Truck Accident Lawyer in Elizabeth City | Raleigh Tractor Trailer Injury Attorney | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Elizabeth City, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nags Head and Throughout North Carolina Since 1985

If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in an accident involving a commercial truck, tractor-trailer, or big rig, our Elizabeth City truck accident lawyers are here to help. Our team of big rig injury attorneys is capable of handling major injury or wrongful death cases throughout North Carolina, including Elizabeth City, Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Corolla, and other cities in North Carolina.

You probably have questions and concerns. The information on this page is meant to help you during this difficult time and was put together by our team of experienced NC truck accident lawyers.

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by North Carolina Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys

Case Results Our Team of Charlotte Trucking Accident Lawyers Have Obtained Over the Years

Reasons Why Tractor Trailer Wrecks are More Complex than Typical Car Wreck Cases

  1. Trucks are significantly heavier than cars. The power, size, and weight of a commercial tractor-trailer make the impact of a truck collision much worse and the chance of serious injury and death much higher. The death rate for truck crashes is 50 percent higher than for car accidents, and many injuries may cause life-long disability and permanent or chronic health problems.
  2. Trucks are harder to maneuver than cars. Because of their weight and build, trucks take longer to break and longer to accelerate. They also take wide turns, accelerate quickly down hills, have larger blind spots, and are prone to jackknifing. Since they are driven so often, they are also more susceptible to mechanical problems such as brake failure.
  3. Trucks are commercial vehicles. This means that the tractor, the trailer, and the truck driver may all have different truck insurance policies, making the task of pinpointing who is responsible for paying damages more complex than usual.
  4. Trucking companies can make settling claims needlessly difficult. Because trucking companies are very familiar with truck accident cases, they often know how to impede, frustrate, intimidate, or stress the injury victim into giving up their fight for rightful compensation. However, just because a truck accident and truck accident injury claim may be different or more difficult than a car accident injury doesn’t mean you should stop pursuing your valid insurance claim. Our injury law firm specializes in truck accident injury cases and can assist you every step of the way toward justice.

While many truck companies in the Carolinas often collect evidence at the truck crash site, immediately interview witnesses, and clam up directly after the accident, you need someone on your side who knows the insider information and is familiar with all legal aspects of your case. We have represented hundreds of truck accident injury victims and have the expertise, information, and tenacity to stand up to the truck companies and insurance companies who are attempting to thwart the payments that you need and deserve.

Determining Fault in Your Truck Accident Injury Case

In examining truck accident cases, it is important to both collect the pertinent evidence about the truck accident in question and understand the federal regulations for commercial trucks and truck drivers. It is also important to know the common causes of truck accidents:

  • Equipment failure. Trucks are required to be checked and tuned very regularly because they log so many miles on the road. A missed federal inspection could lead to a deadly truck accident.
  • Trucker fatigue. There are also federal regulations that state how long and how often a trucker can operate his big rig, but some drivers wanting to make more money or hit a deadline ignore the laws. If he drives for too long, he could fall asleep at the wheel, turning his 18-wheeler into a dangerous weapon on the road.
  • Irresponsible trucking companies. Some companies will give their drivers impossible schedules, causing speeding, stress, improper loading, and driver fatigue.
  • Alcohol and drug use. Just as with all drivers, some truck drivers operate under the influence of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Some do so to stay awake and alert, others do so because of boredom, addiction, or plain negligence.
  • Improper cargo loads. A truck that is not properly loaded is more likely to jackknife, tip, or roll. An overloaded truck is prone to equipment failure.

Examples of Serious Truck Accident Injuries

For more information about trucking in various states, check out these informational pages