Huntsville Truck Accident Lawyer

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Determined to win for clients injured in tractor-trailer accidents across Huntsville, Madison County, and North Alabama

Commercial vehicles, like tractor-trailers, can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, which means they have the potential to do catastrophic damage in a traffic accident.

Survivors of truck accidents often suffer extensive injuries with long-term implications for their health. Because of the heightened risks associated with tractor-trailer accidents, motor carriers and truck drivers are held to very strict safety standards and regulations. Even so, thousands of commercial trucks are involved in Alabama traffic accidents every year, many of which result in serious injuries and even fatalities.

At Martin & Helms, we understand the unique challenges truck accident cases pose. These crashes are often uniquely dangerous and come with their own sets of legal hurdles attached. You may find yourself going toe-to-toe with powerful insurance companies, multi-million dollar motor carriers, and corporate legal teams who are more concerned about protecting their interests than making things right.

If you were injured in a collision involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or other commercial vehicle, you don’t have to climb the mountain alone. Our Huntsville truck accident lawyers are prepared to conduct a thorough investigation into your crash so they can hold all potentially liable parties accountable for the harm they caused.

Contact our team to learn more about our approach and to discuss your legal options under Alabama law.

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What kinds of commercial vehicles are involved in truck accidents?

Even though TV commercials and billboards make it seem like tractor-trailers are the primary culprits in accidents, there are actually many commercial vehicles that could be involved in a truck accident. Some of the vehicles we see involved in these cases most often include:

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  • Tractor-trailers
  • Semi-trucks
  • 18-wheelers
  • Box trucks
  • Delivery trucks
  • Tanker trucks
  • Flatbed trucks
  • Dump trucks
  • Garbage trucks
  • Construction vehicles

Each of these vehicles presents its own set of safety risks. While your average box truck can carry around 12,000 pounds of cargo, 18-wheelers often weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. As you can probably imagine, a vehicle that weighs 80,000 pounds can do a great deal of damage in an accident. Smaller commercial trucks can also pack a serious punch in a collision, but it’s important to account for the differences in these vehicles when investigating a crash.

Why are truck accidents different from car accidents?

Commercial truck accidents can be far more complicated than other car accident cases for a few different reasons. First, tractor-trailers and similar vehicles are massive, which means they’re capable of doing much more extensive damage than your average passenger vehicle in an accident. As a result, the damages associated with these cases tend to be uniquely costly, and the injuries we see in these cases are often catastrophic in nature.

Additionally, commercial trucks are typically owned and/or operated by business entities. This can give way to some complex liability questions. Is the driver responsible for the crash, or should their employer be held accountable? It takes a thorough investigation to land on the most appropriate course of action in these cases.

Finally, these cases frequently rely on industry-specific forms of evidence that may not be easy for all legal teams to understand. Black box data, federal trucking regulations, commercial insurance requirements, maintenance records, and other common evidence components must be carefully reviewed by people with knowledge and experience with commercial truck cases.

Due to the high-stakes nature of truck accident claims, it’s absolutely vital for injured victims to partner with an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney if they’re planning on taking legal action for a truck crash.

What causes commercial truck accidents in Alabama?

ALDOT does a great job of monitoring truck accidents across the state and logging the various factors that contribute to them. Some of the most commonly identified causes of these accidents include:

  • Defective equipment
  • Swerving to avoid a roadway hazard
  • Improper turns
  • Improper backing
  • Failure to stop at a stop sign or traffic light

Many of these causes are also commonly linked to more traditional motor vehicle accidents, but the consequences in a truck crash can be far more severe. Federal trucking regulations exist to address many of these common risk factors, but regulations alone cannot prevent 100% of accidents.

What are FMCSA regulations?

Commercial trucking companies don't get to make up their own safety rules. Instead, companies subject to federal motor carrier rules are expected to comply with regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These regulations cover many different aspects of commercial vehicle safety, but some of the most critical guidelines pertain to:

Hours of service

HOS limits outline how long a driver can spend behind the wheel before they’re legally required to take a break.

Driver qualifications

There are strict expectations for drivers. Those who fail to meet FMCSA’s criteria may be barred from operating commercial vehicles.

Inspections & maintenance

Drivers and motor carriers must inspect and maintain their vehicles in accordance with federal regulations. These guidelines aim to reduce the risk of equipment-related accidents.

Cargo loading

Cargo needs to be loaded and secured in very specific ways to prevent items from shifting inside a truck or falling off an open trailer during transport.

When motor carriers violate FMCSA regulations, they put everyone at risk. While violations in and of themselves may not be grounds for a lawsuit, they may help establish liability in the event that a documented violation contributes to an accident.

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Who can be liable for a truck accident?

There are a few different entities that could be considered liable for a truck accident, depending on the facts of the case. While most investigations first focus on individual truck drivers, there are many other parties that should be considered as well.

As with other kinds of motor vehicle accidents, liability is often decided based on findings of negligence. If you can show that another party caused you harm by violating a legally established duty of care, you may be able to hold them accountable for certain losses.

Here are a few different liability scenarios to consider:

Other entities could also face claims of liability depending on the facts of the case. This is precisely why it’s so important to conduct a thorough investigation into all potential sources of liability rather than focusing exclusively on a driver or their employer.

