Trucking drivers and trucking companies have an obligation to help ensure the safety of others sharing the road. If they neglect this duty, they may be held legally accountable for the consequences of their actions, and you, the injured party, may be entitled to compensation. A truck accident lawyer in North Carolina can help you pursue a claim against the at-fault party.
At DeMayo Law Offices, Your North Carolina Law Firm™, we’ve protected the rights of truck accident victims for over 30 years. Our experience can help you overcome these challenges and secure the fair compensation you and your family need. Schedule a free case evaluation with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer today.
How a North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
After a truck accident, injuries and financial pressure can make it difficult to gather evidence or deal with insurance companies. You may also receive requests for statements before you understand the full extent of your injuries. A North Carolina truck accident lawyer from DeMayo Law Offices can manage the legal work while you focus on your health and family.
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience serving injured people, our legal team can:
- Preserve electronic and company records before they are lost or overwritten
- Investigate the truck driver, motor carrier, vehicle, cargo, and crash scene
- Identify all potentially responsible parties and available insurance policies
- Document the current and future impact of the injuries
- Handle negotiations while preparing the claim for litigation when necessary
Truck accident evidence can become harder to obtain as time passes. DeMayo Law Offices, a top truck accident attorney in North Carolina, can take steps to protect relevant records and build a claim for the compensation you may deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving North Carolina, call (877) 333-1000
Taking on truck accident lawsuits can be challenging because there is a complex system of state and federal laws governing commercial vehicles, and the liable parties are motivated to fight aggressively to avoid paying damages. Truck accidents involve a variety of regulations, corporate interests, and challenges far different than other types of vehicle accidents.
The trucking companies, for one, are made up of a large group of players, including drivers, employers, parts manufacturers, maintenance crews, and cargo loaders, each responsible for the truck’s safety. When safety is compromised, liable parties, and in many cases multiple parties, can be held responsible for damages.
Trucking companies also retain skilled legal teams to protect their financial interests. Likewise, the various insurance companies involved vigorously defend their resources to minimize payouts. Because of their commercial function and the risks they pose, trucks are subject to regulations beyond those that apply to personal vehicles.
Why Choose DeMayo Law Offices for Your Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident claims can place an injured person against a trucking company and several insurers. Those organizations may have legal teams working to limit their financial responsibility. DeMayo Law Offices has protected the rights of injured people across North Carolina for more than 30 years. Our attorneys bring more than 250 years of combined legal experience and have resolved over 125,000 personal injury cases.
That experience makes a difference when important evidence is held by a motor carrier or another company involved in the shipment. Our legal team can investigate the crash and identify the parties that may be responsible. We review company records and the safety rules that may apply. We also look for all available insurance coverage.
People Over Profits® shapes how we guide each client. We take time to understand how the crash has affected your health and ability to earn a living. We also consider what the injuries have changed for you and your family.
Many truck accident cases can be resolved without a trial. When a fair result is not available through negotiation, our attorneys are prepared to pursue the case in court. A free case evaluation can help you understand your legal options. Our 24-hour legal intake professionals are available to assist you, and you do not pay an attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
What Compensation Is Available After a Truck Accident?
Compensation after a truck accident may cover financial losses and the personal harm caused by the crash. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries and how they affect work or daily life. Available evidence and insurance coverage also matter. Each case is different.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Medical bills and expected future treatment
- Rehabilitation or long-term care
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or disfigurement
- Funeral expenses and other wrongful death damages when a crash is fatal
A North Carolina truck accident attorney can gather the records needed to document these losses. The attorney can then pursue compensation from the responsible parties and their insurers.
North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (877) 333-1000
Who Can Be Held Liable for a North Carolina Truck Accident?
The truck driver is not always the only party who may be legally responsible for a commercial vehicle crash. A motor carrier may be liable for unsafe hiring or poor supervision. It may also bear responsibility when company practices put drivers under pressure to ignore safety rules.
Depending on the facts and circumstances, potential parties can include:
- The truck driver
- The motor carrier or employer
- The truck or trailer owner
- A maintenance or repair contractor
- The company that loaded or secured the cargo
- A vehicle or component manufacturer
- Another contractor whose actions contributed to the crash
Determining liability usually requires more than reviewing the police report. A North Carolina trucking accident lawyer can take steps to preserve these records. The lawyer can also trace how the companies involved were connected.
Identifying each responsible party may reveal additional insurance coverage and prevent one company from shifting blame to another.
Truck Accident Cases We Handle
DeMayo Law Offices handles truck accident claims involving 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers throughout North Carolina. Our work also covers delivery vehicles and other commercial trucks.
