you may also have suffered mentally and emotionally. You might have also sustained permanent debilitating physical injuries. You are legally entitled to receive compensation for these types of non-economic losses as well. You may be able to collect funds for:

• Continuous pain
• Physical impairment
• Permanent scars and disfigurement
• Loss of limbs
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of quality of life
• Reduced enjoyment of activities
• Emotional distress
• Psychological trauma

Naturally, these are very personal challenges, so we fight for very personalized compensation.

Evidence of Your Losses

To ensure you have considered all your losses, we will gather the appropriate evidence and documentation of your injuries. We gather evidence of your losses, including:

• Medical and rehabilitation bills
• Estimates for car and property damage/repair
• Lost wage documentation from your employer
• Pay stubs from freelance work
• Bills for psychological services
• Receipts from crash-related expenses

For a legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Shelby, call 828.286.3866

Our Lawyers Will Collect Evidence to Support Your Case

The personal injury attorneys at our firm will investigate your case to determine the cause of the crash and identify liability. We will collect evidence of the at-fault party’s negligence. Our legal team gathers:

• Medical records
• Police reports
• Photos of the wreck site
• Photos of car and property damage
• Photos of your injuries
• Witness statements
• Evidence from the semi-truck driver/company
• Transportation logs
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Social media and phone records
• Expert testimony from medical and mental health practitioners

This evidence can point to specific acts of negligence on which we can build a case. For instance, transportation logs that show a violation of hours-of-service regulations can demonstrate that the operator was drowsy when driving the truck. Drug and alcohol testing can point to impaired driving, which is high in commercial drivers.

Evidence we gather can do more than highlight the negligent act and liable parties. It can also bolster our argument for your compensation by showcasing your injuries and losses. In other words, evidence can underpin your case in crucial ways, so we will be thorough in our investigation of your crash.

Building a Strong Case from the Start

Building a strong case is our top priority from the beginning. That way, should we need to file a lawsuit to ensure you get paid what you deserve, we will be ready. This is particularly important as the statute of limitations for truck accidents in North Carolina is just three years, per G.S. §1-52.

That may seem like a lot of time until the liable insurance company starts dragging its feet on your truck accident claim or negotiations break down. That amount of time also presents an opportunity to collect and preserve evidence, an opportunity that shouldn’t be wasted.

Though we hope for a fair settlement outside of court, our law firm aims to be prepared for any scenario. Waiting too long to take legal action can be detrimental to your case. We encourage you to file a claim as soon as possible, and our truck accident lawyers serving Shelby can help you do that.

Shelby Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866

We Handle Many Types of Truck Accidents

We handle truck crash cases involving a variety of large trucks, including:

• Tankers
• Dump trucks
• Semi-trucks (tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers)
• Flatbed trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Cement trucks
• Utility trucks
• Tow trucks
• Other commercial trucks (big rig or otherwise)

Our Promises to You in Any Truck Collision Case

Regardless of the type of commercial truck wreck you suffered, the team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC is committed to uncovering what happened and representing you in your claim or suit. With us, you can always count on:

• A free initial consultation and strategy session
• Regular contact to keep you in the know about your case
• Personalized approach to case valuation
• Support from a team of assistants, paralegals, and investigators
• No fees unless we win or settle your case

Truck crashes can come in many forms, but our commitment to you stays the same.

Common Truck Accident Causes

Truck accidents occur for many different reasons. Driver error accounts for 87 percent of large truck accidents, according to a causation study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Other factors can cause or contribute to accidents. Common truck accident causes include:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Traveling too fast for road conditions
• Tailgating (following too close)
• Substance abuse
• Vehicle malfunction
• Failing to look for vehicles around the truck
• Inadequate assessment of surroundings

Using evidence, witness testimony, and our independent investigation, we can help identify who and what caused your wreck.

Complete a Case Evaluation form now

Who Is Liable for My Truck Accident?

Liability can be complex in truck accident cases. These types of collisions often have multiple potentially liable parties involved due to the nature of the trucking industry.

While the driver is the most visible party, he may be working for someone else. This means his employer would likely also be held responsible. Additionally, the fault may not lie with the truck driver at all. A third-party business partner may be to blame for your Shelby commercial truck accident. Below, we discuss who may share liability for your crash and injuries:

Drivers Who Own Their Trucks or Operators Driving for Themselves

An owner-operator will be operating under his own authority as he owns the company and meets the necessary legal motor carrier requirements. His company must have insurance and will be held liable if he caused the accident.

Motor Carrier Company

If the at-fault truck driver is an employee working for a motor carrier, the company will likely be held liable.

The Person or Company Who Loaded the Truck

If the tractor-trailer was improperly loaded or connected, and this led to or contributed to the accident, the party that loaded it would likely be held responsible. It may be the carrier company or a third party.

Another Party

A tire blowout, faulty auto part, or road defect could have contributed to your truck collision. In that case, a manufacturer, mechanic, property owner, or government entity could be held liable for some or all your expenses.

How Much Insurance Do Semi-Truck Drivers and Companies Carry?

Commercial trucking companies are required by federal law to maintain insurance for wrecks. Required limits vary based on the size and payload of the truck.

• $300,000 for non-hazardous freight on vehicles under 10,001 lbs.
• $750,000-$5 million depending on the commodities being transported

This may seem like a lot, but remember that catastrophic injuries come with extremely high bills. The lifetime medical cost of a spinal cord injury could be as much as $5 million, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). That doesn’t include losses in productivity and income.

Because of the possibility of serious injuries and expenses, we work to identify all your options for compensation to maximize what you recover for your crash. Filing an insurance claim, holding multiple parties liable, and even seeking a lawsuit are all possible paths your case could take. We explore any choice that can bring you financial and personal relief following a wreck.

Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for Legal Help

A Shelby truck accident lawyer at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can assist you with your personal injury claim. We’ve successfully helped countless others in North Carolina. We’ll help you hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence by pursuing the compensation you need to heal without worry. Contact us today.

Call or text 828.286.3866 or complete a Case Evaluation form