Mobile Truck Accident Lawyers

Injured in a Truck Accident that Was Not Your Fault?

Were you or someone you care about injured in an accident with a semi-truck, big rig or tractor-trailer? If so, we encourage you to contact our experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Mobile right away. When up against large trucking companies and their lawyers, you need an attorney fighting to protect your legal rights and financial interests.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we understand truck accident injury claims are far more complex than collisions involving smaller vehicles. Our firm helps victims of truck accidents and other injuries every day, something we have been doing for nearly three decades. During that time, we have recovered over $600 million for our clients. This proven history includes a $3.5 million settlement we obtained for the victim of a head-on collision involving a big rig.

Not sure if you have a case? Take advantage of our free and confidential initial consultation to learn about your potential legal options. If you have a case and choose our firm to represent you, there are no upfront costs to pay.

How Do I Know If I Have a Truck Accident Case?

If a commercial truck driver caused your crash and resulting damages, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages. But before we can determine this, you or your attorney must be able to establish the other party’s negligence, which means establishing:

• The truck driver owed you a legal duty of care
• That duty of care was breached by the driver’s negligence
• The truck driver’s negligence led to the crash that caused your injuries
• You suffered damages, such as medical costs, lost wages and property damages, as a result.

Why Truck Crash Claims Are More Complex

Truck accident claims are quite different from accident claims involving smaller vehicles in several key ways:

• Severity of injuries: Crashes involving commercial trucks are often catastrophic, leaving victims with extensive damages and therefore also potentially higher claim amounts.
• Multiple Liable Parties: In truck accidents, liability may often extend beyond the truck driver. Other liable parties may include the trucking company, truck owner, truck manufacturers, cargo loaders and other parties.
• Federal Regulations: Both the truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to a higher standard of care and additional federal regulations. Failure to adhere to these regulations may have a significant impact on the outcome of a liability claim.
• Insurance Coverage: Trucking companies are typically required to carry higher insurance limits than individual drivers. These limits often result in more pushback from the insurers, but they also provide more leeway for your attorney to negotiate for the full recovery of your damages.
• Gathering Evidence: Truck accidents often require extensive evidence gathering, including driver logs, vehicle maintenance records, and data from onboard electronic systems.
• Expert Involvement: These cases are so complex that they may frequently require input from specialized experts. Specific areas may include medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists and trucking industry experts.

These are just a few reasons why having an experienced truck accident lawyer could greatly benefit your claim. At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we are well-versed in federal and state regulations that apply to truck accidents. We also know what evidence will best support your claim and how to gather that evidence.

How Much Could My Truck Accident Case Be Worth?

Every truck accident is different. Some are more severe than others. Keeping this in mind, the legal team at Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys is prepared to fully assess all factors that impact the value of your case. This means assessing the extent and severity of your injuries, the amount of property damage sustained, how much income you lost while recovering, and much more.

Generally, the damages you may be eligible to recover may include:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are easily verifiable with things like medical invoices, pay stubs, car repair bills and other types of tangible evidence. Truck accident victims may be able to recover compensation for things like:

• Medical costs: These damages include costs for all reasonable and necessary medical costs resulting from the crash and your injuries.
• Lost Wages: These damages compensate you for time missed if you were unable to work while recovering. Lost wages can be proved with paystubs and other employment documents.
• Property Damage: Compensation for property damage covers your vehicle, clothing and other personal items, such as glasses, that were damaged as a result of the truck accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more subjective and therefore harder to prove. These damages include compensation for the physical pain and suffering you experienced following the crash. Other non-economic damages may include:

• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• And more

Punitive Damages

Each case is unique, with its own set of circumstances and impacts on your life. We will only be able to accurately determine the value of your case after reviewing your current and future medical expenses. We will also need to assess how much your injuries have impacted the quality of your daily life.

Does Alabama Place a Cap on Damages?

There is no cap on economic damages in personal injury lawsuits in Alabama. However, the state does cap punitive damages. According to Alabama Code 6-11-21, punitive damages are capped at $500,000 or three times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever amount is greater.

Understanding how much compensation you are entitled to can become easily complicated. Our legal team can clarify any issues or lack of clarity and how they might bear upon your specific case.

What Should I Do First After a Truck Accident?

If you were struck by a semi or tractor-trailer in Alabama, your first priority is to check yourself and others for injuries before calling for help. Additional first steps should include the following:

Call 9-1-1

This step helps to ensure you get police and medical services to the scene as soon after the truck accident as possible.

