Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney in Birmingham

commercial vehicle

According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, crashes involving commercial trucks killed 162 people statewide in one recent year and injured another 2,417. Those figures don’t include accidents involving taxis, limos, and other commercial vehicles, nor do they begin to hint at the financial and emotional toll on people involved in these collisions.

If you sustained injuries in a commercial vehicle accident in Alabama, trust Attorney April H. Collins of Collins Law to fight for fair compensation on your behalf. Attorney Collins and her dedicated, compassionate team take pride in providing skilled legal representation and empowering clients to rebuild their lives.

We understand the concerns of working people. That’s why we work hard to help victims of commercial vehicle accidents keep more of the compensation they win — and we’ll never take more money than our clients would. Our team also addresses your future financial concerns, including reducing your medical bills once your case is resolved. In addition, you’ll never owe us any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation and discover what we can do to get you back on your feet.

Why Should You Hire a Birmingham, AL Attorney for Your Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim?

Hiring an attorney is a smart idea after any collision, but some factors specific to commercial vehicle accidents make it essential to obtain legal counsel. For one thing, commercial vehicle accidents are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries because semi-trucks and similar vehicles are so much larger and heavier than cars. The more severe your injuries, the more important it is to hire a Birmingham commercial vehicle accident lawyer. Attorney Collins can help make sure that any settlement offers you receive include compensation for all your injuries and other losses from the crash.

A commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Birmingham can also help you identify everyone liable for your injuries to maximize your compensation and hold them all accountable. For example, suppose a truck driver involved in a crash was speeding, but their truck also had defective brakes. In this scenario, both the truck driver and the company that made the defective brakes might be responsible for the collision, meaning they would both owe compensation to anyone injured.

Finally, an attorney can handle all correspondence with the other parties in your case and their insurance companies, helping you avoid potentially costly mistakes. The insurance companies will scrutinize everything you say or do after an accident, and you don’t want to give them reasons to deny your claim or reduce your compensation. An experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney can submit the required documents to the insurance companies for you and be their point of contact, giving you space to rest and heal.

What Should You Do After a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

Once you’ve called 911 and sought medical treatment, here’s what you should do after a Birmingham commercial vehicle accident to protect your health and right to compensation:

  • Follow your prescribed treatment plan and attend all your follow-up appointments.
  • Save any evidence from the accident scene (photos or videos, the other driver’s contact information, eyewitness contact information, etc.).
  • Do not discuss the accident in public or on social media.
  • Report the accident to your insurance company, but don’t give a recorded statement without talking to a lawyer first.
  • Keep copies of all your medical records and receipts.
  • Write down everything you remember about the crash as soon as possible.
  • Contact a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Birmingham.

Who Could Be Liable for a Commercial Vehicle Wreck?

Determining commercial vehicle accident liability can be complex, as commercial drivers, their employers, and other parties all play a role in minimizing the risk of collision. When these entities fail to take proper safety precautions, they may be liable for a crash.

Some of the more common liable parties in Birmingham commercial vehicle accidents include:

  • Commercial Drivers – Anyone else who drives a commercial vehicle may be liable for a crash if they didn’t do enough to prevent the accident. Common examples of driving behaviors that can cause a commercial vehicle accident include not checking blind spots before merging or passing, following too closely, speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and drowsy driving.
  • Trucking Companies and Other Employers – The companies that employ truck drivers and other commercial drivers are often liable for job-related crashes, particularly if they hired an unsafe driver or didn’t follow industry regulations. For instance, trucking companies must ensure their drivers follow hours of service regulations, which dictate how long drivers can be behind the wheel without a break. Similarly, employers must ensure their drivers have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) from Alabama or another state.
  • Truck or Parts Manufacturers – A defective part is a major safety concern in any vehicle. However, a defect can have more drastic consequences in commercial vehicle accidents because of their size and weight. Faulty tires, brakes, steering systems, transmissions, or other critical components can cause drivers to lose control and collide with other vehicles, bystanders, or obstacles.
  • Maintenance Providers – Commercial vehicles often experience more wear and tear due to long hours, frequent use, large size, or any combination of these factors. Therefore, regular maintenance is essential for reducing the chances of a crash. If a maintenance provider does a sloppy job or doesn’t address known issues, they could be liable for a resulting crash.
  • Cargo Loaders – When a commercial vehicle’s cargo isn’t secured and distributed properly, it can throw off the vehicle’s balance and make a crash more likely. If cargo loaders don’t do their jobs correctly, they could be liable for a rollover crash or similar accident.

