Mount Airy Truck Accident Lawyer

Protecting the Rights of the Injured in Surry County, NC

Truck accidents are some of the most severe on the road. Due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles, the occupants of smaller cars and motorcycles often suffer severe or fatal injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, our Mount Airy truck accident attorneys at Comerford Chilson & Moser, L.L.P. are ready to help you fight for the fair recovery you are owed.

Call us at (336) 568-8779 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. In many cases, these crashes are a result of negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, the company responsible for loading the truck, or even the manufacturer of the truck or one of its parts. When this is the case, the at-fault party can be held liable for the victim's damages.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Truck driver negligence: Truck drivers are often required to drive for long hours and long distances. This can lead to driver fatigue, which is a common cause of truck accidents. Other forms of truck driver negligence include distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and speeding.
• Trucking company negligence: Trucking companies have a duty to hire qualified drivers, ensure their drivers are properly trained, and prevent drivers from operating their vehicles while fatigued or under the influence. When trucking companies fail to meet these duties, they can be held liable for the damages victims suffer in truck accidents.
• Improperly loaded cargo: When cargo is not loaded correctly, it can shift during transit. This can cause the truck to become unbalanced and difficult to operate, leading to a serious accident. The company responsible for loading the truck can be held liable for the resulting damages.
• Defective truck parts: When a truck accident is caused by a defective truck part, the manufacturer of that part can be held liable for the victim's damages.

Types of Truck Accident Compensation

No two truck accident claims are the same. The amount and types of compensation you may be entitled to recover will depend on the specific facts of your case. In general, however, truck accident victims can seek to recover both economic and non-economic damages.

Some of the most common types of compensation available in truck accident claims include:

• Medical expenses: This includes the cost of emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and more.
• Lost wages: If you are unable to work as a result of your injuries, you can seek to recover your lost wages. If you are unable to return to work, you may also be entitled to recover compensation for your loss of future earning capacity.
• Property damage: This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle, as well as any other personal property that was damaged in the crash.
• Pain and suffering: This includes both the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of the truck accident.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries have permanently impacted your quality of life, you can seek to recover compensation for your loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of consortium: This refers to the loss of the benefits and companionship of a spouse.
• Disfigurement and scarring: If the accident left you with permanent disfigurement or scarring, you can seek to recover compensation for these damages.

In some cases, truck accident victims may also be entitled to recover punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate the victim for their damages, but rather to punish the at-fault party and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. Punitive damages are typically only awarded when the at-fault party's conduct was especially egregious, such as when the truck driver was driving under the influence.

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Truck Accident Claim

After a truck accident, the trucking company and its insurance provider will likely launch an immediate investigation. They may even have their team on the scene before it has been cleared. This is because trucking companies and their insurers are well aware of the fact that they can be held liable for the damages victims suffer after truck accidents. As such, they are prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid paying victims what they are owed, including using their team of investigators to push the blame onto the victim or another third party.

When you hire an attorney who has experience handling truck accident claims, you can level the playing field. Your attorney can launch an investigation of their own, collect evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf.

Call us at (336) 568-8779 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our team today.