Getting into an accident with a large commercial truck is financially, emotionally, and physically traumatic and can affect your entire family. If the truck driver or trucking company was at fault in causing the crash, you are likely entitled to monetary compensation. A Hickory truck accident lawyer from DeMayo Law Offices can help you get the money you deserve.
Our personal injury lawyers in Hickory, NC, have decades of experience handling Tractor Trailer cases and personal injury lawsuits. We’ve recovered over One Billion Dollars ( $1,000,000,000.00) in verdicts, judgments and settlements for our clients over the years. We have represented over 125,000 individual clients and/or their representatives. Don’t make the mistake of trying to settle with an insurance company on your own. Studies show that you will get three and a half less money without using an experienced personal injury lawyer than your case is worth!
When you hire DeMayo Law, we treat you like family, going above and beyond to fight for the maximum benefits and money deserve. Call us right now for your free case evaluation.
Why You Need an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Hickory, NC
The majority of accident victims don’t understand what their rights are or how to pursue a fair settlement against the defendant and the insurance company. They are not on your side. There are no good hands people. They are not your good neighbors and they are certainly not looking our for your interests. Understand that their job is to deny, devalue and delay payment on your case. nsurance companies don’t care about injured individuals and will do whatever it takes to spend as little money as possible when paying out an insurance claim.
Dealing With the Insurance Company or Court System
DeMayo Law Offices knows how to deal with and win against insurance companies and force them to treat our clients fairly. You deserve to recover the maximum settlement available, and we’ll work extremely hard to get it for you.
We understand the legal process and take all the steps we need to take to secure the financial award you need to pay for your expenses and rebuild your life.
Maximizing Your Compensation by Building a Compelling Case
When you hire us, we’ll use our extensive resources, experience, and knowledge to ensure that the insurance company fully compensates you for all damages including, your injuries, lost wages and pain and suffering . After a truck accident, the injuries can be significant and impact you for life.
Most individuals do not have the skills or experience to deal with the specialized aspects of handling a Trucking case which is very different from an automobile accident case. Let us do all the legal work so you can completely focus on your medical recovery.
Alleviating Your Stress
Handling a truck accident claim is stressful and overwhelming, adding an additional burden to your life. We’ll take the responsibility off your shoulders by handling the legalities so you can take care of yourself and your family. You’ll have peace of mind knowing our legal team is working tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving Hickory, call (877) 333-1000
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents are often devastating, resulting in serious injuries due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles. As a result, accident victims often face expensive medical bills, lost income from missed work, and a long and painful recovery process.
Here are some of the most common injuries we see in truck accidents:
- Head trauma: Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are unfortunately common, often leading to long-term complications.
- Broken bones: As a result of the collision’s impact or the vehicle crushing the victim, fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis are frequent.
- Soft tissue injuries: These injuries include contusions, strains, sprains, and muscle tears, which can cause pain and restricted movement.
- Neck and back injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, and spinal fractures are prevalent in motor vehicle collisions, causing chronic pain and mobility limitations.
- Spinal cord injuries: These injuries can cause paralysis, loss of sensation, and mobility issues, significantly impacting the injured party’s quality of life.
- Internal injuries: Blunt force trauma to the torso may lead to internal bleeding, organ damage, and other life-threatening conditions.
- Burns: Exposure to fire or hazardous materials can result in severe burns, leading to scarring and long-term complications.
After a collision with a truck, seek immediate medical attention and consult with a qualified lawyer as soon as possible. Whether your injuries are severe or relatively minor, an experienced truck accident attorney in Hickory, NC, can help you understand the value of your case and guide you through your next steps.
Hickory Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (877) 333-1000
Investigating a North Carolina Truck Collision
A collision involving a commercial vehicle requires sufficient evidence to prove someone else was at fault and should pay for your losses. Unfortunately, most people don’t know where to look or how to obtain the necessary evidence. When you hire one of our Hickory truck accident attorneys, we will handle this for you.
You can depend on us to locate essential evidence, such as:
- Log Books and Accident Investigation Reports
- Accident Reconstruction Experts and Data
- Police Reports and Interviews
- Criminal Investigations, if any charges have been asserted.
- Obtaining Eyewitness statements
- Video footage of all documentation of the wreck
- Records of any repairs and Maintenance
- Accident scene photos
- Documentation of Injuries
- Vehicle damage estimates and reports and crush
- Medical records and future medical needs
- Expert evaluations and Future medical needs
- Police reports- accident reconstruction
- Truck driver travel logs and maintenance records
- The truck’s black box data
- Cell phone records of the truck driver and their driving history
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Determining Liability in a Hickory Truck Accident Case
Often, the truck driver is at fault for the accident. Other times, the trucking company or people responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial vehicles are to blame.
When we’re looking for the cause of the crash, we’ll review every piece of evidence we can find and consider various contributing factors, such as:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Improperly trained or inexperienced drivers
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive driving
- Driving with a history of dangerous or reckless driving
- Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
- An oversized or overloaded vehicle
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Common Types of Truck Accidents
A tractor-trailer truck is a commercial vehicle with a front semi-truck and trailer attached to the back. It’s also known as an 18-wheeler, which refers to the number of wheels the entire unit has. Due to the size and weight of these large trucks, as well as the possible presence of a cargo load, various types of crashes can happen.
