A collision with a fully loaded tractor-trailer can upend just about everything in your life. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and the size difference between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle often means catastrophic injuries for the smaller vehicle’s occupants. If you sustained injuries in a collision involving a commercial truck, an experienced truck accident attorney in Mobile can help you understand your legal rights and pursue full compensation.
Truck accident claims are seldom as simple as standard car accident cases. These claims often involve federal trucking regulations, large commercial insurance policies, and multiple parties who may share responsibility for a crash, including the driver, the trucking company, and even a cargo loader or parts manufacturer. Because so much can affect your case outcome, having knowledgeable legal representation from the start matters. Contact Stokes Stemle, LLC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Should You Do After a Mobile Truck Accident in Alabama?
The steps you take right after a semi-truck accident can affect your ability to recover compensation later. If you are able, consider taking the following actions:
- Call 911 and seek medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at first.
- Take photographs of the crash scene and any visible injuries.
- Get the truck driver’s name, employer, and insurance information, along with the truck’s USDOT number.
- Avoid discussing fault with the truck driver, witnesses, or any insurance representatives at the scene.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as possible so evidence such as black box data and driver logs can be preserved before it disappears.
Why Choose Stokes Stemle for Your Mobile Truck Accident Cases in AL?
Trucking litigation calls for a different level of preparation than an ordinary car accident claim. When you are trying to decide how to choose a personal injury lawyer for a truck accident, look for a firm that understands FMCSA regulations, has experience negotiating with commercial insurers, and will communicate with you directly rather than handing your case off to a paralegal.
At Stokes Stemle, LLC, our truck accident lawyers in Mobile will thoroughly investigate the crash, identify all parties who may be responsible, and work with accident reconstruction experts when necessary. We accept cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t owe us anything unless we recover compensation for you. Our attorneys are available by phone, text, or email 24 hours a day, and if it is more convenient for you, we will meet you where you are rather than requiring you to travel to one of our offices.
Here’s what David Warren, a former client, has to say about our firm:
“[A] law firm that truly cares about their clients and will ensure they are taken care of. I highly recommend this firm if you are looking for attorneys who work diligently, are compassionate, and won’t treat you like just another case number.”
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
A serious truck accident can leave you in financial disarray, with injuries that may affect you for years. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering related to your physical recovery and emotional distress
- Funeral and burial expenses if you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident
- Property damage to your vehicle and other personal property
Our attorneys will work to account for the full scope of your losses, both current and future, so your settlement or verdict reflects what you actually need to move forward and rebuild your life.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
Alabama law (Alabama Code §6-2-38) generally gives you two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long, the court will almost certainly dismiss your lawsuit, and you will lose your right to pursue compensation, no matter how serious your injuries are.
Alabama also follows a contributory negligence rule, one of the strictest fault standards in the country. If an insurance company can show that you share even a small amount of fault for the crash, it may try to use that to deny your claim entirely. This makes it especially important to talk to a lawyer early so your case can be built carefully from the start, before key evidence disappears.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident?
Unlike most car accident cases, a truck accident may involve more than one liable party. Depending on what caused the crash, liability could fall on the following:
- The truck driver, for actions such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving while fatigued
- The trucking company, for negligent hiring or pressuring drivers to violate hours-of-service rules
- A cargo loading company, if improperly secured freight caused the truck to become unstable
- A parts manufacturer, if a defective tire, brake system, or other component contributed to the crash
- A maintenance provider, if poor repair work left the truck unsafe to operate
A commercial truck accident lawyer in Mobile can help determine which parties bear responsibility and pursue a claim against each one, rather than settling with the first insurer that responds.
Common Causes of Mobile Truck Accidents
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in and around Mobile include the following:
- Driver fatigue from long hauls or pressure to meet tight delivery schedules
- Distracted driving (including cell phone use or reliance on navigation systems)
- Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo that shifts during transit
- Poor truck maintenance
- Impaired driving caused by alcohol, drugs, or medication use
Federal regulations require truck drivers to follow strict limits on driving and rest time, but violations of these hours-of-service rules remain a common factor in serious crashes. Trucking companies must also maintain driver qualification files and electronic logging device data, both of which can serve as important evidence in a claim.
Contact a Mobile Truck Accident Lawyer in Alabama for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, Stokes Stemle is here to help you stand up to the trucking company and their insurers. In one case, our attorneys took a claim that had received only a $10,000 settlement offer to trial and secured a $250,000 verdict for our client. (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.)
Stokes Stemle, LLC, represents injured accident victims throughout Alabama, including Mobile. Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and learn about your legal options. Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter.
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