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Commercial Vehicles Involved in Truck Accident Claims
18-wheelers
Tractor-trailers
Semi-trucks
Tanker trucks
Dump trucks
Box trucks
Delivery vehicles
Other commercial vehicles
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FAQs: About Trucking Accidents in North Carolina
Truck accident claims can raise questions about cost, liability, evidence, and filing deadlines. The answers below provide general information. A case-specific review is necessary because every claim depends on its own facts.Truck accident claims are often more complicated than ordinary car accident claims. The commercial driver may work for one company, but the tractor or trailer may belong to someone else. Separate businesses may have maintained the vehicle or loaded its cargo. A lawyer may also need to review federal safety rules and company records that do not exist in a typical car accident claim.
Truck accidents often cause more serious harm because commercial trucks can be far larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. A fully loaded truck also needs more room to slow or stop. When a crash occurs, people in smaller vehicles may face catastrophic injuries or death. Serious injuries can increase medical costs and make future losses a larger part of the claim.
There is no standard value for a North Carolina truck accident claim. The amount may depend on the severity of the injuries and the cost of future care. A loss of earning capacity may increase the claim.
The lawyer will also consider the liability evidence and available insurance coverage. Each case is different.
DeMayo Law Offices offers free case evaluations and handles qualifying truck accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means you do not pay an attorney fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you. The lawyer can explain the fee agreement and any potential case expenses before representation begins.
In many North Carolina truck accident cases, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed within three years of the crash. A wrongful death action generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Different facts or parties can affect the deadline, so a prompt case-specific review is wise.
North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule may prevent recovery if an injured person is found partly responsible for the crash. The party raising that defense has the burden of proving it. Insurance companies may use the rule to shift blame, so the evidence should be reviewed carefully. A lawyer can determine whether an exception may apply to the facts.
Helpful evidence may include crash-scene photographs and witness statements. Driver logs or electronic vehicle data can show how the truck was operated. Maintenance records and cargo paperwork may reveal other safety failures. An 18-wheeler accident attorney in North Carolina can act quickly to request that relevant records be preserved.
The best truck accident attorney in North Carolina for your case should have experience with commercial vehicle claims and the resources to investigate a trucking company. Ask whether the firm has handled claims involving several responsible parties. You should also understand whether it is prepared for litigation and how the legal team will communicate with you. Client reviews and prior results can provide context, but no attorney can guarantee a particular outcome.
An 18-wheeler accident attorney in North Carolina can move quickly to request that trucking records and electronic data be preserved. Helpful evidence may include driver logs, maintenance records, cargo documents, company communications, crash-scene photographs, and witness statements. Electronic vehicle data may also provide information about speed, braking, or the truck’s operation before impact.
According to the most recent data, there were more than 16,000 large truck accidents in North Carolina in 2023. One hundred seventy-four people were killed in these accidents, and thousands were injured.
Here’s a quick look at important facts and statistics related to large truck accidents in North Carolina and throughout the US.
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The Vehicles Involved in the Most Crashes
In 2023, single-unit trucks (2-axles, 6-tires) were involved in the most crashes (5,365). Subsequently, injury-related crashes among these vehicles were the highest (1,2166), while tractors/semi-trailers were involved in the most fatal crashes (74).
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The Trucks Involved in the Second Most Crashes
The second spot for each of these categories was reversed, with tractors/semi-trailers responsible for causing 4,839 accidents, with 1,012 of these collisions resulting in injuries, while 46 single-unit truck crashes proved fatal.
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A range of vehicles
Large truck accidents involve a range of vehicles including single unit trucks, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
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There are several types of commercial vehicles
Commercial motor vehicles also include buses, garbage trucks, delivery vans, hotel and airport shuttles, moving trucks, and other common, heavy vehicles.
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State tracked statistics
Our state tracks crash statistics for a variety of these vehicles as well. School and commercial buses, for example, were involved in almost 1,500 crashes, resulted in 6 fatalities, and injured almost 500 people.
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Accidents increasing year over year
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large truck and bus accidents across the US increased by two percent year-over-year and 29 percent since 2009.
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If you’ve been in an accident involving a large truck or CMV, you don’t have to fight the truck driver or trucking company on your own. An attorney from our law firm will be by your side every step of the way, fighting to help you obtain fair compensation from these powerful, well-funded companies. We’ll protect you from their aggressive money-conserving tactics.
Even if you’re uncertain about pursuing legal action right now, we’re here to help you understand your options for financial recovery. We know that the aftermath of an accident brings tough choices, and it’s important to have the right information. That’s why we offer free, no-obligation case reviews so that you can make informed decisions with confidence.
Call DeMayo Law Offices in North Carolina to discuss your legal options or tell us about the accident online to get started now!