Common truck accident types include the following:
- Jackknife accidents: When the semi-truck and trailer fold into each other
- Rollover accidents: When the truck and trailer roll onto their side
- Tire blowout: When the tires explode, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle
- Underride: When a small car ends up under the trailer of the truck
- Head-on: When the commercial vehicle collides with the front of another car
- T-bone: When the truck crashes into the side of a car
- Lost cargo: When the cargo falls off the truck, creating hazardous road conditions
- Rear-end: When the truck hits another vehicle from behind
- Blind spot: When the trucker merges or turns into a smaller vehicle that they can’t see in their blind spot
You Deserve Compensation for Your Damages
Once your Hickory, NC, truck accident lawyer establishes the cause and liability for the crash, we will pursue the maximum compensation available from the insurance company or at-fault party. In most cases, we will go up against the insurance company and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf.
All commercial truck drivers must carry a minimum of liability insurance depending on whether they are intrastate or interstate carriers. Truckers’ insurance is required at a much higher coverage limit than that of a passenger vehicle driver. That’s because bodily harm and property damage inflicted by trucks are usually more severe than those of a crash between two smaller cars.
Our personal injury team will file an insurance claim on your behalf and submit the evidence we find to the insurance company or the defendant directly for review. We will also send our demand letter, which is documentation detailing the facts of the wreck and demand how much compensation you deserve based on your damages.
Damages an Experienced Lawyer Could Help You Pursue
Compensatory damages are the total losses that result from an accident or injury. When a massive truck collides with your vehicle, you are likely to suffer a serious injury that will require a significant recovery due to the loss of income, possible permanent injuries, cost of the medical treatment and possible ongoing care. There are additional damages that warrant compensation, such as emotional pain, physical suffering and loss of consortium.
While every case is unique, the damages you could pursue in a Trucking case include:
- Hospital, physician, physical therapy, surgery, and other treatment costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Prescription medications
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Damage to personal property
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability
- Loss of companionship, consortium, or household services
Filing a Trucking Injury Lawsuit
While most truck accident cases are resolved through settlement negotiations, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will pursue a lawsuit against the truck driver, trucking company or both. When going through the court system, you are not limited to only seeking compensation for your compensatory damages. In certain limited situations, you can also seek punitive damages.
Punitive damages punish the party that caused the accident and try to prevent similar negligent actions in the future. These situations often require a deep knowledge of personal injury law, which is another reason why you need an attorney.
Time Limit for Taking Legal Action
In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally three years from the date of the collision, per North Carolina General Statutes § 1-52. This means that truck accident victims must initiate legal proceedings within this timeframe to seek compensation for their damages.
Barring unique circumstances, waiting beyond the statute of limitations period may result in losing your right to seek compensation for the injuries and losses sustained in the accident. While three years is a long time, it’s best to take action immediately.
If you wait too long to get started, key evidence can be lost or covered up. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner our lawyers can collect and preserve evidence, talk to witnesses, and build a compelling case on your behalf.
FAQs
We’ve provided a list of answers to frequently asked questions we receive about truck accidents. However, your attorney can answer all your questions about your personal injury case.
What If I Can’t Afford to Hire a Lawyer?
Most people who choose not to seek legal representation do so because they don’t think they can afford to hire a truck accident lawyer. Unfortunately, those people don’t realize most personal injury attorneys work on contingency. That means there are no attorney fees unless you win. We do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
At our law firm, you do not pay any upfront legal fees to have us take on your case. We don’t charge anything unless we secure an insurance settlement or favorable verdict in a jury trial for you. If you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid.
How do I Begin the Process of Pursuing a Truck Accident Case?
The first thing you should do after obtaining emergency medical treatment is to schedule a free initial consultation with DeMayo Law Offices. Call us today. We offer a free initial consultation to review the details of your crash and explore all available options. We’ll outline a plan, so you know how we’re going to pursue your case and maximize your recovery.
There’s no risk in speaking with us, it is free.
Are There Trucking Industry Regulations?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces regulations to ensure that trucking companies follow safe operating procedures. Failure to comply with any of these regulations constitutes negligence, and the driver or their employer could be held liable for an accident and resulting injuries.
Can I File a Lawsuit If a Loved One Died in a Crash?
Yes. However, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death suit is two years from the date of your loved one’s passing. Also, to pursue compensation on behalf of your deceased family member, you must be qualified to do so.
Qualifying individuals include the personal representative of the deceased’s estate or a surviving spouse, adult child, or parent.
If you recently lost a loved one, we extend our deepest condolences. While nothing can lessen your pain, one of our Hickory wrongful death lawyers can help you seek the compensation you deserve to honor your loved one’s memory and rebuild your life.
Choose DeMayo Law Offices
Our Hickory, North Carolina, personal injury lawyers have over 250 years of combined legal experience. We are committed to helping victims and their families recover after the devastation of a truck crash in Catawba County or elsewhere in North Carolina.
If you suffered an injury and required medical treatment, you deserve compensation from the negligent person or company (or their insurer). We have a long history of successful verdicts and settlements and are ready to put our skills to work in your case.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer in Hickory About Maximizing Your Settlement
DeMayo Law Offices is your North Carolina law firm, and our experienced truck accident lawyers in Hickory are standing by to discuss your case. After a life-altering accident, you need a legal team that will tirelessly work to secure a fair settlement or court award on your behalf.
Although insurance adjusters may seem friendly, they are not on your side. They are hoping to use something you say against you to damage your case. They might also try to pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement. We shield you from their aggressive tactics and work to maximize your settlement.
Even if you’re uncertain about pursuing legal action, we are here to provide legal advice regarding your options for monetary recovery. Contact us today to learn more during a free legal consultation. Call us today for your free initial consultation.
Call or text (877) 333-1000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