• First Responders: Police will investigate the scene, speak to all drivers and witnesses, and document what happened. The end result is a police report that will help support your claim.
• Medical Assistance: When speaking with the 9-1-1 dispatcher, it is important to let them know you need medical help. When EMTs arrive, they can begin emergency medical treatment at the scene until you and other injured victims can be transported to a nearby hospital.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you do not see visible sign of a wound or feel any pain, you could have serious internal injuries that need immediate medical attention. Internal injuries can only be discovered through diagnostic testing or medical examination. Not only does this step protect your health, but it also creates documentation in your medical records. This documentation helps link your injuries to the crash that caused them, further strengthening your legal claim.

Notify Your Insurer

It is important to notify your insurance company as soon after the collision as possible. However, when speaking to them, there are some things you should not do before you speak with an attorney:

• Do not give a recorded statement
• Do not agree to a quick settlement offer
• Do not sign anything from the insurance company
• Do not talk about your injuries or how you are feeling

Protect your claim by giving the basic facts about the truck accident. Often, it is far better to call an attorney first and let them speak with the insurance company on your behalf.

Call Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys

Call our law offices 24/7 to request a free consultation to discuss what happened. We strongly recommend seeking legal help even before you call your insurance company. Truck accidents differ greatly from car accidents and could greatly benefit from having an experienced attorney manage your case.

How Long Do I Have To File in Alabama?

In Alabama, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including those arising from truck accidents, is generally two years from the date of the accident or injury. This is a critical deadline as it determines how long you have to file a lawsuit in court.

While two years sounds like a long time, there is a lot your attorney needs to do to give your case the optimum chance for a favorable outcome. If you fail to initiate legal proceedings within this two-year window, Alabama courts will likely refuse to hear your case, and you may forfeit your right to compensation.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

Unlike an accident between smaller passenger vehicles, wrecks involving 18-wheelers often cause catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Accidents involving large trucks are often the result of negligence and other contributing factors. Some truck crashes may result from unpredictable mechanical failure or freak accidents. However, most truck accidents are caused by human error and are therefore preventable.

Truck accidents caused by negligence include:

• Jackknife accidents: These crashes occur when a truck driver tries to stop too quickly. Doing so causes the truck’s trailer to swing out from behind, forming an acute angle with the cab, often resulting from sudden braking.

• Rollover accidents: Trucks are more susceptible to tipping over onto its side or roof due to having a higher center of gravity. Many factors work against this, including inexperience or negligent maneuvers such as taking a sharp turn too fast. Rollover crashes may also occur as the result of improperly secured cargo, resulting in unexpected load shifts.

• Rear-end accidents: happen when a truck crashes into the back of another vehicle, with the truck’s heavy weight leading to significant damage and injury.

• Underride crashes: occur when a smaller vehicle slides beneath a truck’s trailer, often due to abrupt stops and can be particularly hazardous.

• T-bone collisions: happen when the side of a vehicle is hit by the front or rear of a truck, typically at intersections, risking serious side-impact damage.

• Head-on collisions: When the front of a truck crashes directly into the front of another vehicle, often resulting in severe consequences due to the force of impact.

• Wide-turn crashes: happen when trucks swing widely to the left to make a right turn and collide with other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects.

• Blind spot accidents: occur when other vehicles are hidden from the truck driver’s view during lane changes or merges.

• Lost load accidents: if cargo is not secured properly, it can fall off the truck, leading to accidents with other vehicles trying to avoid debris.

• Tire blowout crashes: when a truck tire bursts, it can cause the truck driver to lose control, resulting in accidents involving nearby vehicles.

What Are the Most Common Injuries From Truck Accidents?

Injuries from truck accidents are often more severe, such as:

• Whiplash: Caused by the violent back-and-forth movement of the neck during the crash.
• Head Trauma: Concussions and or severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common.
• Broken Bones: May range from simple fractures to compound breaks requiring surgery.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Can lead to partial or complete paralysis and long-term disability.
• Lacerations: Deep cuts that could result in scarring or infection, sometimes requiring surgery.
• Internal Bleeding: A serious condition that can occur without immediate symptoms, requiring urgent medical attention.
• Burns: Can range from mild to severe, potentially resulting in significant scarring, infection and the need for skin grafts.
• Crush Injuries: When part of the body is trapped between objects, potentially causing long-term damage to muscles and organs.

Why Contact Our Mobile Truck Accident Lawyers?

In you are involved in a truck accident, engaging a lawyer is vital to protect your rights and secure the compensation you need to aid your recovery. Given what you just went through, you likely will not be able to focus on your recovery and deal with the claim process.

Contact Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys for legal help today. Our trusted law firm helps injured victims every day, something we have been doing for decades. Our office is in Alabama, conveniently located off Interstate 65 by the Nissan dealership.