Anniston Truck Accident Lawyer
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death in Anniston. Truck accidents are no exception, causing thousands of injuries and deaths in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Despite accounting for only four percent of vehicles on the road, large commercial trucks cause nine percent of all accidents.
Because of a truck’s size, the damages they cause in an accident are usually much more serious for the other party. If a person dies in a truck accident, there is only a 17 percent chance that it was the driver of the large truck. In 74 percent of these accidents, it is the driver of the other vehicle and 10 percent of the time it is a pedestrian who dies.
By speaking with a seasoned attorney, you may be able to receive compensation for damages. While nothing can bring back the loss of a loved one or help you completely recoup the damages from a truck accident, an Anniston truck accident lawyer can help get you back to the financial situation you were in before the accident.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the most common cause of a truck accident involves a driver’s decision-making abilities. A driver who drove too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of other vehicles, or followed vehicles too closely, caused 38 percent of all truck accidents in the country.
An inattentive or distracted driver was the second most common cause of truck accidents. The third most common cause of truck accidents, according to the FMCSA, was non-performance which included any physical impairment of the driver that caused the accident. For example, falling asleep behind the wheel, having a seizure, or any other health emergency. An experienced Anniston truck accident lawyer may be able to effectively reference these examples when preparing a strong civil case.
Anniston Law on Truck Accidents
Anniston law requires truck drivers behave reasonably when driving their trucks. Consequently, if a truck driver does not act reasonably and those actions caused a truck accident, the truck driver may be liable. While the definition of reasonable behavior can vary and is usually left to a jury, there are some obvious examples of when behavior is unreasonable and, for the most part, those include the most common causes of truck accidents.
As previously stated, the most common cause of truck accidents is a driver driving too fast, misjudging the speed of other vehicles, or following another vehicle too closely. While those may not be unreasonable behavior in all situations, a truck driver who is speeding is more likely to be behaving unreasonably. It is unreasonable for a truck driver, who may be hauling thousands of pounds of goods around the country, to be distracted or not performing their responsibilities correctly.
In situations where the truck driver’s negligence caused a truck accident, Anniston personal injury law can hold the driver accountable. The driver, however, is not the only accountable party. In certain circumstances, the company that hired or contracted the truck driver can also be responsible for the damages. Speak with an Anniston truck accident lawyer to learn more.
Contact an Anniston Truck Accident Attorney Today
Truck accidents are harrowing. Often, they cause irreparable damage to cars and serious, if not fatal, injuries to victims. These injuries can lead to time away from work, expensive medical bills, and immense pain and suffering.
If you suffered an injury in a truck accident, it is possible that someone else may be responsible for those damages. Contact an Anniston truck accident lawyer to inquire about how Anniston personal injury law applies to your specific case.
