Truck Accident Attorney in Madison

Were you hit by a large commercial vehicle in Madison, Alabama? If so, don’t let the trucking companies push you around, limit your compensation, or deny your claim altogether. Instead, turn to a Madison truck accident lawyer at Collins Law, LLC, who will empower you to get the money you need to take back your life.

Attorney April H. Collins has dedicated her career to serving accident victims in Madison and throughout Alabama with empathy, compassion, and honesty. With over a decade of experience handling severe commercial truck injury cases, Attorney Collins has the knowledge and experience you need for a successful claim.

Stand up and demand justice with the help of a truck accident lawyer in Madison. Don’t delay — contact Collins Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Why Should You Hire a Madison, AL Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim?

The most important thing to understand after being in a truck accident is that the trucking companies and insurers are not on your side. Their goal is to protect their profits by limiting the amount they pay you, and they know plenty of ways to accomplish that goal. Don’t make the mistake of facing off against these powerful interests alone. Instead, turn to the truck accident law firm of Collins Law for help.

Attorney Collins and her professional and caring team will work hard to maximize your compensation by:

• Explaining your rights and options during a free consultation
• Working hard to reduce your accident-related medical bills, a service that’s virtually unheard of in the legal industry
• Investigating the accident thoroughly and recovering difficult-to-obtain evidence like traffic camera footage, “black box” data, and hours-of-service logs
• Determining all parties who might be liable for the accident and owe you money
• Calculating the personal and financial costs of the accident to understand what fair compensation entails
• Filing your claims and negotiating with liable parties to reach an out-of-court settlement
• Taking your case to trial if it’s the best way to get you the money you deserve

We understand that money is likely one of your top concerns right now. That’s why Collins Law will handle your case at no upfront cost to you. Instead, we collect a fee only if we win your case. We also make sure never to take more money than our clients would upon resolution of their case, because we believe accident victims deserve to keep as much as possible.

Don’t make the mistake of handling your case yourself and putting your future at risk. Instead, let a Madison truck accident attorney from Collins Law do the heavy lifting.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

The things you do in the days and weeks after an 18-wheeler accident will determine whether you are able to get fair compensation for what happened. Take as many of these steps as possible to protect your health and rights:

• Seek medical attention if you have not done so already, even if you feel fine. Certain serious injuries will not manifest immediately but could become life-threatening over time. Moreover, getting medical care creates documentary evidence linking the accident to your injuries.
• Report the accident to your insurer, and do not say anything that could be construed as an admission of fault. Keep your statements short and factual.
• Write down everything you can remember about the trucking accident while it’s still fresh in your mind. Include as many details as possible, but do not embellish your account.
• Start an evidence file, including your account of the accident, copies of your medical bills and records, past pay stubs, and vehicle repair estimates. Any other documentary evidence you have of the accident and your resulting expenses should go here.
• Start a “pain journal,” in which you note your daily discomfort levels, your mental state, and any limitations you experience as the result of the accident. This diary can serve as crucial evidence of the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
• Be wary of the trucking company or its insurers if they reach out to you. There’s a good chance that one of these interests will call or visit to “see how you’re doing.” Alternatively, they might push you to accept a settlement offer, which would free them from further financial obligation to you. Remember that these companies want to get you to accept as little money as possible, so approach your interactions with caution.

The most important things you can do, however, is to talk to a truck accident attorney in Madison. At Collins Law, we are proud to offer free, no-obligation consultations, which means you can learn more about your rights and options without cost or risk to you.

Why Are Trucking Accidents More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?

Truck accident cases are more complex than those involving other motor vehicles because:

• They are likelier to result in severe injuries and costly medical bills.
• There are more potentially liable parties, each of whom wants to limit their liability.
• The trucking industry is heavily regulated at the state and federal levels.
• There is complicated evidence in the form of onboard vehicle data, employment records, and company policies.
• Commercial trucks often have nesting insurance policies that may make it unclear how much compensation is truly available.

Fortunately, you don’t have to solve these problems on your own. Instead, you can turn to a Madison truck accident lawyer from Collins Law who can handle your truck accident claim for you.

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Wreck?

The trucking industry is made up of many different individuals and companies working semi-independently of one another. Any one of these could be liable for a given accident, including:

As your truck accident lawyer, one of Attorney Collins’s most important jobs is to determine everyone who could be to blame for your injuries and to pursue compensation from each.

What Compensation Could You Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?

Depending on the circumstances, truck accident compensation in your case could include money for your:

What Happens if You’re Partly at Fault for a Trucking Accident?

Alabama follows a strict “contributory fault” system, in which an injured party is barred from recovering compensation at trial if they are found to have contributed to their injuries in any way. In other words, if the people at fault for what happened can shift any of the blame onto you, they can get out of paying you a cent. Don’t let this happen. Instead, get help from Attorney Collins, an experienced truck accident lawyer in Madison who knows how to use arguments like the “last clear chance doctrine” to prove your right to compensation.

Is There a Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?

Alabama’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims generally gives you two years in which to file your truck accident lawsuit. If you wait too long, the court will likely dismiss your case as untimely filed, in which case you could lose your right to compensation.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, get in touch with a truck accident lawyer from Collins Law as soon as possible.

What Is Considered a Truck in Alabama?

Alabama law classifies a motor vehicle as a truck if it is self-propelled and used primarily in the transportation of property “upon its own structure.” The state has a separate definition for a “commercial motor vehicle“ if it is operated for business purposes and:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, or
• Has a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds between its cab and trailer

What Are Common Types of Commercial, Big Rig, and Semi-Truck Accidents?

There are many types of truck accidents, some related to the specific physical and mechanical qualities of semi-trucks. The most common include:

What Injuries Can Someone Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Some of the most common truck accident injury types include:

Moreover, the psychological effects of a big rig accident can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and depression.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Madison, AL Today

Have you been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident in Madison or lost your loved one to a fatal truck accident here? If so, the truck driver, trucking company, or other at-fault parties could owe you money for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Unfortunately, getting them to pay you fairly is easier said than done.

Attorney Collins and the Collins Law team want to help you get the compensation you need to take back your life. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.