Raleigh Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit

A Raleigh semi-truck accident lawsuit is a civil complaint filed when a person involved in a trucking accident believes they have suffered injury or damages due to the carelessness of the trucking company or driver. This type of legal action typically involves claims for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering caused by the accident.

Depending on the circumstances of a case, semi-truck accident lawsuits may seek compensation for punitive damages as well. An experienced personal injury attorney can help individuals pursue justice in these cases and ensure that their rights are protected during the process.

What Are The Causes Of Raleigh Semi-Truck Accidents?

A variety of factors can cause Raleigh semi-truck accidents. Some common causes of Raleigh truck accidents are:

• driver fatigue
• bad weather
• defective brakes and tires
• overloaded cargo
• poor road conditions
• distracted driving
• drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs
• vehicle equipment malfunction
• sharply curving roads or steep grades
• and inadequate safety maintenance.

How To File a Raleigh Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit

While you can file a Raleigh semi-truck accident lawsuit on your own, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney with experience with trucking industry lawyers is wise. Here's how an experienced personal injury lawyer will help you get the most out of your Raleigh semi-truck accident lawsuit.

Gather the Necessary Paperwork

Gathering the necessary paperwork in North Carolina includes the:

• police report
• pictures of the accident scene
• medical and repair bills
• insurance information for all drivers involved
• as well as any sworn statements from witnesses.

Determine Liability

To seek damages for injuries, we must determine who is liable for the truck accident.  In some cases, truckers may not be solely liable for traffic collisions involving big rigs if other vehicles are also determined to have contributed to it through negligence or recklessness. Possible liable parties can include the:

• truck driver
• trucking company
• maintenance company
• repair company
• or even government roads that are defective

File the Raleigh Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit

Depending on the severity of the crash and other circumstances in your case an experienced Raleigh attorney may be able to file a claim as a plaintiff with a personal injury attorney or directly with the trucking company’s insurer.

Schedule Depositions

If applicable, we will schedule depsotions where witnesses will share details about their accounts of what happened leading up to and during the collision.

Negotiate Settlements

An experienced Raleigh semi-truck accident lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement that will cover for any

• financial losses
• medical costs
• property damage claims
• lost wages due to missed work
• pain and suffering endured due to bodily injuries caused by the wreck involving semi-truck(s).

What Damages Can You Expect After Filing a Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit?

How you were injured will play a significant role in determining the type and amount of damages you are entitled to. Here are the damages one should expect.

Collateral Source Rule

Under the collateral source rule, you cannot recover twice for the same expenses. So if your employer's health insurance is covering your medical bills, you cannot also claim them as damages.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering are types of damage you can claim after a severe accident. It is important not to let this damage go without consideration because the pain you endured after your accident will be with you for the rest of your life.

Lost Wages

You may be entitled to lost wages from your employer if you cannot work after your accident. It will affect your ability to support yourself and any children you have.

Permanent and Total Disability

If you cannot work, you may be entitled to compensation for permanent disability, which gets determined by an evaluation of your physical condition after the accident. Similarly, you may also be entitled to compensation for a total disability that a vocational specialist can provide after thoroughly evaluating your ability to work at any job.

Lost Property

You may be able to recover for the loss of damaged personal property as a result of your accident. It could include your vehicle if driving during the crash or other damaged items. However, remember that while you are entitled to compensation for lost property, this is different from how much you can expect to receive.

PTSD Claims

If the truck accident in Raleigh, North Carolina caused your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, then you may be able to recover from this side effect as well. PTSD is a condition that causes anxiety, flashbacks, or nightmares after you have experienced something traumatic or violent.

Punitive Damages

The most severe injuries can result in punitive damages designed to punish the at-fault party. Often, this damage gets awarded after a jury has determined that the defendant's act was malicious and followed a pattern of negligence.

Raleigh Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit Time Limits

The statute of limitations in North Carolina for commercial vehicle accident lawsuits is two years from the day of injury.

Can A Raleigh Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit Be Successful?

While trucking accidents can often result in devastating damages, several factors need to be considered when assessing the viability of your case. First, it's essential to evaluate the credibility of witnesses and determine whether or not you were on the road when it went down.

The case will also depend on whether or not the other driver was negligent. You have a strong compensation case if you did nothing wrong and were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

How Much Does a Semi-Truck Crash Lawyer Cost in Raleigh, North Carolina?

Our truck accident attorney works on a contingency fee schedule. A contingency fee means we do not charge you anything unless we win a settlement in or out of court. We will incur all costs upfront. We also have contingency schedules with our:

• Raleigh truck accident lawyer
• personal injury lawyer
• car accident lawyer
• and more

Procedure for Semi-Truck Case Accident

While a truck accident attorney may be able to provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your case, you must also be prepared to present all evidence yourself. A lawyer should never do this for you, and you must be able to communicate with your attorney on all matters to maintain the integrity of the case.

The following is a step-by-step procedure for filing a semi-truck accident claim.

Document Everything

It would help if you documented your injuries and any after-effects from the accident. One of the most effective ways to do this is to record a video of yourself at various stages after the accident. Make sure your symptoms are visible and be as descriptive as possible. You can also take photos or record a video of your injuries to share them with an attorney.

Report The Accident

If injured in a truck accident, it's essential to report the incident to the police. You can do this by making a statement or visiting with an officer.

Seek Medical Treatment

Suppose you have suffered injuries due to the accident. In that case, you should immediately visit your physician and request that they send all records of your injury via certified mail. It is so that you can ensure that your insurance policy or other sources cover all medical expenses.

What Injuries Are Common From a Semi-Truck Crash?

There are many severe injuries associated with semi-truck crashes.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a sudden physical force, such as a concussion, skull fracture or jolt. It can affect someone's thinking, feeling and memory, possibly leading to long-term disability.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden jerk of the head and neck. Symptoms include stiffness in the neck, pain in the shoulders, and headaches.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are the damage or trauma to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal resulting in a loss of function such as mobility, feeling and control over many bodily functions.

Contact an Experienced Raleigh, North Carolina Attorney

Another critical step in the process is to contact an attorney to help you build a case against the at-fault party so that you can secure all of your rights under the law.