large semi truck hitting a small compact car

Truck Accident Lawyer Greensboro, NC

As a truck accident lawyer in Greensboro, NC from Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law, PLLC knows, truck accidents can cause the most serious and life-threatening injuries. If you or a loved one was hurt because of being hit by a commercial truck driver, then we suggest contacting us now for guidance. You may need someone to advocate for your wellbeing, especially at a time when it may feel like no one else is, and you’ve been racking up medical bills trying to recover.

TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER GREENSBORO, NC

Truck accidents tend to be scary in nature because it’s one small vehicle up against a truck that may weigh upwards of 30,000 to 80,000 pounds. The average passenger vehicle weighs a measly 4,000 pounds in comparison. This means that the car driver is significantly more likely to sustain the worst injuries.

Factors that often lead to a tragic truck accident are listed as follows:

TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE

Operating a commercial truck is a high-pressure job with plenty of stress to manage. However, this doesn’t mean that truckers should risk the safety of others on the road by driving for so long that they fall asleep behind the wheel. Lacking enough rest can cause someone to have a slowed reaction time, worsened judgment, and more likely to exhibit irritation and road rage. 

POOR TRUCK MAINTENANCE

Truckers and the companies that own them are responsible for performing routine maintenance to ensure the vehicle is safe to run. If they falter from proper inspections or load the truck too heavily, this can cause a devastating accident when in motion. Your Greensboro truck accident lawyer can investigate further into the potential contributing factors of the truck accident, which may uncover useful evidence in your case. 

DISTRACTED DRIVING

As you may have noticed, distracted driving is a big problem no matter where you live. In today’s society, our phones and other devices are often right next to us, offering a myriad of ways to distract ourselves. Driving for extended hours and on long, straight highways can get boring. A trucker may have been using their phone to text, call, send an email, or use social media in the moments leading up to the crash.

USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

When under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a trucker may be inclined to take more risks like speeding, making unsafe lane changes, or other risky behaviors. In many instances, the substance used act to keep the driver awake unnaturally, such as cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. 

Greensboro Truck Accident Law Infographic

Factors that often lead to a tragic truck accident Infographic

WHY YOU MIGHT NEED A LAWYER

You might need a Greensboro truck accident lawyer because as mentioned earlier, an 18-wheeler truck can weigh 20 times as much as your car. That could mean that your chances of getting seriously injured in an accident with a truck can be much greater than your chances of getting seriously hurt in a collision involving another car. Because of these serious injuries that you have been inflicted with, you will most likely want to sue the trucking company that employed the driver of the truck that hit your car. The injuries that have been inflicted on you could cause you to have to visit multiple doctors and make appointments, which can add up. Not to mention, it could mean that you will be out of work until you heal properly. That is one reason why you may need a truck accident lawyer to advocate for you. 

Trucking companies can have enough money to compensate you for your injuries, and they will also have a big budget to spend on legal representation so they don’t have you compensate you for the injuries that were caused. The insurance company involved with the trucking company is able to gather information from its driver and will take into consideration police reports and other evidence to come up with a sufficient compensation amount, which could be yours if they believe their insured driver is at fault. In this instance, they would send you an offer letter of the amount of compensation they believe is appropriate. 

If you sign the offer letter, you lose the right to file a lawsuit about the accident. Some people will accept the offer because they don’t want to go through the hassle of hiring a lawyer or if the compensation seems like a lot. However, it will be extremely beneficial if you refrain from signing anything until you have a truck accident lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina take a look at the offer letter. Victims see the compensation and believe it’s enough, but that figure could be far from what you truly need. A truck accident lawyer has the experience to know if what they offer you is appropriate and enough based on your specific situation. Many times injuries can take time to manifest and you should not settle on a claim until you understand the extent of your injuries and the type of care and help you might need going into the future.

Your losses connected to the accident could go beyond paying all your medical bills. If you file a truck accident lawsuit you could be able to recover damages for the income you lost when you weren’t able to work after the accident. If you are still out of work by the time your case settles or goes to trial, you could be entitled to compensation for future loss of income. In the circumstance that the accident left you permanently disabled and unable to do your job, then you could be entitled to compensation to train you for a new career or to support your family without working. There are many reasons to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina from Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law, PLLC to better understand what the next steps might be in your situation.

Contact our Greensboro Truck Accident Lawyer

Greensboro Truck Accident Law Statistics

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “there were just over 247,000 crashes reported on North Carolina roads. over 4k large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. This reflects an increase in the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes. The number of fatalities increased from 1,426 in 2019 to 1,658 in 2020. Overall, both the fatality per miles rate and crash per miles rate hit their highest levels since 2015.”

TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES

If you see a trucker that is speeding, tailgating, weaving between traffic, or doing something else unsafe, you must call 911 and get as far away from the truck as you can. Truck accidents tend to be more serious and cause more damage than other types of accidents, simply because of how gigantic commercial trucks are. Anyone who has driven next to such a hefty truck has probably felt nervous about its presence. All it takes is for a small wrong move to be made for a tragic truck accident to happen. When they do occur, victims are likely to sustain injuries such as:

Broken Bones

Broken bones often require expensive treatments and surgeries to repair. Such injuries are also excruciating and can lead to screws, rods, and pins being inserted into the body so that the bones can be held together. Depending on the severity and type of broken bone, a person may be out of work, need surgery, have to undergo physical therapy during recovery, and more. Compound fractures can happen where the bone punctures through the skin and can have complications related to infection, internal bleeding, deformity, and nerve damage.

Back and Neck Injuries

When a commercial truck collides with a much smaller vehicle, the impact in itself is enough to cause people to lose their lives. In fact, fatalities are commonly seen in semi-truck accidents. Those who survive are usually left with serious and potentially debilitating injuries that they may never fully recover from. Victims may have damage to the neck and back and surrounding soft tissues. The spinal column is protected by cartilage cushions, and these discs act as an absorber of shock between the spinal column and bones, enabling easy motion and flexibility. But when these discs get damaged, they can leak, herniate, or collapse. 

Burns, Wounds, and Lacerations

Burns may happen due to fire and explosions after impact. Many victims suffer serious burns when in a crack with semi-trucks. There may also be friction burns if the victim scraped against the inside of the car or were ejected from their vehicle onto the pavement. Burns can be immensely painful and may necessitate surgical repair to heal. Some people may need to have plastic surgery done as well. When there are burns and open wounds or deep cuts, there is always a risk of infection and concern for complications. 

Mental Anguish

Being in a truck accident can be a traumatic experience. When consulting with your lawyer, do not hesitate to share how you have been affected mentally too. Physical injuries and mental health challenges should both be treated seriously during this time and factored into any treatment plan. If you need to see a therapist for newly developed or worsened anxiety, depression, stress, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then this is something to share with your legal team. 

After a Truck Accident Here’s Who You Need to Contact

When your life has been turned upside down by the truck accident you just experienced, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurance companies, adjusters, and people trying to get your personal information. With so much going on in your life, it’s easy to forget that you need to contact an attorney as soon as possible so you can start building your case and gathering evidence and witnesses for your lawsuit against the driver of the truck who caused your accident. Here’s what you need to do first if you were recently in a truck accident in Greensboro, NC or another city nearby.

Step 1: Get Medical Treatment

The first thing you need to do after a truck accident is get medical treatment. This is important for two reasons. First, you need to make sure that you are actually injured and not just in shock. Second, if you are injured, you need to document the injuries with a medical professional. This will be important later when you file a personal injury claim. If you don’t have medical records of your injuries, it may be hard to prove that your injuries are severe enough to merit compensation. In many cases, people end up settling out of court because they don’t have any evidence of their injury or damages.

Step 2: Take Photographs of the Damage

You should take photographs of all the damage done to your vehicle, as well as any visible injuries you may have. Be sure to get pictures from different angles and close-ups. These photos will be important when filing your insurance claim and pursuing legal action. Make sure to send them to the truck accident lawyer you have chosen so they can file them with your case and it can begin.

Step 3: Call Your Insurance Company

After you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurance companies. But it’s important to contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident. By law, most insurance companies must give you a free copy of your policy upon request. Your policy will have information about what types of coverage you have and how to file a claim.

Step 4: See if There Are Any Witnesses

After you’ve gathered all of your evidence, it’s time to start building your case. This is where witnesses come in. If you can find someone who saw the accident happen, they can provide valuable testimony to help support your claim. Witness testimonies are important because they give an unbiased account of what happened during the crash. It’s also important to note that witness statements must be collected within 5 days of the incident so make sure to get them while they’re still fresh in their minds! Witnesses are typically not required by law but if you have them on your side, it will definitely strengthen your case and make things easier for you down the line. But if there are no witnesses, don’t worry – there are other ways to build up a strong truck accident case!

Step 5: Speak with a Truck Accident Attorney about Your Options

After you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to speak with an attorney about your case. Only a qualified truck accident lawyer will be able to tell you what your next steps should be. Make sure to discuss the specifics of your situation with them and ask questions.

Contact an attorney for help today if you have been in a truck accident.

Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson Greensboro Truck Accident Lawyer

317 S. GREENE ST, GREENSBORO, NC 27401

Greensboro Truck Accident Lawyer Google Review

“Jason Aycoth helped me in my court case , he guided me for my best interest at heart, he is not just a lawyer but now I consider him a friend. He is not like most lawyers who are just after money. He gives u a price and he breaks it down in terms u will understand. He keeps in contact with you and also is at every court case.he is the best and u can’t go wrong with him…” – Timothy C.

GARRETT, WALKER, AYCOTH & OLSON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PLLC

Our team knows what it takes to hold offenders responsible for reckless acts that led to victim harm. We can get started right away with a consultation and help you decide whether seeking compensation is within your eligibility. Contact a truck accident lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina from Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law, PLLC now to reserve your appointment.