Tuskegee Truck Accident Lawyer

Tuskegee truck accident lawyersTrucks are essential to keeping Tuskegee moving. They deliver our goods to stores like the CVS on Martin Luther King Hwy, or the Piggly Wiggly on S Elm St. But as much as they are necessary, they can also be dangerous.

We hear from people who have just suffered a loss following an accident with a truck, and often the injuries are catastrophic and can even involve traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is may be impossible to return to full health after such a horrendous injury.

Attorney Chip Nix is a seasoned Tuskegee Truck Accident attorney who will begin the process of collecting evidence surrounding your accident before the evidence disappears. Attorney Nix has over four decades of experience successfully representing individuals who have been injured in truck accidents in Alabama, and he knows what it takes to ensure that his clients recover full and fair compensation for their injuries.

Tuskegee Truck Accident Cases

A truck can be defined as a tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler. When a large truck, weighing anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 pounds, collides with a passenger vehicle, which generally weighs about 5,000 pounds, it is clear to see who has the advantage in a collision.   

A truck accident case is typically far more complex than a standard car accident. There are numerous laws and regulations that govern the industry, and there are often multiple parties that could be at fault. A thorough investigation is necessary to uncover and preserve all the pertinent facts and evidence in the case, and to get to the root cause of the accident.


Tuskegee Trucking Accident Statistics

Nationwide in 2013 there were more than 10 million large trucks on U.S. highways. By 2016, that had risen to more than 11 million. Nationwide, in 2017, there were 4,889 large truck crashes that resulted in a fatal outcome, a ten percent increase from the previous year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

In Alabama, as of 2014 there were 10,120 trucking companies located in the state which carries about 70 percent of all freight into and out of the state. But that same year there were 88 fatalities involving large trucks on our roads. The next year that had increased to 104 fatalities. By 2017 the number of fatalities had increased to 137.

As the number of trucks continues to increase on Alabama roadways, the number of catastrophic injuries is likely to increase as well.

Cause of Tuskegee Truck Accidents

Considering the size differential between a passenger vehicle and a large truck, it is understandable why the occupants of the vehicle often suffer the most devastating injuries.

A big rig may have difficulty seeing the passenger vehicle. Is the car driving in the trucker’s blind spot?  Did the car cut off a truck?   Understand that a larger vehicle needs extra space between vehicles to stop.

Other common causes of trucking accidents include:

* Distracted Driving on the part of either driver

* Speeding

* Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

* Fatigued driver

* Tailgating

The types of accidents involving a big rig can include a head-on crash, or someone jumping over the median into oncoming traffic. In the most unfortunate cases, a passenger vehicle can submarine under the tractor-trailer, often resulting in traumatic head injuries and loss of life.

Investigating Tuskegee Truck Accidents

When we get to work on your case, we will need to gather evidence quickly after the crash. That involves visiting the scene, taking photos and measurements, talking to witnesses, and assessing the traffic conditions and weather at the time of the collision.

Who is the at-fault driver?

Either the trucker or the passenger vehicle driver could have been speeding, tailgating, making a turn without signaling or allowing enough space for those around him.

Truck drivers have other responsibilities as they are licensed federal to drive a big-rig and must follow the federal rules.

Did he have enough sleep as designated under hours-of-service rules? Drivers must take ten hours off duty before they get behind the wheel for another 11 hours.

Additionally, they cannot work more than 60 hours in a week.  We will check the books to make sure they have followed the federal rules. And we will check for a second set of books which may tell the real story.

Had the driver been checked out medically before s/he was licensed to drive?

Was the cargo loaded evenly and secured so it did not move as it was transported? 

Was the big rig in good shape and had the truck passed safety inspections?

We often find that for-profit hauling companies try to skirt the rules so that they can deliver goods quickly, even if that means compromising safety.

We will need to retrieve the black box recorder onboard the large truck to see the story it tells about all of the above and help pin-point the cause of the accident.

We will send a preservation letter to the trucking company so that all evidence is preserved including the black box recorder and the logs that show how long the driver had been on the road at the time of the collision.

Mr. Nix will immediately work to determine who owns the truck and whether the driver was under a strict contract to deliver goods quickly.


Act Fast Following a Tuskegee Truck Accident

When you call attorney Chip Nix, he can help take the load off of you at this stressful time. We know you are not prepared for what is next, but we will answer all of your immediate questions. If there are serious injuries, we will make sure you or your loved one seeks the appropriate medical treatment.

We will offer sound legal advice to start protecting your interests as we understand how quickly the insurance carrier for the trucking company will work to undermine your claim.

Please do not accept any settlement immediately following the accident as it will be an attempt to kill your case.  Also do not make any statements to insurance carriers as it is not required. Only once you have secured legal representation should you speak for the record.

We will prepare your case with the goal of negotiating the maximum settlement amount needed to compensate you for your loss.  If the other side is not willing to negotiate in good faith, however, we will prepare your case for trial and hire the experts we need to prove your case. Mr. Nix will provide a free consultation during this traumatic time for you or for the survivors of a truck accident victim. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at 334-203-6669 or contact us online. We are ready to go to work for you.

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