Truck rollover accidents are among the most catastrophic types of vehicle collisions, often leaving victims with life-altering injuries, significant property damage, and emotional trauma.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck rollover accident, Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers are here to guide you through this challenging time. We understand the complexities of these cases and have the experience and dedication necessary to pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
From investigating the cause of the accident to negotiating with insurance companies or taking your case to court, our Athens truck rollover accident lawyers are committed to advocating for your rights every step of the way.
What are Truck Rollover Accidents?
A truck rollover accident occurs when a truck tips over onto its side or roof, often due to losing balance or control. These accidents can involve various types of trucks, including commercial semi-trucks, box trucks, tanker trucks, or even smaller delivery trucks.
Unfortunately, rollover accidents do not just affect those riding in the truck. Others in the vicinity of the truck, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, are at risk and often suffer severe, catastrophic injuries as a result. consulting with a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the legal process and secure the compensation you deserve.
Causes of Truck Rollovers
Many factors can contribute to truck rollovers. Some of the common causes of these unfortunate accidents include:
- Excessive speed: Speeding is generally risky, especially when a large, heavy semi truck is driving in excess of posted speed limits. Sharp turns or curves taken too fast can cause a truck’s center of gravity to shift, leading to a rollover.
- Improperly loaded cargo: The way a commercial truck’s cargo is loaded and secured substantially impacts safety. Uneven or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, destabilizing the truck.
- Driver error: Truck drivers often make mistakes and engage in negligent driving behaviors. Fatigue, inattention, or overcorrecting the steering can increase the risk of a rollover.
- Road conditions: Hazardous road conditions can increase the likelihood of accidents. Slippery roads, potholes, or uneven surfaces can disrupt a truck’s stability.
- Mechanical failures: Commercial trucks are complicated machines, and mechanical issues are bound to occur, especially when improper or insufficient maintenance is to blame. Problems with brakes, tires, steering, and suspension can contribute to truck rollovers.
- High winds: Substantially high winds can make it harder for drivers to maintain control over their vehicles. Large trucks with broad surfaces, like trailers, can be more susceptible to tipping over in strong crosswinds.
The cause of a truck rollover is a critical detail that may require an extensive investigation. Determining what caused your accident can help our personal injury lawyers pinpoint liability, which is essential to establish to pursue just compensation.
Dangers of Truck Rollover Accidents
Truck rollovers are dangerous for more reasons than you may think. Some of the more significant issues these accidents cause include:
- Injury and fatalities: These accidents often result in serious injuries or fatalities for truck drivers and other road users.
- Spillages: Tanker rollovers can lead to hazardous material spills, causing environmental damage or secondary accidents.
- Traffic disruptions: Rollovers often block multiple lanes, creating significant traffic delays and risks for secondary collisions.
Preventing these accidents involves proper truck driver training, adherence to speed limits, regular vehicle maintenance, and careful cargo loading practices. Unfortunately, while often preventable, these accidents continue to be a notable concern on today’s roads, as negligence and wrongdoing often contribute to the cause of these collisions.
Who is Liable for a Truck Rollover Accident?
Determining liability in a truck rollover accident can be complex, as multiple parties may share responsibility. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver: When the driver’s negligence, such as speeding or driving while fatigued, caused the accident, they can be held liable.
- The trucking company: If the company failed to properly train drivers, enforce safety protocols, or maintain the vehicle, it could be responsible. Companies may be vicariously liable for their drivers’ actions or directly liable for wrongdoing.
- Cargo loaders: When cargo is not properly loaded or secured, causing an imbalance and eventual rollover, the parties in charge of loading the truck can share fault.
- Vehicle manufacturers: Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors can be liable if a defect or malfunction causes a rollover.
- Maintenance providers: The party responsible for truck maintenance or repairs could be liable if a preventable mechanical issue caused the rollover.
- Government entities: When poor road maintenance or unsafe road design plays a role in a rollover crash, the governmental entity responsible for that road can be at fault.
Although determining fault in a commercial truck accident can be difficult, it is no challenge for our attorneys at Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers. Our personal injury lawyers can investigate the circumstances of your accident to identify all responsible parties and hold them accountable.
Common Injuries in Truck Rollover Collisions
Truck rollovers often result in severe injuries due to the force of impact and the size disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. Common injuries resulting from these accidents include:
- Head and brain injuries: A truck accident can cause injury to the scalp and skull, and more severe trauma can result in traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries: The spinal cord is found in the back and controls several bodily functions. Injury to the spinal cord can have life-altering consequences, including paralysis and breathing difficulties.
- Broken bones: Fractures resulting from truck accidents can be particularly serious and may require surgery or prolonged recovery periods.
- Internal injuries: The force of a collision with a commercial truck can cause damage to organs and internal bleeding, which can be difficult to diagnose but dangerous for victims.
- Burns: Burns are common in truck accidents, either from fuel spills, vehicle fires, or even airbag deployment.