What Compensation Could You Recover in a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim?

Your compensation from a commercial vehicle accident claim could include money for:

  • Lost income
  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Damaged personal property
  • Punitive damages, in cases involving extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing

Alabama’s strict contributory negligence laws could jeopardize your right to compensation if you played any role in causing an accident, no matter how small. This harsh rule underscores the importance of hiring a Birmingham commercial vehicle accident attorney. Your lawyer can gather evidence to show you played no role in the collision. They can also help you fight back if an insurer tries to blame you for the accident to avoid paying your claim.

The Alabama statute of limitations requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of sustaining your injuries. Don’t wait to talk to Attorney Collins about your case, as you could risk your right to pursue the compensation you deserve.

A commercial vehicle is any vehicle a business owns or operates and the company’s agents or employees use. Some examples of commercial vehicles in Alabama include:

  • Semi-trucks (with or without trailers)
  • Box trucks
  • Buses
  • Taxis
  • Limos
  • Delivery vehicles
  • Utility vans
  • Construction vehicles
  • School buses and other buses
  • Moving trucks
  • Garbage trucks
  • Cement trucks
  • Logging trucks
  • Mail trucks
  • Tanker trucks

Commercial vehicle accidents in Birmingham, AL take many forms, including the following:

  • Drowsy Driving Accidents – Truckers and other commercial drivers often work long hours and overnight shifts, making them more susceptible to fatigue. Tired commercial drivers might fall asleep at the wheel, have impaired judgment, and often struggle to notice nearby hazards. All of these risk factors make a crash more likely.
  • Impaired Driving Accidents – Commercial drivers who drink or use drugs before getting behind the wheel experience delayed reaction times, are more likely to engage in risky behavior, and may not notice nearby hazards. These dangers are partly why the legal limit for commercial drivers is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 percent, compared to 0.08 percent for most drivers.
  • Speeding Accidents – Whether carrying people or cargo, many commercial drivers must meet strict deadlines. This pressure to get the job done fast can lead commercial drivers to ignore posted speed limits, making crashes more likely and leading to more severe injuries when accidents occur.
  • Tailgating Accidents – An impaired, angry, or drowsy commercial driver might follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of them. Tailgating makes a commercial vehicle accident more likely because drivers do not have enough room to slow down and stop safely in an emergency.
  • Blind Spot Accidents – Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles sometimes have significant blind spots on either side. Furthermore, commercial drivers can’t always see what’s directly behind them when towing something. These large blind spots can lead to an accident if commercial drivers don’t take proper precautions when navigating city streets, crowded highways, parking lots, and similar environments.
  • Distracted Driving Accidents – Alabama has a hands-free driving law, but some commercial drivers don’t follow the rules. Drivers who are looking at their phones, making calls, adjusting dashboard controls, snacking, or doing anything other than focusing on driving can easily miss potential hazards and cause a collision.

Commercial vehicle accidents in Birmingham frequently cause devastating injuries, including:

  • Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
  • Crushed, severed, or amputated limbs
  • Injuries to the head and face
  • Broken bones
  • Severe burns
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • PTSD and other mental health conditions

Contact a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer in Birmingham, AL Today

Collins Law knows how traumatic a commercial vehicle accident can be. We’re here to protect your rights and fight for the compensation, justice, and accountability you deserve. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.