How are truck accidents investigated?

These cases require careful investigations because of all the complex factors at play. Trucking companies often conduct their own internal investigations following a crash, so it’s wise for accident victims to work with an experienced lawyer who can conduct their own independent investigation.

At Martin & Helms, we understand how important it is to go over these cases with a fine-toothed comb. When we investigate truck accidents, we meticulously review all of the evidence available to us so we can walk away with a clear sense of how a crash most likely unfolded.

We will look at things like:

  • Crash scene evidence
  • Vehicle damage
  • Black box data
  • HOS logs and other electronic data
  • Maintenance records
  • Cell phone records
  • Communications between drivers, motor carriers, and other relevant parties
  • Witness testimony

In some cases, we also work with experts like accident reconstructionists who can help us fill in any gaps in our understanding. These professionals can analyze high-level information and use it to piece together how a crash most likely occurred. It’s important to compile as much evidence as possible in these cases because even seemingly minor details can have major implications for liability.

The importance of preserving evidence

Sometimes, it can be hard to track down all of the relevant evidence in a truck accident case. This is yet another reason why it’s so important to partner with an experienced commercial truck accident attorney. Truck accident lawyers understand the kinds of evidence that matter in these cases, and we know how to leverage them for our clients’ benefit.

One of the big problems with evidence in these cases, however, is its susceptibility to being damaged or overwritten. Physical evidence can also become compromised in the days and weeks following an accident if you don’t move quickly enough to request preservation.

The Martin & Helms team understands how critical early evidence preservation can be. We often prioritize sending preservation request letters on behalf of our clients so important evidence won’t be lost or altered beyond the point of utility. Since involved parties like trucking companies often have access to evidence that injured parties do not, it’s particularly important to work with a legal team that’s not afraid to give these entities the nudge they need to do what’s required of them.

Catastrophic injuries after truck accidents

We often encounter catastrophic injuries in truck accident cases because of the sheer size of these vehicles. When a multi-ton vehicle collides with a passenger car – particularly at a high rate of speed – the car’s occupants may suffer serious and even life-threatening injuries.

Some catastrophic injuries we’ve seen in these cases include:

Many of these injuries require extensive medical treatment and may even result in survivors needing long-term care and accommodations. The costs associated with these kinds of injuries can easily surpass survivors’ financial means, leading some injured victims and their loved ones to file claims for compensation.

What compensation may be available in Alabama?

Depending on the nature of your truck accident case, you may be able to recover compensation for certain economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses are the measurable ones, and they’re usually backed up by receipts and pay stubs. We’re talking medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage and rehabilitation costs. You should keep comprehensive records of all your accident-related expenses so you and your lawyer can tabulate the full value of your economic damages.

Non-economic damages are not as easy to calculate. These are things like emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment in life. There isn’t a set formula for calculating the value of these losses, but testimony from survivors and their loved ones can play an important role in painting the full picture of an accident’s impact.

We work with medical professionals, economists, life care planners, and other specialists in many cases because all of these experts can convey the extent of a survivor’s losses. There generally aren’t caps imposed on compensatory damages in Alabama truck accident cases, so it’s really a matter of calculating a fair claim amount based on available evidence.

Frequently asked questions

What is black box data?

Many commercial trucks are equipped with an electronic device that logs information about the truck’s operating data and driver behavior. This device is commonly referred to as a “black box.”

Can the trucking company be responsible?

Trucking companies are responsible for the negligent actions of drivers who are operating commercial vehicles on behalf of the trucking company. Trucking companies can also be deemed directly responsible for some truck accidents – based on the conduct of the trucking company. It depends on whether or not the truck company’s negligence contributed to the crash.

What if multiple parties caused the crash?

Liability can be shared by multiple parties in some cases, and you may be able to hold all of these parties accountable under Alabama law.

How long do truck accident cases take?

These cases can take time because they’re complicated. The exact timeline depends on the circumstances of your case.

Should I accept the trucking company's settlement offer?

If a trucking company offers you a settlement, it’s probably a good idea to run it by an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer in Alabama. Sometimes, companies make lowball offers early in a case, and you don’t want to inadvertently accept less than you might be owed.

What if a truck driver violated hours-of-service rules?

If you can show that a driver violated hours-of-service rules and caused a crash by driving while tired, you may be able to hold them and their employer accountable for their negligence.

Why partner with Martin & Helms after a truck accident?

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident in Huntsville, Madison County, or elsewhere in North Alabama, Martin & Helms is here to help. These cases can be tough. Thankfully, you don't have to go it alone.

We have extensive experience handling complicated truck accident claims, and we are prepared to do what it takes to help you recover the compensation you deserve. We aren’t afraid to stand up to major motor carriers and their insurance providers when they fail to do right by accident survivors. We’re also well-connected within the local community, so we can partner with reliable experts when our cases require specialized insight.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your case and you want to learn more about your legal options, contact us. Our team would be happy to schedule you for a free consultation with no strings attached.

You can also give us a call or stop by our Huntsville office at 2317 Market Place SW, Suite A to speak with a member of our team. We’re standing by to learn more about your case and help you land on the right path forward.

Huntsville Office

2317 Market Place SW
Suite A
Huntsville, AL 35801

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