Commercial Semi Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accidents
Truck Accidents


Did you know there are over eleven million trucks operating actively across the United States, many with overworked drivers carrying hazardous materials? In 2016 alone, there were 475,000 large truck accidents with human error accounting for roughly ninety percent of them. And while a Harvard study found that about a quarter of drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel, 50% of professional truck drivers have reported the same issue.
With so many drivers relying on highways to get to work every day, it takes just one overworked truck driver for your life to change in an instant. After all, trucks weigh 20-30 times more than a typical car, which can seriously amplify the impact and consequences of an accident.
If you or a loved one are involved in an accident with a truck, retaining the services of an attorney becomes vital. Because truck drivers are often insured in the millions and more than one party can be held vicariously responsible for a driver’s negligence, having a lawyer at your side as soon as possible will help to ensure your case is handled in the most professional manner. Identifying all the different lines of insurance is difficult in trucking accidents as the truck and trailer are often insured by different companies, with either or both possibly being guilty of negligence.
Read on to learn the many options available to you or a loved one following a truck accident and fill out a no-cost case evaluation form to see if our team of lawyers, investigators, and expert witnesses can assist you with your case.
Our Process
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Documentation
First, your assigned legal team will gather records related to your claim, including medical records, medical bills, and insurance policy information.
These documents will help your attorney understand the extent of your injury, and build your case for compensation.
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Investigation
Your attorney and legal team will investigate your accident in great detail to gather the necessary evidence.
They may look at dashcam footage, security camera footage, police records, and more to help build your case.
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Negotiation
Your attorney will negotiate with the defense, outside of the courtroom, to help get you the compensation you may be entitled to.
If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, your attorney is prepared to go to trial and present your case in the strongest possible form.
FAQs
What to Do Following a Truck Accident?
What Are The Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?
- Driver Error - Despite the increased size and impact of truck accidents, truck drivers often drive recklessly. They often drive drowsy to reach mileage goals set by their companies and may be operating their truck while under the influence or while distracted.
- Poorly Maintained Trucks - Trucks are often driven thousands of miles per week and if they are not properly cared for, they can become dangerous quickly. While worn brake pads or a cracked windshield must be dealt with if they occur on smaller vehicles, they can be the cause of a major traffic accident on a truck.
- Equipment Failure - Defective parts on a truck may not be the fault of the driver, but they can turn deadly. Your attorney will be able to tell if a trucking company or manufacturer may be liable for your accident in addition to the truck driver.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo - Loading the beds of commercial trucks must be done carefully and in accordance with the law. If they are loaded improperly, the contents on the truck may spill out onto the road and cause accidents and injuries.
How Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
- Larger Insurance Policies - Truck drivers’ insurance policies are up to fifty times larger than car accident policies. This often put ls the total value of insurance in the millions, so you can bet that the different insurance carriers named in a lawsuit will do everything in their power to prove they were not liable. Veteran insurance adjusters will be called in and employ intricate tactics, such as offering a seemingly-large payout, when your case might be worth far more. Having a trusted lawyer by your side can help make the process considerably less stressful.
- Increased Property Damage - As noted above, the weight and overall size of an 18-wheeler commercial freight truck are much larger than that of a typical vehicle. That means that any surrounding property is going to be affected much more than in a crash involving two cars.
- More Serious Injuries - Similarly, the injuries that are common in car accidents are also far more severe and can include intensive medical care and bills. From serious whiplash and broken bones to brain trauma and severe lacerations, injuries following a truck accident are often life-changing.
- Much Larger Medical Bills - The amount of time spent in a hospital tends to be much longer than car accident-related injuries. Victims of truck accidents are unable to return to work for a prolonged period of time, if at all. By working with an experienced lawyer at Morgan & Morgan, we can more accurately calculate your current and future pain and suffering to obtain the compensation you truly deserve.
- Greater Chance of Death - An accident with a large commercial truck is far more likely to result in death than a crash between two passenger cars. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths due to truck accidents every year.
Who is Responsible for My Truck Accident?
- Truck driver
- Truck company
- Owner of the truck
- Company leasing the truck
- Company leasing the trailer
- Shipper who wanted the load transported
- Truck, trailer or parts manufacturer
- Lack of truck driving experience
- Overloading trucks
- Operating oversized trucks on narrow roads
- Failure to see other vehicles due to the truck’s large blind spot
- Failing to obey traffic laws
- Driving for too long without taking a break
- Failure to monitor the driving hours of the truck driver
- Not keep the tractor and/or trailer in a safe, working condition
- Hiring an unqualified or unfit truck driver
- Failure to properly supervise the truck driver
- Failure to properly train the truck driver
- Selecting an unqualified or unfit truck company
- The defective truck or a particular part was “unreasonably dangerous”
- The truck was being operated as the manufacturer intended
- The truck’s performance had not changed since its initial purchase
What Will My Attorney Do To Help Me?
- Review camera footage, if available
- Interview witnesses
- Review mandatory police and accident reports
- Analyze and review medical records
- Interview medical staff
- Consult experts to reconstruct the accident scene and recreate the accident
- Help ensure that important evidence is preserved by the truck company and driver
- Obtaining alcohol and drug testing from the truck driver
- Obtain data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM; i.e. “black box”)
How Negligence is Established Following a Truck Accident
- Maintenance of logbook detailing hours driven
- Documenting hours of service and rest breaks
- Adhering to scheduled and legally-mandated maintenance requirements
- Proper loading of truck cargo, including hazardous materials
- Non-use of controlled substances and alcohol
- Driving no more than ten hours per work day