Along with physical injuries, truck rollover accidents can result in serious psychological trauma. Victims may struggle with anxiety and depression and even develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
Truck accident injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, making it essential to pursue adequate compensation. Our truck accident lawyers can help ensure you receive the financial recovery you need to compensate you for medical expenses and related losses, alleviating some of your burdens.
Challenges in Truck Rollover Cases
Commercial truck accident cases present unique challenges that make them more complex than standard car accident claims. Some of these complications include:
- State and federal regulations: Trucking companies and drivers must adhere to specific laws and regulations, such as hours of service rules and weight limits. Violations can be critical evidence in your case but require a thorough understanding of the legal framework.
- Multiple liable parties: Unlike many car accident claims, where there is one sole at-fault party, truck accident cases regularly deal with multiple liable parties. Identifying all responsible parties and proving their negligence can be complicated.
- Powerful defendants: Trucking companies and their insurers often have significant resources to contest claims, including teams of lawyers. This makes securing adequate compensation for injuries and losses more challenging.
- Evidence preservation: The success of a truck accident case often rests on the strength of available evidence. Critical evidence, such as electronic logging device (ELD) data, maintenance records, and surveillance footage, can be lost or destroyed if not promptly secured.
- Expert testimony: Because of the complicated nature of truck accidents, experts are often called on to substantiate claims and strengthen cases. Expert analysis may be needed to reconstruct the accident, analyze mechanical failures, or evaluate the extent of your injuries.
Quality legal representation is critical because truck accident cases can be so convoluted. Our personal injury attorneys are highly skilled and experienced and have a strong knowledge of regulations and procedures related to truck accidents and the trucking industry. We are committed to helping our clients get the fair outcome they deserve, no matter how complicated the case.
Pursuing Compensation After a Truck Rollover Accident
Holding liable parties accountable and getting them to pay our clients what they deserve is part of the reason we do what we do. Getting proper compensation is a top priority, and we do everything necessary to get the case result you deserve.
Your Legal Options
When you consult with our truck accident attorneys, Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers can get to know your case and determine the best legal options to seek financial recovery. The path toward justice and compensation depends on the circumstances but typically involves:
- Insurance claims: Often, pursuing damages starts by filing an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. We aim to settle your insurance claim as quickly and favorably as possible. Should the insurance company not be willing to settle fairly, we can review additional options.
- Personal injury lawsuits: Your case may involve filing a lawsuit, specifically if the insurance company does not want to settle. Many truck accident cases settle outside of court, but if necessary, we can take your case to court and argue before a judge or jury.
- Wrongful death claims: Many truck rollover accidents end in fatalities. In the unfortunate event that you’ve lost a loved one in a trucking collision, surviving family members can pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim that aims to compensate for expenses and losses resulting from the untimely death.
Our attorney can evaluate your case to decide the correct course of action and ensure all deadlines and legal requirements are met. When you work with our lawyers, you can feel confident knowing your case is in the right hands.
Compensation Available
Damages help compensate victims of truck rollover accidents for related injuries and losses. You may be entitled to claim compensation for several types of damages, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the monetary, tangible losses that result from a truck accident, including:
- Medical expenses: Coverage for current and future medical costs, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and medication.
- Lost earnings: Compensation for income lost due to your inability to work during recovery. If your injuries impact your ability to work in the future, you can also pursue damages for diminished or lost earning potential.
- Property damage: Reimbursement for repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other personal property damaged in the accident.
Non-economic damages stem from the non-monetary, intangible losses you experience. These damages may include:
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress resulting from your accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Damages for a diminished ability to enjoy life as you did before your accident and injuries.
Our attorneys understand the importance of proper compensation and the difference it can make in your life and future. We carefully evaluate your situation to calculate your damages accurately, helping ensure you receive financial recovery for your present and future needs.
Our Attorneys are Dedicated to Helping You
Our legal team is passionate about helping clients injured in truck accidents. We want to ensure no liable party escapes liability, and we hold all parties responsible for what their wrongdoing has done.
Hiring an experienced truck accident attorney is critical to the success of your case and can significantly impact your experience and future. Our lawyers can help in many ways, including:
- Thoroughly investigating your accident: We will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and work with experts to build a strong case on your behalf.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Our team has extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and knows how to anticipate and counter their tactics to secure fair settlements.
- Litigating your case: If your case goes to court, we have the skills and resources to represent you effectively.
- Pursuing maximum compensation: We can ensure that all your damages, including future costs and non-economic losses, are fully accounted for.
- Providing personalized support: We understand how overwhelming this process can be and are here to provide compassionate guidance and regular updates on your case.
Legal help is accessible – Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers are here for you.
If You’re Involved in a Truck Rollover Accident, Contact Our Firm Today
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck rollover accident, don’t face the aftermath alone. Your Athens personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of success in handling truck accident cases and is dedicated to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve. Time is of the essence, as vital evidence can be lost, and legal deadlines apply.
Call Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers today at (706) 381-6055 to schedule a consultation. Let us help you navigate this challenging time and secure the resources you need to move forward with your life.