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If you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident, you may be able to receive compensation from the liable party to start the process of rebuilding your life. One of our Rutherfordton truck accident lawyers can help.
Our Rutherfordton personal injury lawyers from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can step in and help you explore your legal options against a negligent truck driver or related entity.
We have served over 10,000 clients and are now ready to help you. By pursuing compensation, you can hold the liable party – no matter who they are – accountable for their actions.
Contact us today for a free review of your case.
Getting Help from Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Rutherfordton
Insurance companies sometimes take advantage of the fact that claimants are not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities after a truck accident. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we want to keep you informed throughout the legal process so you can make educated decisions regarding your future.
Our truck accident legal services include:
Negotiating With the Truck Insurance Company
The insurance company could offer a fast settlement that may initially appeal to you. However, this offer may be insufficient for your needs and fail to compensate you for your injuries.
To make sure that you truly get what you are entitled to, let our Rutherfordton truck accident lawyers handle all communications with the insurance company. We would be happy to:
- Send out the initial notification, letting them know that you are filing a claim against their client
- Field all settlement offers and let you know whether or not they are fair
- Sit down with their representatives and negotiate for the amount that you deserve
- Draw up the necessary paperwork once a settlement agreement is reached
- Answer all of your questions at every step of this process
- Take the fight to court on your behalf as necessary
Working for Rutherfordton Residents on a Contingency-Fee Basis
We understand that, following a truck accident, you are likely experiencing financial difficulties. For this reason, you may be concerned about how you can afford legal assistance. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we work on a contingency-fee basis for injury cases. This means:
- Unless we get financial recovery on your behalf, you owe us no attorney fees.
- We do not require any start–up fees or hourly payments; we receive attorney fees only through the settlement offer we obtain for you.
- You can more easily afford the legal representation you deserve.
Acting Fast After a Truck Crash
You do not have an unlimited amount of time to pursue litigation. Below are some factors that may affect or even derail your case if you wait too long:
- The general statute of limitations: Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. If you do not, you will likely lose the right to sue.
- What type of case you are filing: The above statute applies to personal injury cases. If you are filing a wrongful death case on a deceased loved one’s behalf, the statute of limitations is two years, per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53.
- Impermanent evidence: As time passes, witnesses may forget important details, crucial paperwork may be lost, and video evidence may be destroyed. The sooner you start, the more evidence our trucking accident lawyers may be able to find to support your suit.
Proving Liability for a Truck Accident
To recover compensation, our attorney in Rutherfordton needs to establish that all injuries and financial losses resulted from another party’s negligence. Sometimes, more than one party is responsible for a crash.
We can carefully investigate your case to find evidence of the liable party’s (or parties’) responsibility. In a truck accident, liable parties could include:
- The trucker
- The trucker’s employer
- The company that built the truck
- The parties responsible for loading the truck
Important evidence in truck accident lawsuits may include:
- The Rutherfordton Police Department’s report
- Witness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Traffic surveillance footage or security camera footage
- Medical records
You have the right to pursue compensation, no matter who is responsible for the collision. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can work to establish that the other party is responsible for the collision and, as a result, should pay for your losses.
Damages Our Rutherfordton Trucking Accident Lawyers Can Pursue
Truck accidents may leave you with severe injuries, including broken bones, burns, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. No matter what your injuries are, physical pain and emotional trauma can have long-lasting impacts on your life.
You may be unable to return to work and financially drowning under expensive medical bills. You may even feel like life has lost its joy.
Fair compensation should account for all of these losses. With the help of Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, you may be able to recover damages for losses like the following:
- Lost wages: This refers to the income you missed out on while on a temporary leave of absence from work. You may also qualify for damages if your injuries will permanently affect your ability to earn a living.
- Property damage: If your car was damaged in the accident and you had to pay for repairs, our legal team may seek reimbursement for those expenses.
- Medical bills: You could receive compensation for any medical costs already incurred, as well as expenses you expect to incur for future treatment.
- Other expenses: Did you end up spending money on any product or service that you would not have needed if the accident had not happened? You may be able to collect damages for that expense.
- Pain and suffering: Both physical and emotional distress could make you eligible for monetary damages.
- Reduced quality of life: This could mean many things, including the inability to independently perform tasks that used to be easy for you.
- Disability: Our Rutherfordton truck accident attorneys can pursue compensation if the accident caused a temporary or permanent disability.
- Loss of consortium: Your relationship with your spouse has deteriorated, ended, or otherwise been negatively affected by the accident.
We offer a free initial case review, during which our Rutherfordton law firm encourages prospective clients to share the details of their accident.
This testimony, along with evidence we collect during our independent investigation, can help us advocate for a fair settlement from the liable party’s insurance company.
Types of Truck Accidents in Rutherfordton, NC
You often share the road with large commercial trucks hauling cargo across state lines. Large trucks can weigh many times more than smaller passenger vehicles, so they can do catastrophic amounts of damage in collisions like:
- Override accidents – This happens when the truck runs over another vehicle. It can occur when the truck rear-ends the passenger car.
- Underride accidents – This happens when a car is pushed under the truck, such as when the truck driver brakes suddenly and makes it difficult for the driver behind the truck to stop.
- Side-swipe crashes – This happens when one vehicle hits the side of another. This type of accident frequently occurs when two lanes merge, such as on an interstate highway on-ramp.
- Right-hook crashes – This refers to a driver turning right into a cyclist traveling in the same direction and hitting them.
- Jackknife crashes – This can happen when a large truck and its trailer go into a skid, forming an angle of 90 degrees with each other.
- Left-turn crashes – If you were involved in a traffic accident caused by a commercial truck driver who didn’t yield the right of way, a Rutherfordton left turn accident lawyer from our team can seek compensation.
If one of these accidents happened to you or a loved one, we can help. Our semi-truck accident lawyers can investigate what happened, determine liability, and file an insurance claim or civil lawsuit on your behalf.
The injuries you suffered might require ongoing medical care, and you might also be unable to work due to your injuries. Our legal team can help you rebuild your life. Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, today to discuss your legal options.
Common Truck Accident Causes
In North Carolina in 2023, there were 6,882 accidents involving commercial vehicles. These accidents each happened due to their own set of unique circumstances.
Do you know exactly how your truck accident happened? Just as we can investigate to identify the liable party, a lawyer from our firm can determine the specific event or events that precipitated your Rutherfordton accident.
Although truck accidents can happen for many reasons, a few common causes often play a role in these incidents. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has seen cases involving:
Truck Driver Fatigue
Trucking companies are required to follow the hours of service regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
These regulations govern how long commercial drivers may be on duty and when they must take rest breaks. FMCSA has specific requirements for truck drivers, including a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving time.
Unfortunately, not all companies follow these regulations, and drivers may become fatigued after working long hours without sleep. As a result, they may fall asleep at the wheel.
Fatigue affects the driver in various ways, including:
- Slowed reaction time and reflexes
- Impaired judgment
- Increased risk of falling asleep
- Impaired balance
Truck Driver Distractions
Distractions such as cell phone conversations and radio transmissions can lead to crashes if drivers fail to keep their eyes on the road. Any time a truck driver is on the road, they must focus and not engage in any distracting activity. This includes using cell phones and other electronic devices.
Weather Conditions and Accidents
Weather conditions such as rain or snow can affect visibility, making it difficult for truck drivers to see oncoming traffic. These may cause trucks to lose control and veer off course.
The Truck’s Blind Spots
Large blind spots are especially dangerous at intersections and when turning. Drivers may have trouble seeing other vehicles, especially if they are equipped with large trailers that block their vision. Truckers need to check their mirrors before turning while always keeping their eyes on the road.
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, a Rutherfordton improper turns accident lawyer from our team can help you recover damages. We can investigate the collision and use the available evidence to build a strong case against the liable party.
Truckers Who Drive Under the Influence
Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense. The penalties for a DUI conviction vary by state, but a DUI could leave a driver facing jail time, hefty fines, and even license suspension, in addition to whatever legal action you file.
Speeding Accidents
Truck drivers may be tempted to speed to improve their time on the road. Speeding substantially increases the crash risk and can make it much more difficult for the driver to brake in an emergency.
Vehicular Malfunction or Failure
Vehicle defects can cause dangerous situations for truck drivers. These include faulty brakes or unsafe tires that can blow out, causing serious injury or death. Our truck injury attorneys can investigate the truck’s manufacturer and/or maintenance team for evidence of negligence.
Truck Accident Injuries and Medical Care
Truck accident injuries may include but are not limited to:
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Sprained, strained, or torn ligaments
- Whiplash
- Paralysis
- Dismemberment
- Disfigurement
You should always seek prompt medical attention following a collision, even if you are able to walk away from the accident scene. In addition to possibly saving your life, the resulting medical record can serve as important evidence in a lawsuit.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, encourages you to keep all evidence pertaining to your injuries and their subsequent care. Imaging scans, prescription medications, and other relevant items can help our truck crash lawyers in Rutherfordton tie your injuries back to the truck accident.
If you can, take photographs or video of the accident scene and of your injuries, as this time-stamped visual evidence can be helpful in substantiating your truck accident claim.
Call a Rutherfordton Truck Accident Attorney at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, Today
Truck accident injuries can limit your ability to work and cause significant medical debt. A Rutherfordton truck accident attorney from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can work hard to pursue damages from the liable party and exhaust all possible sources of recovery in accordance with your legal interests.
Call us today at our Rutherfordton office to start your free case evaluation.
